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1 

2 

3 

1  2  3 

4  5  6 


^i 


i\ 


THE  WORKS 


OF 


HUBERT  HOWE  BANCROFT. 


•tl 


THE  WORKS 


or 


HUBERT  HOWE  BANCROFT 


n 


VOLUME    XXIX. 


HISTORY  OF   OREGON. 

Vol.  I.     1834-1848. 


SAN   FRANCISCO. 
THE    HISTORY  COMPANY,  PTTRLISHERS. 

1886. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congre.  in  the  Year  1886.  b, 

HUBERT  H.  BANCROFT 
^  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington. 


All  Higlits  Beaerved. 


PREFACE. 


The  more  remote  in  Oregon  affairs  has  been  given 
m  my  History  of  the  Northwest  Coast,  which  is  indeed 
a   part  of  the  History  of  Oregon,  as    elsewhere  ex- 
plamed.     The  later  volumes  deal  with  events  which 
occurred   within   the  memory   of  men    now   living- 
they  are  wrought  out  from  yet  more  original  sources' 
a  large  proportion  of  the  facts  herein  presented  never 
havmg   before   appeared   in   print.     Obviously  it   is 
more  difficult  to  treat  fully  and  fairly  a  comparatively 
modern  epoch,  from  absolutely  crude  material,  than 
an  earlier  one  which  has  been  worked  over  by  scholars 
for  centuries.     Of  the  hundreds  of  personal  narratives 
which  have  been  placed  before  me  by  those  who  as- 
sisted  in  making  the  history,  no  two  wholly  agree- 
and  yet  to  the  careful  student,  with  all  the  evidence 
before  him,  the  truth  is  generally  clear. 

^  The  leading  features  of  this  history  are  not  found 
m  bloody  conquests  inspired  by  the  thirst  for  gain  and 
glory  united  to  the  hope  of  winning  heaven,  but  in 
the  more  gentle  purpose  of  adding  to  the  enjoyments 
ol  earth  by  commerce  and  agriculture,  the  fur  com- 
pany, the  missionaries  of  different  sects  soon  converted 
into  rival  traders,  and  the  middle  class  from  the  United 
fetates,  all  contributing  of  their  several  characteristics 
to  form  a  society  at  once  individual  and  independent. 

( vU  > 


Tiii 


PREIi'ACK 


!     ! 


It  is  in  the  missionary  rather  than  in  the  commer- 
cial or  agricultural  elements  that  I  find  that  romance 
which  underlies  all  human  endeavor  before  it  becomes 
of  interest  sufficient  for  permanent  preservation  in 
the  memory  of  mankind.  A  mountain-walled  plain, 
between  the  coast  elevations  and  the  northern  stretch 
of  the  great  Andean  range,  with  a  fertile  soil,  a  genial 
climate,  and  picturesque  scenery,  through  a  peculiar 
sequence  of  events  become  the  western  Utopia  of  the 
American  states,  and  kindle  in  the  breasts  of  those 
who  here  lay  the  foundations  of  a  commonwealth  the 
fire  of  patriotism,  forever  sacred  even  when  fed  by 
fallacies.  The  silent  conquest  of  this  area  by  men 
and  women  from  the  border,  Intent  on  empire,  is  a 
turning-point  in  the  destinies  of  the  country ;  and  it 
is  to  me  no  less  a  pleasure  than  a  duty  to  recognize 
the  heroic  in  this  conquest,  and  to  present  one  more 
example  of  the  behavior  of  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  un- 
der the  influence  of  American  institutions. 

Nor  did  the  people  of  the  earlier  west  enter  upon 
these  achievements  without  a  well-defined  purpose. 
Proselyting  alone  was  not  the  object;  nor  yet  traffic, 
nor  even  broad  lands.  There  was  present,  besides  the 
desire  to  secure  for  themselves  and  their  descendants 
some  small  portion  of  this  earth,  the  determination 
to  plant  here  those  pure  moralities  and  fair  civilities 
which  belong  to  the  higher  Christian  civilization ;  and 
one  glance  at  the  present  condition  of  the  people  is 
sufficient  to  assure  us  that  they  succeeded.  Aside 
from  the  somewhat  antiquated  sentiments  of  eternal 
justice  and  the  rights  of  man  as  apart  from  man's 
power  to  enforce  his  rights,  the  quick  extermination 
of  the  aborigines  may  be  regarded  as  a  blessing  both 


I'KEFAC'E. 


IX 


to  the  n.d  race  and  to  the  white.     The  two  seldom 
prohtably  intermix.     And  tins  Imppy  eonsununation, 
the  swift  and  sliarpest  means  of  sweeping  from  the 
eartli  every  human  (nicumhrance,  the  people  of  the 
United    States    have    never   been    backward    about 
Jlowever  merciless  the  conquerors,  Spain's  .mvern- 
inent,  aided  by  the  church,  was  ever  tender  of  her 
native  American  subjects,  and  we  see  the  result  in 
Mexico  and  Central  America.    The  British  fur-traders 
would  not  permit  the  killing  of  their  hunters,  and  we 
see  the  result  in  British   Columbia.     Avarice,  war 
injustice,  and  inhumanity  are  often  the  most  impor- 
tant aids  to  civilization.     In  this  respect,  with  noble 
intentions   and   devout   aspirations   far   higher   than 
ordinary,  the  settlers  of  Oregon  but  followed   their 

It  .?''^  ^^^"""^  ^^^  *^^  best,  and  quai  relied 
not  with  the  inevitable. 

It  is  proper  to  remember  here  that  the  United 
States  first  reached  the  Pacific  in  the  latitudes  of 
Oregon,  thus  completing  the  great  zone  of  states  from 
ocean  to  ocean;  that  the  first  proposals  to  build  a  line 
ot  military  posts,  a  wagon-road,  and  a  railway  across 
the  continent  were  made  in  connection  with  the  occu- 
pation of  the  Columbia  Valley;  likewise  in  the  first 
project  to  connect  the  eastern  and  western  coasts  by 
steamships  Oregon  was  the  objective  point. 

Through  the  generosity  and  frankness  of  the  people 
of  Oregon  I  am  enabled  to  present  this  history  in  the 
fulness  of  its  details,  and  I  sincerely  hope  they  have 
not  found  their  confidence  misplaced.  It  has  beon 
my  earnest  endeavor,  here  as  everywhere,  rightly  to 
""t^^til^f,-^  P-P-ly  to  construe  moLl 


Ill 


mmmmmm 


PREi^ACE. 

Of  every  one  however  hu.nble,  who  came  early  to 
Oregon  and  „f  all  those  who  early  or  late  contributed 
the,r  intelhgence  and  energy  toward  establishing  the 
eom„,„„wealth  so  far  as  possible  I  have  n.ademen- 
tion;  and  I  beheve  the  time  will  come,  if  it  be  not 
here  already,  when  te  the  descendants  of  these  hardy 
emp,re-bu.lders  this  enrohnent  will  be  recognized  as 
equivalent  to  a  patent  of  nobility. 

The  history  of  Oregon  has  been  to  me  a  most  inter- 
esting s  udy,  and  of  her  present  proud  position  and 
her  brilliant  future  her  sons  cannot  entertain  too 
nign  an  opinion. 


CONTENTS  OF  THIS  VOLUME. 


FAOa. 


CHAITEK   I. 

OUEOON   TN    1834. 
The  Northwest  Coast  and  the  Oregon  Territory-Physical  F.   <    ,-,.*_ 
M..ntanaUngesa„ailivor.-TheI„.perio„sL.u.^ 

ColviU  -.  .    ^«HallandBo.s^_F„rtWilliaman.:VVapatoKai.I  - 
The  *re„on-Cana,han  Settle.nent-Mis.onaries.  Trader.,    .  .rn  urB 


CHAPTER   ir. 

LIVE   AT   FORT  VANCOUVKB. 

1825-184G. 
Marriage  Relations-Pidelity-Soeial   ConditionB-McLoughlin-Dou« 

^iTayrj^r^^^^^^^^^ 

R         lu  T        ,,."°*'    '^n"    ■^"'"'le-Pambrun— McKinlav— Blapk 

28 

CHAPTER  nr. 

SKTTLEMENT   OF   OKEOON. 

1832- 1834. 

a^ng tii^il'pt^^^^^^  Mi.io„aries-Intere.  Raised 

Methodist  ^r  1  ^rP'^-^':^   Churches    Roused-Action    of   the 

VVyetl  cL^Xdl^"""  ''^n    ""r'   ^'''^   ^'''"^'^   Mi-io„aries 
ing  at  Fort  S_  wTat^:^^^^^^^  ^-"  Lulependence-Preaeh- 

mette   Valley-MissToTs  to  V!  T"""'   ~^'''''  *«  ''''  ^'*"- 

Flathead    pL    ThT V;    h    p^^'V^'"'""'  ^"^  ^'^^"^'-""S  the 
Hall  J    Ke  IeT~s?mi  ,  ^-^<^-n«-Campement   on    ^able- 

and   aarico    t*:  7f  '°i  ''^T'  '^'  ^^"  ^'^^  ^^ame  with  Lewis 
Young  '   *''   "^^^^   Expeditions.  Wyeth.  Keliey.  and   Ewing 


54 


•  XI  ) 


xn 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

METHODIST    OCCUPATION. 

1834-1838. 


PAGB, 


Removal  of  Eflfects — Fencing,  Building,  and  Planting — The  Sorrowful 
Work  of  Conversion — Missionary  Failures — Dairiel  Lee  Visits  the 
Islands— Arrival  of  Kelley  and  Young — Figucroa's  Letter— Estrange- 
ment of  Ewing  Young — Attack  on  an  Incoming  Party  by  the  Natives 
of  Rogue  River — The  Affair  of  the  Distillery — Arrival  of  a  Govern- 
ment Agent 78 


i 


CHAPTER  V. 

COMINO    OK    THE    PRESBYTERIANS. 

18.34-1836. 
American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions — Parker  and 
Whitman  Sent  to  Choose  Mission  Sites — Whitman  Returns  East  for 
Teachers — Parker's  Adventures — His  Favorable  Opinion  of  the 
Indians — Their  Desire  for  Teachers  and  Religious  Observances — 
Parker  Selects  a  Site  at  Waiilatpu — Religiou.-i  Services  Established 
at  Fort  Vancouver — Parker  Returns  Home— Whitman  and  Spalding 
and  their  Wives — Their  Overland  Journey — Wliitman's  Wagon 
Route — Stuart  and  Pilcher — The  Welcome  at  Fort  Vancouver — Re 
turn  of  Gray  for  More  Teachers — Later  Missionaries,  Walker,  Eells, 
and  Smith 104 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE   WILLAMETTE  (JATTI.E   COMPAN*. 

1836-1837. 
Need  of  Cattle  in  the  Willamette  Valley — The  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
Refuse  to  Sell — McLoughlin's  Views  on  the  Question — Meetmg  at 
Champoeg — Formation  of  the  Cattle  Company — Ewing  Young  and 
Party  Sent  to  California  for  Stock — Solemn  and  Momentous  Nego- 
tiations— The  Crossing  of  the  San  Joaquin — Herds  Drawn  Across  by 
Ropes  and  Rafts — An  Indian  Ambush — Plot  to  Shoot  Edwards  and 
Young — Division  of  the  Stock  and  its  Increase  in  Oregon — What 
Became  of  Ewing  Young's  Property 139 

CHAPTER  VII. 

COLONIZATION. 

1837-1840. 
Three  Missionary  Brides — Jason  Lee's  Marriage — Sea-coast  Excursions — 
Brand)  Mission  among  the  Calapooyas — Petition  to  Congress  for  a 
Civil  Government — Lee  Goes  East — Death  of  Mrs  Leo — Missionary 
Enthusiiusni  in  the  East — Bill  for  the  Occupation  of  Oregon — Sailing 
of  the  '  Lausanne  '  with  tlie  Mission  Colony — Treaty  of  Commerce 
witli  the  Hawaiian  Islands — Affairs  in  Oregon — Drowning  of  the 
First  White  Boy  Born  in  the  Territory — Death  of  Shepard — Reli- 
gious Interest  at  the  Dalles — Arrival  of  the  Mission  Colony 154 


XIU 


PA08. 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER  VIII. 

CtaSE  OF  THE   METHODIST  KEQIME. 

1840-1841. 

Keturus  Last-The   WiUamette   Station-Trials   of   Inexperienced 
Pioneers--Exploratiou  of  the   Un.pqua  VaUey-Wnte  D«nes 
to  leave  Oregon-Accident  at  the  Palk-Tl>e  Oregon  Institute-P L, 
to  Dnve  McLoughlin   from  the  Falk-Conduct  of  Waller-I^rt 

tTlL'oi  T''Z  7^^,^^--"'y-I"g-tit«de  and  TrLkc^yl^ 
Legality  of  Claimants  to  Oregon  City-Lee  Superseded  by  (^eoL 

Gray-Progress  of  Colonization ^       ^"^  ,„ 

184 

CHAPTER  IX. 

PROORE.S.S   OF   EVENT.S. 

1839-1841. 
The   Peoria    Party-Incidents   of    the    Journey-Farnham  Arrives  in 
Oregon-Return   of  McLoughlin   from  London-Dis    tii  tLI  Z 

dZTt:nT^'c"''^^-';"*^°"  *"  Congress-Beirr Sp  . 
dition-Lxtent,  of  Canadian  Juris.lictirn-More  Immigrants  from 
I  Imois-Missionaries  Continue  to  Arrivc-The  Newell  Party-Mi 

C7r,rr.<-  <^'-'^««", -Overland  Exploration  to  Califomia^Sir 
rIS  Setter  "  ^'''  ^'— Mofras'   Mission-The  Red 

226 

CHAPTER   X. 

■IHK  .SUB-INWAN    ACiENTS   COMPANY. 

1842  ^845. 
IheEflfect  of  Lee's  Letter  to  Cushing-White   Visits   Wasliington- 

itVL  0      '■"'"'u'''.*'"^'""'     '^''"^^  i«  Appointed  Sul.lfiln 
Agut    or  Oregon-He  Raises  a  Largo  Conn.anj  of  Emirn-ants 
Incidents  of  the  Journev— A  Cm-,;.,,.  \tt  '  r.-  ;'-'""fcTant8— 

-Tlw.  H.,]f    f  V   Tl  ^laHsacro-Disseiisions  in  Camp 

ri  e  Halt  at  tort  Laramie-  The  Sioux  Take  a  Hand-Fort  Hall  i! 
Reachod-Reccption  l.y  the  Missionaries-AM..to  and  the  Colo.lt  1 

Xt^Sr-"^^"-"^"  *"  '^-  IWe-Hastings  I^s 

253 

CHAPTER   XI. 

WHITKS   AUMINIHTRATION    OF   INDIAN    AFFAIKS. 

I842-184i5. 

IL        T  r      "^  ^'^''''  ^"'  ""^"  I".lians-The  Peace  Broken 

U-nes-lhe    K.lhng   „£   Cockstock-The    Oregon    RanKcrs- Yellow 

Wjah-^VVlutcs  Interview  witli  Chief  EIlis-His  Conciliatory  Prom- 
-es.  and  How  Tl.ey  were  Kept-His  Departure  from  Orego.K  .  m 


xiv 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ORGANIZATION   OF   THE  I'ROVISIONAL   GOVERNMENT. 
1843. 


PAOX. 


Methodist  Officials — A  Probate  Court  Needed — Meeting  of  the  Settlers — 
Officials  Chosen — Withdrawal  of  the  French  Catholic  Element — 
PHirther  Political  Elements — The  Oregon  Lyceum — Fresh  Overtures 
to  the  Canadians — The  Land  Law — Another  Methodist  Movement — 
The  '  Wolf '  Organization — The  Canadians  Brought  in — New  Selec- 
tion of  Officials — Report  of  the  Legislative  Committee — Govern- 
ment Expenses — The  Four  Great  Districts — Measures  against 
McLoughlin — lofluenco  of  Shortess  on  Political  Affairs 292 

CHAPTER   Xin. 

THB  CATUOLIC   MISSIONS — MORE   Of  THE   PRESBYTERIANS. 

1838-1847 
Call  of  the  French  Canadians — Coming  of  Blanchet  and  Demers — The 
Vicar-general  among  the  Cayuses — St  Francis  Xavier  on  the  Cow- 
litz— Protestant  and  Catholic  Rivalry — Langlois  and  Bolduc — The 
Jesuits  in  the  North-west — Lalsors  of  Father  De  Smet — Point  and 
Mangarini — St  Marys  on  the  Bitter  Root — Mission  of  the  Sacred 
Heart — De  Vos  and  Hoecken — Jesuit  Reenforcements — Blanchet 
Made  Archbishop — St  Pauls — Affairs  at  Waiilatpu  and  Lapwai — Li- 
solence  of  the  Savages — Whitman's  Winter  Journey  to  the  East — 
His  Treatment  by  the  Board — Return  and  Disappointment 315 

CHAPTER   XIV. 

OREGON    BEFORE   CONGRESS. 

1820-184G. 

Oregon's  Early  Cliampion — Irrepressible  Destiny — Crude  Ideas  of  the 
Country — Expediency  of  Occupying  the  Columbia — Tortuous  Course 
of  Floyd's  Bill — The  Russian  Ukase — Baylies,  Tucker,  Colden,  Mal- 
lary.  Wood,  Walker,  Breckenridge,  Buchanan,  Dickerson,  Benton, 
and  Others  Express  their  Views — End  of  the  First  Epoch  of  Legisla- 
tion— Linn,  Clay,  Calhoun,  Pierce,  Cushing,  and  Pendleton,  of  the 
Second  Epoch — Linn's  Bill — Popular  Feeling — Petitions  for  the  Oc- 
cupation of  Oregon — The  Question  of  Slavery 349 

CHAPTER   XV. 

THE   IMMIGRATION    OF    1843. 

Effect  of  CongresLional  Discussion  and  Missionary  Agitation — Flocking 
to  the  Rendezvous — Organization — Disaffection  and  Division — Names 
of  the  Emigrants- — The  Light  Column  and  the  Cow  Column— Along 
the  Platte — At  Fort  Hall — Whitman's  Doings — On  to  the  Columbia 
and  down  the  River— Policy  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company — It  is 
Better  to  Sell  or  (live  than  Tempt  the  New-comers  to  take  by  Force — 
The  Applegatca — Other  Biographical  Notices 391 


CONTENTS. 


XT 


CHAPTER  XVL 


LEGISLATIVE   PROCEEDIKGS. 


1844. 


PAGE. 

Old  and  New 


Character  of  the  Immigration  of  1843 — The  Land  Law 

Settlers — Organic  Laws — Personnel  of  the  Committees — Message  of 
the  Executive  Committee — Revision  and  Correction  of  Legislative 
Errors — Judicial  Affairs — The  Blessings  of  Land  and  the  Bp,llot — 
Willamette  Falls  the  Seat  of  Government — The  Question  of  Boun- 
dary— Law  Relating  to  Marriage — Liquor  Law — Slavery — Negroes 
and  Mulattoes — Attitude  toward  the  British  Fur  Company — Lide- 
pendence  of  Oregon 425 


CHAPTER  XVn. 

THE  IMMIGRATION    OF   1844. 

Belligerent  Attitude  of  the  British  and  Americans — Vancouver  Forti- 
Hed — Gathering  of  the  Emigrants — Tlie  Several  Divisions  and  Com- 
panies— The  Independent  Colony — Cornelius  Gilliam — Nathaniel 
Ford — The  Journey — Sufferings  on  the  Journey — Their  Destitute 
Condition — Reception  by  Missionaries  and  Fur-traders — Names  of 
the  Immigrants — Biographical  Notices 446 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORtJANIC  LAWS 
1845. 

The  First  Three  Legislative  Bodies — Opposing  Parties — The  Several 
Legislatures — Memorial  to  Congress — What  Benton  Thouglit  of  It— 
EHijah  White's  Exploits — Proceedings  of  the  Legislature — Fusion 
of  the  Americans  and  British — English  Spies  in  Oregon — British 
Vessels — Conduct  of  McLoughlin  Discussed — Unjust  Censure — Con- 
sequence to  McLoughlin 470 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

THE   IMMIGRATION   OF   1845. 

Notable  Migration — Various  Starting-points— Divisions  and  Com- 
panies— Joel  Palmer — Samuel  K.  Barlow — Presley  Welcli — Sauniel 
Hancock — Bacon  and  Buck — W.  G.  T'Vault — John  Way  mire — Solo- 
mon Tetherow — California  Extolled  at  Fort  Hall — Meeting  witli 
White — His  Fatal  Triendship — A  Long  Cut-off — Hardships  on  tlie 
Mallieur — Disease  and  Death  at  the  Dalles — Heartlessness  of  Waller 
and  Brewer — Emmet's  Wanderings — Tlie  Incoming  by  Sea — Names 
of  the  Immigrants — Third  Session  of  the  Ijcgialature— Explorations 
for  Immigrant  Pass — Wagon-roa<l — Public  Buildings,  Capital,  and 
Liquor  Questions — New  Counties — Revenue 508 


xvi 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

OPENING  OK  THE   SOUTHERN   OREGON    ROUTE— IMMIORATION   OF   1846. 

PAOB. 

Road-inaking  aa  a  War  Measure — A  Pass  Required — A  Company  Organ- 
ized—They Proceed  to  Rogue  River — Whence  tlicy  Continue  East- 
ward and  Cross  the  Cascade  Range  into  the  Humbohlt  Valley —They 
Proceed  to  Fort  Hall — Hastings  and  his  Cut-o6F— Immigration  of 
1846— Applegate's  Cut-ofF — J.  Q.  Thornton,  Iiis  Book  and  his  Vin- 
dictivenesa — Sufierings  of  the  Emigrants  by  the  New  Route — Com- 
ments of  the  Settlers  on  the  Southern  Route  —  Biographical 
Notices 542 

CHAPTER  XXr. 

THE  WAR    FEELINO    IN    OREGON. 
184C. 

Social  Eflforts  of  the  Crew  of  the  '  Modeste  ' — First  Theatrical  Entertain- 
ments— First  American  Newspaper  on  the  Pacific  Coast — A  Military 
Company — Arrival  in  the  Sound  of  H.  B.  M.  Ship  '  Fisgard ' — 
President  Polk's  Message— Arrival  of  the  U.  S.  Schooner  'Shark  '  — 
Horse-racing — Howison  on  the  Situation — Wreck  of  the  '  Shark ' — 
A  Flag  and  Guns  for  Oregon — Passage  of  the  Notice  Bill — Overland 
Railway — T!io  Boundary  Determined — How  Tidings  of  the  Treaty 
Were  Received 573 


CHAPTER  XXn. 

POLITICS    AND     PROGRESS. 

184C-1847. 
Waiting  for  a  Territorial  Government — The  Question  of  a  Delegate  to 
Washington — Attempts  to  Provide  for  the  Bljectment  of  British 
Subjects  from  their  Land — Legislative  Proceedings— Memorial  to 
Congress — Public  Reproof  to  Trespassers — -Reelection  of  Abernethy — 
Douglas'  Bill  Ur:  Establishing  a  Territory,  and  its  Failure — Action 
of  the  People —  Private  Delegate  to  Congress — Biographical  Notices — 
The  Immigration  of  1847 600 

CHAl'TER  XXIII. 

THE     WHITMAN      M  A  S  SA  C  U  E  . 
1847. 

Savages  a»  a  Handiwork  of  the  Creator — They  might  have  been  Better 
Made — But  They  are  not  so  niucii  Worse  than  White  Men,  who  are 
Rid  Enough — Rival  Claimants  for  the  Rewards  to  Follow  their  Con- 
version— Portentous  Clouds  Hanging  over  Marcus  Whitman — 
Strange  He  cannot  See  the  Darkening  Sky — The  Natives  Maddened 
by  the  White  Man's  Diseases,  and  by  the  Coming  in  of  so  Many  to 
Take  from  Them  their  Lands — Attitude  of  Catholics  tud  Protestants- 
Rival  Roads  to  Heaven— The  Savages  Prefer  their  own  Way— And 
Thereupon  They  Perpetrate  a  most  Horrible  Deed 639 


CONTENTS. 
CHAPTER  XXIV. 

BESCUE     OF     THE     OAPTIVBS. 

1847 
His  Honor  the  Indian-Preparations  for  War-Le«rislativ«  P.        ^  •         ' 

propriatio-i  and  Private  Subscrintinn«  T  j"^^"  °™'^-P"l'l'c  Ap- 
entof  I-idian  Affairs-ChS  S  o  7  /f '"""^  Superintend- 
Cay„se.-The  Ranson.  met!d-Pr2'^;:  tl^Tr"'''  *''^ 
respondence  between  Og.len  and  A  Ww    ^h    P     f 'r~^°" 

play  of  Hot  Distemper  between  Catholics  and  Protestants'. .!' .     . 


xvu 


PAOK. 


669 


chaptj:r  XXV. 

THE  CAYUHK   WAR. 
1848. 

Organization  of  the  Armv— Dnlnnd  o;\y  t, 

must  be  Delivered  Un     n!  f.     Tj.  ,        Cayuses-Tlie  Murderers 
aumes  Co„nCl-S~r„v  p  T'  Gilliam-Major  Lee  As- 

munition  ~v^rE„r:7T;'  P-olamation-Scarcity  of  Am- 
Sketches. . . .  !    !  ''•'  ''"^  ^^°"P^  ^"«*^-d  out-Biographical 

700 

CHAPTER  XXVr. 

OREGON'S   ENVOYS-ERECTION   OF  A   TERRirORTAr    r, 

A    lERRITORIAL   GOVERNMENT 

1848. 
T'.l.^r'""-,*;'™'"'^"  "'  M~--Th.  Piou.  Lawyer  .n<l  the 

755 


!  n ' 


1    1: 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED 


IN  THE 


HISTORY  OF  OREGON. 


Boston,  etc.,  1868. 


aSK  i?V^->i'').^«*-  '^'  R-  Reports,  vi. 

A&  tKLtf -k^''^-^'-  ''4'-^''  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 
ADemethy  (Anne),  The  Mission  Family.     MS. 

^i,£™"'  "■'"  """"'^  **"'«'■  ""S".  Democrat,  0„g„„  «„„,„, 

A^bum  Mexicano.     Mexico,  1849  et  sec,.  ^  ^• 

Allan,  iiemmiscences.     MS 

with  England,     n  pi    n  d  '  '  "" ""''  ^l^tions 

""'XtLdtmn^Jh^N^^^^^^^      Benton  County.    1874;    McCormick's 
New  York, T838et  sell'       ^'"''^'  ^^^'^^'l^lphia,   1863  et  seq.,   Tribune, 

^'744^Tong?2Ts™*li£ril8t"^r.^^«l^^^^^       ««^*-    ^«76. 
American  Citi|k  (Thef'sSi  F^ancS    ]      A  eK^f  "^*°"'  ^«'«- 

1858-61.  folio.  39  vols  '    ^^'^-'•^-    '^  vols.;  Vashmgton,   1832-4; 

fPr^r&t%"^^^^^^^^^  Territory.     A 

Anlr"  (f  SS  ?"4'^>'  NortSto^^VlSory.     MS. 

,      ATg"  if  ifst'^'^^'plPTS  ""  ""  '"'""^  '^^''  ^  WashV,n-and  Oregon. 

A^lTf  CrL^'TlthTl'sH^^^^  ^''^^  Commission.  1865. 

congress.     [Ist  to  I8th  Congress.]     Washington,  1834-56.  42  vols. 

'.  xlx  ) 


zx 


AUTIIOKITIKS  QUOTED. 


Anthony  (E.  M.),  Siskiyou  County  Rcniiniacences.     M.S. 

Anthropographic  Chart  of  State  OtKcers,  etc.,  of  Cal.     Hacraniento,  1869. 

Antiouh  (Cal.),  Ledger. 

Applegato  (JesHe),  Correspondence  with  Mrs  Victor.     MS. 

Applegate  (.Jesse),  A  Day  with  the  Cow  Column  in  1843.  In  Overland  Monthly, 
i.  127. 

Applegate  (.Tease),  Marginal  Notes  in  Gray's  History  of  Oregon.     MS. 

Applegate  (Jesse),  Views  of  Oregon  History.     MS. 

Applegate  (Lindsey),  Laying  out  the  old  immigrant  road  into  Southern 
Oregon,  1846.     In  Portland  West  Shore. 

Applegate  (O.  C. ),  History  of  the  Modoc  War.     MS. 

Armstrong  (A.  N.),  Oregon.     Chicago,  1857. 

Arricivita  ( J.  D. ),  Crdnica  Serdtica  y  Apostolic.     Mexico,  1792.  folio. 

Ashland,  Tidings. 

Ashley  (C),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Son.,  April ,%  1846,  on  Oregon  Question.  Wash- 
ington,  1846. 

Astoria,  Astorian;  Marine  Gazette. 

Astoria,  Oregon's  Seaport.     Astoria,  1875. 

Athey  (.James),  Workshops  a*  Oregon  City.     MS. 

Atkinson  (G.  H.),  Address  befte  N.  Y.  Chamber  of  Commerce  Dec.  3,  1868. 
New  York,  1868;  Address  bef  re  Oregon  Historical  Soc.  Feb.  22,  1876. 
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n.pl.,  n.d. 

Atkinson  (Geo.  H.),  Amer.  Colonist  in  Oregon,     n.  imp. 

Atlantic  Monthly.     Boston,  18.58  ot  seq. 

Austin  (Nev.),  Reese  Pviver  Reveille,  April  6,  1867. 

Bacon  (J.  M.),    >regon  City  Mercantile  Life.     MS. 

Baker  (E.  D.),  .speech  in  U.  S.  H.  of  Rep.,  .Jan.  29,  1846,  on  Oregon  Question. 
Washington,  1846. 

Baker  City,  Bedrock  Democrat;  Herald;  Reveille. 

Balch  (Wm.  R.),  Mines,  Miners,  etc.     Philadelphia,  1882. 

Baldwin  (R.  S.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Sen.,  June  .5,  1848,  to  Establish  a  Territorial 
Government  in  Oregon.     Washington,  1848. 

Ballou  (William  T.),  Adventures.     MS. 

Bancroft  (A.  L. ),  Diary  of  a  Journay  to  Oregon.     MS. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Alaska. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  British  Columbia. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  California. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Nevada. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Northwest  Coast. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Utah. 

Biuicroft  (Hubert  Howe),  History  of  Washington,  Idaho,  and  Montana. 

Bancroft  (Hubert  Howe),  Native  Races  of  the  Pacific  States.  N.  Y.,  187.'J.  5  vols. 

Bancroft  Library  M.S.  Scrap-books  containing  classified  notes  used  in  writing 
Bancroft's  Works. 

Bancroft  Library  Newspaper  Scraps,  classified  under  the  following  headings: 
Fisheries,  Manufactures,  Modoc  War,  Oregon  Miscellany,  Shipping  and 
Navigation,  Trade  and  Commerce,  United  States  Mails. 

Barber  (.John),  and  Henry  Howe,  History  of  Western  States  and  Territories. 
Cincinnati,  1867. 

Barkersville  (B.  C),  Cariboo  Sentinel. 

Barnes  (G.  A.),  Oregon  and  California.     MS.  . 

Baxley  (H.  W.),  What  I  Saw  on  the  West  Coast  of  Southland  North  Amer- 
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Bayly  (T.  H.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  27,  1846. 

Beadle  (J.  H.),  The  Undeveloped  West.  Philadelphia  [1873];  Western 
Wilds.     Cincinnati,  1879. 

Beardsley  (0.  P.),  in  Wallings'  Catalogue,  1875. 

Bedinger  (H.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  15,  1846. 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


zzi 


Bceson  (John),  A  Plea  for  the  Indians.     Now  York,  1858. 

Belcher  (Edward),  Narrative  of  a  Voyage  round  the  World  in  I83&-42.  Lon- 
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Bell  (J.  F.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  H.  of  Rep.,  Feb.  4,  1846,  on  the  Oregon  Ques- 
tion.     Washington,  1846. 

Bell  (William  A. ),  Settlement  of  Seattle.     MS. 

Benicia  (Cal. ),  Chronicle,  Tribune. 

Bennett  (Emerson),  Prairie  Flower,     Cincinnati  (0.),  n.  d. 

Bennett  (Winston),  Biograi^hical  Sketches.  In  S.  Joad  Pioneer,  May  26,  June 
2,  1877. 

Bentley  (Wm.  R.),  Pleasure  Paths  in  the  Pac.  Northwest.  San  Francisco, 
1882. 

Benton  Co.  (Or.),  Almanac,  1874. 

Benton  (Tliomas  H),  Abridgment  of  Debates  in  Congress,  1759-1856.  New 
York,  1857-63.  16  vols;  Speech  in  U.  S.  Sen.,  May  22,  25,  28,  1846,  on 
the  Oregon  Question.  Washington,  1846;  Thirty  Years'  View.  New 
York,  1854.  2  vols. 

Berrian  (Hobart),  A  Plain  View  of  the  Oregon  Title.     Washington,  1846. 

Biggs  (Cal. ),  Butte  Co.  Register. 

Bigland  (John),  A  Geographical  and  Historical  View  of  the  World.  London, 
1810.  5  vols. 

Blagdon  (Francis  William),  The  Modem  Geographer.     London,  n.d.  5  vols. 

Blake  (W.  P.),  Production  of  the  Precious  Metals.  New  York  and  London, 
1869. 

Blanchet  (F.  N. ),  Catholic  Missionaries  of  Oregon.     MS. 

Blanchet  (F.  N.),  Catholic  Missionaries  of  Oregon,  MS.;  in  Portland  (Or.) 
Oregonian,  Sept.  1,  1863;  Pastoral  Letter,  1870. 

Blanchet  (F.  N. ),  Historical  Sketches  of  the  Catholic  Clhurch  in  Oregon.  Port- 
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Bluxome  (Isaac),  Vigilance  Committee,  by  33,  Secretary.     MS. 

Boise  City  (Idaho),  Capital  Chronicle,  Democrat,  Herald,  News,  Statesm-'ji. 

Bourbourg  (Brasseur  de),  Popul  Vuh,  etc.     Paris,  1861. 

Bowles  (Samuel),  Pacific  Railroad.     Boston,  1869. 

Boiler  (Henry  A.),  Among  the  Indians.     Philadelphia,  1868. 

Bonnycastle  (J.  C),  Report  on  Indian  Affairs.  [33d  Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  Sen.  Ex. 
Doc.  IG.]    Washington,  1855. 

Boston  (Mass.),  Herald,  Missionary  Herald. 

Bowles  (Samuel),  Across  the  Continent.  Springfield,  1866;  Our  New  West. 
Hartford,  etc.,  1869. 

Boyle  (W.  H.),  Personal  Observations  on  the  Conduct  of  the  Modoc  War. 
MS. 

Brackett  (Albert  G.),  History  of  the  U.  S,  Cavalry.     New  York,  1865. 

Branson  (B.  B. ),  Settlement  of  Sheridan.     MS. 

Brasseur  de  Bourbourg,  Popul  Vuh.     Le  Livre  Sacr^.     Paris,  1861. 

Breckenridge  (John  C),  and  Joseph  Lane.  Biographical  Sketches.  Wash- 
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Breeding  (W.  P.),  Reminiscences  of  the  Cayuse  War.     MS. 

Breeso  (S.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Senate,  March  2,  1846. 

Brensletter,  Discovery  of  the  Boise  Basin.     MS. 

Briggs  (Albert),  Settlement  of  Port  Townsend.     MS. 

Bristol  (Sherlock),  Idaho  Nomenclature.     MS. 

Bristow  (E.  L.),  Rencounters  with  Indians,  Highwaymen,  etc,     MS. 

British  Columbia  Sketches.     MS. 

British  Quarterly  Review.     Ixxvii. 

Brockett  (L.  P.),  Our  Western  Empire.     Philadelphia,  etc.,  1881. 

Brooklyn  (N.  Y.),  Catholic  Review. 

Brouillet  (J.  B.  A.),  Authentic  Account  of  the  Murder  of  Dr  Whitman.  Port- 
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Brown  (B.),  in  Umatilla  (Or.)  Columbia  Press,  July  27,  1867. 

Brown  (J.  Henry),  Autobiography.     MS. 

Brown  (J.  Henry),  Oregon  MiaceUanies.     MS.  and  Scraps. 


-Ill 


T 


zstt 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


Brown  (.T.  H.),  in  Ashland  (Or.)  Tidings,  Oct.  Ifl,  Nov.  2,  1877,  in  Trans.  Or. 

Pionoor  Association,  1877. 
Brown  (J.  Henry),  Huttloment  of  Willamette  Valley.     MS. 
Brown  (().),  in  H.  Coin.  Report,  .S()8,  '28th  cong.  1  at  seas. 
Browne  (.1.  Ross),  Lower  California,  see  Taylor;  Report  upon  the  Mineral  R«- 

sources  of   tlie  States  and  Territories  West  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

Washington,  18G7;  Wasliington,  18(58;  San  Francisco,  18G8. 
Browne  (.).  Ross),  Resources  of  the  Pacific  Slope.     San  Francisco,  18tiS). 
Buchanan  (.laa. ),  Letter  on  Oregon  (Question,  Aug.  30,  1845. 
Buck  (W.  W.),  Enterprises.     Oregon  City.     MS. 
Bulfinch  (Thomas),  Oregon  and  El  Dorado.     Boston,  184}G. 
Bunker  (Wm.  M.),  In  the  Lava  Beds.     In  Californiau,  Foh.  1880.     161. 
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Burnett  (Peter  H.),  Ijctter  of  July  25,  1844,  in  Niles'  Register,  Ixvii. 
Burnett  (Peter  II.),  Letter  on  Afiairs  in  Oregon.     In  Nues' Itegister,  Ixviii. 

3JKI;   Recollections  and  Opinions  of  an  Old  Pioneer.     New  York,  1880. 
Burnett  (Peter  H.),  Recollections  of  the  Past.     MS.  2  vols. 
Burton  (Richard  F.),  City  of  the  Saints.     I    ..don,  18G1;  N.  Y.,  1862. 
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Calhoun  (John  C),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Sen.,  Jan.  24,  1843,  on  the  Oregon  Bill. 
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California  Jour.  Assembly,  1857;  Military  Affairs,  Scraps. 

Cr-'Iifornian  (The).     San  Francisco,  1880  et  seq. 

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Gampbcil  (Alexander),  Speech,  July  30,  1863.     Sacramento. 

Campbell  (J.  F.),  My  Circular  Notes.     London,  1876.     2  vols. 

Camp-fire  Orations.     MS. 

Canyon  City  (Or.),  News. 

Card  well  (J.  A.),  Emigrant  Company. 

vJarr  (Ezra  S. ),  Patrons  of  Husbandry. 

Carson  City  (Nev.),  Appeal;  State  Register. 

Carver  (J.),  Travels  through  the  Interior  Farts  of  North  America.  London, 
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Catholic  Almanac,  in  Do  Smet's  Missions.     Gand  (Belgium),  1848. 

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Chalmers  (J.  W.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Senate,  March  24,  1846. 

Charles  (Wm.),  Deposition  before  Joint  Commission,  1865. 

Chicago  (III.),  Tribune. 

Chicago  Land-Owner,  in  Portland  Oregonian,  April  24,  1875. 

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Cincinnati  Gazette,  in  Portland  Oregonian,  March  2,  1867. 

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Clarke  (H.  S.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Feb.  6,  1846. 

Clarke  (Mrs  H.  T.),  Emigrant  Trail.     MS. 

Clarke  (S.  A.),  in  Califomian,  July  1880;  in  Willamette  Farmer,  Aug.  31, 
1877. 

Clarke  (Samuel  A. ),  Klamath  Land.  In  Overland,  xi.  548;  Oregon  Twenty- 
five  Years  Ago.     In  Overland,  x.  410. 

Clarke  (H.  F.),  and  G.  Wright,  Letters  and  Military  Correspondence.  [34th 
Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  1.]     Washington,  1857. 

Clayton  (J.  M.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Senate,  Feb.  12,  1846. 

Clyman  (Jas.),  Note-Book,     MS. 

Cocke  (Wm.  M.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan,  15,  1846. 

Codman  (John),  The  Round  Trip.     New  York,  1879.    , 

Coghanour  (David),  Boisee  Basin.     MS. 

Coke  (Henry  J. ),  A  Ride  over  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  Oregon  and  California. 
London,  1852, 

Columbia,  Department  of,  General  Orders.  1865,  et  seq, ;  Military  Reports, 
1867  et  seq. 


MS, 

San  Francisco,  etc,,  1876. 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED, 


xxiu 


33bmpton  (P.  N.),  Forts  and  Fort  Lite.     M8. 

Congregational  Asxociatiou  of  Oregon,  Minuteg  of  Annual  Meetings.     Salem, 

1870  ct  80(1. 
Congressional  I)el)ate8.    flStli  to  25th  Congress.  1   Wash.,  1824  et  seq.    14  vols. 
Congressional  (Jlobe.     Waalungton,  XH'Mi  et  secj.     4to, 

Cooper  (.1.  (i.),  and  (i.  Suckley,  The  Natural  History  of  Washington  Ter- 
ritory.    New  York,  18.')9.     4to. 
Coos  Biiy,  Settlement  and  Early  Settlers.     Marshtielil,  1879. 
Corvallis,  Benton  Democrat;   Courant;  fxazette;  Oregon  Union;  Willamette 

Valley  Mercury. 
Courterey  (H.  C. ),  British  CohunUia  Mines.     MS. 
Cox  (Ross),  Adventures  on  the  Columbia  River.    liondon,  1831.  2  vols.    New 

York,  18.S2. 
Cox  (Thonuw),  Biography.     MS. 
Cram  (T.  J.),  Topographical  Memoir  on  the  Department  of  the  Pacific.    [35tk 

Cong.,  2dSe88.,  H.  Ex.  Doe.  114  J  Washmgton,  1859. 
Crate  (Wm.  F. ),  Deposition  before  Joint  Commission,  1805. 
Crawford  (Medorem),  .Journal  of  the  Expedition  Organized  for  the  Protection  «it 

Emigrants  to  Oregon,  Jan.  9,  186.3.  [37th  Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  17.] 
Crawford  (Medorem),  Missionaries  and  their  Work.     MS. 
Crawford  (P.  W.),  Overland  to  Oregon.     MS.;  Id.,  pt.  ii.     MS, 
Crescent  City  (Cal. ),  Courier. 
Crittenden  (Jolin  J.),  Speech  on  Oregon  Question  in  U,  S.  Senate,  April  16, 

1846. 
Cross  (Osborne),  Report  on  March  to  Oregon  City,    [31st  Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  H, 

Ex.  Doc.  1.] 
Curry  (Geo.  B.),  in  Adjt.-Oen'l  Oregon  Report,  1866. 
Curry  ('  Jeorge  B. ),  Sketches  of  Life  on  the  Plains.     MS. 
Curry  (George  L. ),  Biography.     MS. 

Dalles,  Itemizer;  Inland  Empirt.  Liberal  Republican;  Mountaineer;  Oregon 
Republican;  Polk  County  Signal;  Polk  County  Times;  State  .Journal; 
Tribune. 

Dalles  Mission  Case,  Argument  of  James  K.  Kelly  in  behalf  of  Appellees, 
n.pl.,  n.d. 

Daly  (Charles  P.),  Annual  Address,  Jan.  13,  1873.  In  American  Geograph- 
ical Society.     1873. 

iJamon  (S.  C),  in  Or.  Spectator,     n.  d. 

Dana  (C.  W.),  The  Great  West,     Boston,  1861. 

Darwin  (Charles),  .fournLl  of  Researches  into  the  Natural  History  and  Geology, 
etc.     London,  1345;  New  York,  1846.  2  vols.     London,  1852. 

Das  Oregon  Gebiet.     n.  pi. 

Davidson  (George),  Coast  Pilot  of  California,  Oregon,  etc.  Washington,  1869; 
Directory  for  t'le  i*acific  Coast.     Washington,  1868, 

Davis  (leflferson  C),  Annual  Report  1873.     n.pl.,  1873. 

Davis  (W.  H.),  Glimpses  of  the  Past  in  California.     MS. 

Dayton  (W.  T.),  News, 

Deady  (Matthew  P.),  Address  to  Graduating  Class  of  University  of  Oregon. 
Portland,  1878;  other  addresses;  Portland  on  Willamette.  In  Overland, 
i.  37;  Portland— What  Sort  of  a  Port  it  is.  In  S,  P,  Bulletin,  July  6, 
1864;  numerous  other  articles;  Report  of  Cases  determined  in  the  Circuit 
and  District  Courts  of  the  U.  S.  of  Oregon,  etc,     S.  F.,  1872;  Scrap  Book. 

Deady  (Matthew  P.),  Oregon  History  and  Progress.     MS. 

Deans  (James),  Vancouver  Island,     MS. 

De  Bow  (.1,  D.  B  ),  Encyclopedia  of  the  Trade  and  Commerce  of  the  U.  S, 
London,  1854,  2  vols, 

De  Smet  (P,  J.),  Letters  and  Sketches.  Philadelphia,  1843;  Missions  de 
rOregon,  Gand.,  n.d.;  Oregon  Missions,  New  York,  1847;  Voyages  aux 
Monti^nes  Rocheuses,  Lille,  1859;  Western  Missions  and  Missionaries. 
New  York,  1863. 

Dickinson  (D.  S.),  Life,  Letters,  etc.     Now  York,  1867,  2  vols.     , 


XXIV 


AUTIIOHJTIKS  QUOTED. 


Dickinson  (O.),  Letter  in  Amor.  Himio  Mi«8ionary,  xxvii.  187. 

dictionary  of  the  t'liiiUKik  .Iiirgci.      Victoria  (B.  ('.),  1873. 

l)iniH(lulu  (ThouuiH  .).),  The  Vigilanten  of  Montana.     Virginia  (Jity,  18(K>. 

I)irt'ctoricH,   Kant  of  ('iiacadc  NiountiiinH,  Owen;  Oregon  BuHincMH;  Portlanil, 

Mt^Corniiuk;  I'liget  tSonncl,  Murphy  and  Harncl;  Salcin,  Hrown. 
IHHturnuU  (■!.),  Intluenccs  of  C'liniato  in  North  and  8uutli  Aniurica.     Nuw 

York,  I8(>7. 
I>ix  (.John  A.),  Snouoh  in  U.  S.  Sonate,  Juno  20,  1848. 
hodgc  ((J.  .M.),  Surveys  for  LI.  l".  Uailway.     Washington  (D.  C),  1870. 
l>oiigIas  (.las. ),  .lournal.     MS.;   I'rivato  Papcr-s,  "Jd  scr.     MH. 
Oowell  (H.  I'".),  Brief  in  the  ( 'ase  of  Bandy  ami  I)ooly  vs.  I.,angoll  and  Chigago. 
Fairlield,  18(il;  Letters  of  a  Packer.     Scraps;  Memorandum  liook  in  tfiti 
Canvas.     Scraps;    Petition   a.^king   pay   for  Oregon   Volunteers,     n.pl., 
n.d.;  Railroad  lieports.     Scraps;  Scrap  Jiooks.     iJ  vols. 
Dowell  (B.  v.],  Biographies.     MS.  and  Scraps. 
Dowell  (B.  F. ),  ( 'onununiuation  on  Oregon  Indian  Wars.     MS. 
Dowell  (B.  v.).  First  Marriage  in  .facksonville.     MS. 
Dowell  (B.  F.),  Narrative.     MS. 
Dowell  (B.  F.),  Oregon  Lulian  War.      MS.     7  vols. 
Dowell  (B.  F.),  and  Addison  ('.  (iihhs,  lirief   and  Argument  of.     .Tackson- 

ville,  1877. 
Drew  (C  H. ),  Conununication  ou  Indian  War  in  Oregon.     HlGth  Cong.,  Ist 
Seas.,  Sen.  Miss.  Doc.  .W.]     Washington,  18(50;  Owyhee  lieconuoissunee, 
.Tacksonvillo,  1805. 
Dryer  (T.  .J.),  Location  Liiw.      Portland. 
Ihifur  (A.  J.),  Statistics  of  the  Stjite  of  Oregon.     Salem,  1809;  in  Roseburg 

Ensign,  .July  17,  .31,  180!). 
Duncan  (L.  J.  C. ),  Southern  Oregon.      MS. 
I>unlop  (.James),   Digest  of  the  (loneral  I^aws  of  the  U.  S.     Philadelphia, 

1850. 
Dunn  (John),  History  of  the  Oregon  Territory.     London,  1844;    The  Oregon 

Territory  and  the  British  N.  American  Fur  Trade.     Philadelphia,  1845. 
Dunraven  (Flirl  of),  Tl»o  Oreat  Divide.     New  York.  1870. 
Dwindle  (John  W.),  Address  before  Pioneers,  1800.     San  Francisco,  1806. 
Dyar  (L.  S. ),  Statement.     In  Applegate,  Hist.  Modoc  War,     MS. 


East  Portland  Charter  and  Govt,  1874. 
East  Portland  Democ.  Era. 

Eastwick  (Philip  (r.),  Puget  Sound  Coal  Mines. 
Ebberts  (G.  W.),  Trapper's  Life  1829-39.     MS. 
Ebey  (Mrs),  Letters.     MS. 
Ebey  (WinHeld  S.),  Journal.     MS.     12  vols. 
Edinburgh  Review.     Edinburgh,  1802,  et  seq. 
Etlwarda  (Philip  L.),  Diary,  1837      MS. 
Edwards  (Philii)  L.),  Sketches  of  Oregon.     MS. 
Elkin  (Richard),  Sailor  and  SaddL   Maker.     MS 
Eells  (Mrs.  M.  F. ),  Funeral  Servic 
EUicott  (Eugene),  Puget  Sound  No 
Ellis  (J.  F. ),  Letter  Regarding  Pa 
Elko  (Nev.),  Independent. 
Episcopal  Church  in  Oregon.     Van* 
Eugene  City,  Guard;  Oregon  State  . 
Eureka  (Nev. ),  Sentinel. 
Evans  (El wood).  Annual  Address  be 
Pion.  Assoc.,  Trans.,  1877;  oth 


MS. 


1  in  Memory  of.     Portland  (Or.),  1878. 
enclature.     MS. 
■3  University.     MS. 

ver  (W.  T.),  1876. 
,     irnal;  Review;  State  Republican. 


)ro  Oregon  Pioneer  Association,  in  Or. 
addresses;  Gold-hunting  in  the  Cas- 
cade  Mountains.     Vancouver,   i801;    North   West  Boundary.    Scraps; 
Oregon  Military  Organization.     Portland,    1860;    Protection  to  Immi- 
grants, n.pl.,  n.d.;   Puget  Sound,  Its  Paat,  etc.     Olympia,  1869;   Scrap 
Books.  5  vols. 
Evans  (Ellwood),  Documents  "L."    MS. 
Evans  (Elwood),  History  of  Oregon.     MS. 


AUXnoRITIKS  (QUOTED. 


XXV 


KvaiiM  (Kh»'no(l),  Tndifin  War,  IS-'f)  0.     MS.  ami  Scrajw. 

Kvati.s  ((i.   M.y,  ill  Ort^giin   linllutin,  eopiutl  l)y*Munil<ii'ino  (C'al.)  l>vino„rat, 

IVl..   I,  1872;  Spifili  in  U.  S.  Sonuto,  Miinli  '.»  ami  11»,  184(5. 
Kvaiis  (Elwowl),  Ix^ttcrto  A.  MiKinluy,  Duo.  17,  1880.     MS. 

Farnhatn  (Edwin),  Floronco  and  VVarrt-n.     MS. 

Farnliam  (J.  T.  or  Tlum.  .J.),  Hiatoiy  dI  ()ri;Ki>n  Territory.     New  York,  1844; 

Lift!,  Advontuix'H,  and  Travols  in  C'al.     IMetoriiil  ed.     N.  Y.,  I8r)7;  LilV, 

Advcnturi'M,  and  Travels  in  Cal     N.  Y.,  184t;;  N.  Y.,  1841»;  N.  Y.,  1850; 

N.    Y.,  18r.;<;   Tnivils  in  tiie  CaliforniuB.     N.  Y.,  1844;   Travels  in  the 

(ireat  WeHtt^rn  Prairies,     i'oughkeepsie,  1841;  New  York,  1843. 
Fery  ( Julfs),  Cold  Sfarclies      MS. 
Fay  (CalehT.).  Historical  Farts.     MS. 
Findlay  (AK'-xander  (J.),  Directory  for  the  Navigation  of  the  Pacific  Ocean. 

London,  1 8.') I. 
Finlayson  (liodcrick),  Vancouver  Island  r    "  Northwest  Coast.     MS. 
Fir  t  IJfiptist  Church,  Portland,  (Ircgon,  .Manual  of.     I'ortland,  187<). 
Fislier  (Richard  Swainson),  and  Cliarles  Colhy,  American  Statistical  Annual. 

Now  York,  IS.^*. 
Fitzgerald  (.James  Edward),  Charter  and  Proceeding  of  Hudson  Bay  Co.,  with 

reference  to  Vancouver's  Island.     London,  1849. 
Fitzgerald  (O.  P.),  Calif(.rnia  Sketches.     Nashville,  1879. 
Flint  (Addison  R. ),  Reminiscences.     In  Oregon  Sketches.     MS. 
Flint  (Timothy),  Hist,  ami  (loog.  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.    Cincinnati,  18.S2. 
Ford  (Ninevali),  Pioneer  Koail  Makers.     MS. 
Forest  (Srove,  Independent. 

FrMzier  (Mrs  R.),  Mosaic  Gleanings,  1880-3.     Oakland  (Cal. ),  1883. 
Fr^inont  (.John  C),  Narrative  of  Exploring  Expedition  to  Rocky  Mountains. 

New  York,  1849. 
F'ronterizo  (Tuscon,  Ariz.),  Jan.  27,  1882. 
Fry  (F.),  Travellers' (ruide.     Cincinnati,  18C5. 
Fulton  (.Fannys),  Eastern  Oregon.     MS. 
Fulton  (James),  Lett'jr  in  Eastern  Oregon.     MS. 

ffallatin  (Albert),  The  Oregon  Question.     New  Y'ork,  1846. 

(kudcnof  the  World.     Boston,  IS.'iC. 

(ieary  (Edward  R. ),  Centennial  History  of  the  Presbytery  of  Oregon,     n.pl., 

n.d. 
Goer  (Ralph  C),  Address  before  Oregon  Pioneer  ABsociation,  in  Or.  Pion. 

Assoc,  Trans.,  1879.  • 
deer  (Ridpli  C),  Blooded  Cattle  in  Oregon.     MS. 
Gcer  (Riili)h  C),  Pioneer  Nurserymen.     MS. 
i  icer  (Ridpli  C),  Waldo  Hills.     MS. 

(Hbbs  (Aildison  C),  Notes  on  the  History  of  Oregon.     MS. 
(iibbs  ((icorge),  Indian  Afi'airs,  Report,  March  4,  1854.     In  Pac.  R.  R.  Repts, 

i.  402;   Tril)cs  of    Western  W;ishington  and  Northwestern  Oregon.     In 

Powell's  (rcog.  Survey,  i.  402. 
Giddiiigs  (iMlwaru),  I)«^ositioii  before  Joint  Commisaion,  18G5. 
Gidding^  (Joshua  R.),  Speeche;  in  Congress.     Boston  (Mass.),  1853. 
(files  (W.  F.),  .Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  9,  1840. 
Gilfry  (H.  H.),  Resources  of  Oregon.     MS. 

Goddard  (bred.  B.),  Where  to  Emigrate,  and  Why.     New  Y^'ork,  1869. 
Gold  Hill  (Nev.),  News. 

(fold  Hunting  in  the  Cascade  Mountains.      Vancouver,  1801, 
Good  (.Folm  B.),  British  Columbia.     MS. 

(footlyear  ( W.  A. ),  Coiil  Mines  of  the  Western  Coast  of  the  U.  S.     S.  F.,  1877. 
Cfray  (W.  H.),  A  History  of  Oregon,  1792-1849.     Portland,  1870. 
Greenhow  (Roliert),  Answer  to  Strictures  of  Thoniaa  Falconer,     n.pl.,  n.d.; 

History  of  Oregon  and  California.     Boston,  1844;  London,  1844;  Boston, 

1845;  New  York,  1845;  Boston,  1847. 
Grim  (J.  W.),  Emigrant  Anecdotes.     MS. 

Hist.  Ok.,  Voi,.  I.    c 


XXVI 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


I! 


I'll'   !■ 


Grover  (Tjafayette),  Message  to  Or.  Leffis.,  1872;  Public  Life  in  Oregon,  etc. 

MS. 
Orover  (Lafayette),  Oregon  Archives.     MS. 
Grover  (Lafayette),  Oregon,  Notable  Things.     MS. 

Hale  (C.  H.)  va  Finch  (D.  B.). 

Haley  (W.  G. ),  in  Or.  Statesman,  Aug.  2G,  1846. 

Hall  (Edward  H.),  The  Great  West.     N.  Y.,  1865;  N.  Y.,  1866. 

Hamlin,  (Hannibal),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  12,  1864. 

Hancock  (Samuel),  Thirteen  Years'  Residence  on  the  Nortliwest  Coast.     MS. 

Handel  and  Hayden  Society,  Constitution  and  By-Laws.     San  Francisco, 

1873. 
Hanford  (Abby  .J),  Indian  War  of  Seattle.     MS. 
Hardingc  (Seth),  Modoc  .lack.     New  York,  n.d. 
Harper  s  New  Monthly  Magazine.     New  York,  1856  et  seq. 
Harvey  (Mrs  Daniel),  Life  of  Jolni  McLoughlin.     MS. 
Hastings  (Lansford  W.),   Emigrants'  Guide  to  Oregon  and  California.     Cin- 

cumati,  1845;  New  History  of  Oregon  and  California.     Cincinnati,  1849. 
Hayes  (Benjamin),  Scrap  Books,  1850-74.     129  vols. ;  under  the  following  sub- 
titles:  Agriculture;  California  Notes,  5  vols.,  MS.  and  print;   Indians,  5 

vols;  Miniiif?.  1.3  vols.;  Natural  Phenomena,  3  vols. 
Healdsburg  (Ca       Enterprise,  March  13,  1879. 
Hearn  (F.  G.),  California  Sketeiies.     MS. 

Helena  (Montana),  Republican;  Rocky  Mountain  Gazette;  Virginia  City  Post. 
Henry  (A.  C),  Speech  to  the  citizens  of  Yamhill,  Dee.  3,  1855.     u.pl.,  u.d. 
Heron  (W.  P.),  Statement.     In  Camp-fire  Orations.     MS. 
Hesperian  (The).     San  Francisco,  1858-64.     11  vols. 

Hewitt  (R.  H.),  Memorandum  of  Journey  across  the  Plains.     Olympia,  1863. 
Hilliard,  Speech  in  U.  S.   H.  of  Rjp.,  March  33,  1848,  on  Bill  to  establish 

Territorial  Government  in  Oregon.     Washington,  1848. 
Hill  (Lair),  in  Agric.  Soc.  Report,  1862. 
Hillsboro,  Washington  Independent. 
Hines  ((Justavus),  Oregon  and  its   Institutions.     New  York,  n.d.;   Oregon: 

Its  History,  Cont'.ition,  etc.     Buffalo,  1851;   Voyage  round  the  World 

Buffalo,  1850. 
Hines  (H.  K.),  in  The  Dalles  Tribune,  May  23,  1877. 
Historical  Correspondence.     MS. 

Historical  Magazine  and  Notes  and  Qucriei.     Boston,  etc.,  1857-69,     15  vols. 
Hitchcock  (E.  A.),  Reports  on  Indian  Affairs.     r32d  Cong.,  1st  Suss.,  H.  Ex. 

Doc.  1;  34th  Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  76.  J 
Hittell  (John  S.),   History  of  San  Francisco.      San  Francisco,   1878.     Re- 
sources of  California.     San  Francisco,  1879. 
Hittell  (John  S.),  Tlie  Commerce  and  Industries  of  the  Pacific  Coast.     Saa 

Francisco,  18.")i..     4to. 
Hodgkin  (Frank  E.),  and  J.  J.  Galvin,  Pen  Pictures  of  Representative  Mea 

of  Oregon.     Portland,  1882. 
Hofer,  History  of  Idaho  County.     MS. 
Holdcn  (Horace),  Oregon  Pioneering.     MS. 
Holt,  Journal.     In  Oregon  Spectator,  March  4,  1847. 
Home  Missionary  (The).     New  York,  1846  et  seq. 
Honolulu,  Friend,  1843  et  seq.;  Polynesian,  1857  et  acq.;   Sandwich  Island 

News,  1846  et  seq. 
Hopkins  (C.  T.),  Explorations  in  Oregon.     la  Pioneer,  i._282. 
Houston  (Saml),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Senate,  April  1846. 
Howard  Quarterly  (The).     San  Francisco,  18J7  et  seq. 
Howison  (N.  M.),  Rjport  on  Coast,  Harbors,  etc.,  of  Oregon,  1840.     [30th 

Cong.,  1st  Sess.,  H.  Miss.  Doc.  29. J    Washington,  1848.^ 
Hudson's  Bay  and  Pngjt  Sound  Agricultural  Companies,  Evidence  for  the 

United  States.     Washineton,  1867;  Memorials  presented  to  the  Comtnis- 

sionera  April  17,  1865.    Washington,  1865;  Supplement  and  Appendix  to 

Argumerts  in  behalf  of  the  U.  S.     u.  pi.,  n.  d. 


I 


4:. 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


XXTU 


HumboliH  (Alex,  de),  Cosmos.  London,  18(54.  5  vols;  Essai  Politique,  sur  le 
Royaunie  de  la  Nouvellc  Espagne.  Paris,  1811.  folio.  2  vols,  and  atlas; 
Political  Essay  on  New  Spain;  Translated  oy  John  Black.    London,  1814. 

Hunter  (R.  M.  T.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  10,  1846. 

Hunt's  Merchant's  Magazine.     New  York,  1839  et  seq. 

Huston  (H.  C. ),  Autobiography.     In  Brown  Miscellanies.     MS. 

Hutchings'  Illustrated  California  Magazine.     San  Fr.incisco,  1857-61.    5  vols. 

Hutton,  Early  Events.     MS. 

Idaho  City,  Boise  News;  Idaho  World;  Signal. 

Ido  (William  B.),  Biographical  Sketch.      [Clareniontl,  1S80. 

Imray  (Jas.  F. ),  Si'iliug  Directions  for  W.  Coast  of  N.  i^.mcr.     London,  181)8. 

Independence  (Or.),  Riverside,  June  13,  1879. 

Independence,  Riverside. 

Indian  Affairs  on  the  Pacific.  [;i4th  Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  76.]  Wa.sh- 
ingtoTi,  IS!")?. 

Indian  War,  lS.")iV6,  Claims,  Expenses,  Petitions,  Reports,  etc.;  34th  Cong., 
1st  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  48,  93,  118,  Sen.  Doc.  26,  46,  66;  35th  Cong.,  1st 
Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  45;  35th  Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  51;  36th  Cong., 
1st  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  11;  37th  Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  46;  Sen. 
Com.  Rept.  8;  40th  Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  H.  Miss.  Doc.  88;  42d  Conf.,  2d 
Sess.,  Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  1;  42(1  Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  24,  51;  43d 
Cong.,  1st  Sess.,  H.  Com.  Rept.  837. 

Irving  (Washington),  Adventures  of  Bonneville.     New  York,  1860. 

Irving  (Washington),  Astoria.     New  York,  1860. 

Isaacs  (H.  P.),  Upper  Columbia  Basin.     MS. 

Jackson  (( rcorge  W. ),  Reminiscent  cs.     In  Camp-fire  Orations.     MS. 

Jacksonville,  Democratic  News;  Democratic  Times;  Oregon  Intelligencer; 
Oregon  Reporter;  Ravcille;  Sentinel;  Southern  Oregon  Pres.s. 

Jacksonville,  Ordinances  of  the  Town.     Jacksonville,  1876. 

Jacol)s  (0.),  Argument  in  favor  of  the  restoration  of  the  Lands,     n.  pi.,  n.  d. 

Jenkins  (John  S. ),  U.  S.  Exploring  Expeditions.     Auburn,  1850. 

.Fcssup  (Tl.  S. ),  Report  upon  cost  of  transporting  troops  and  supplies.  Wash- 
ington, 1854. 

Jolmson  (Tlieodore  T.),  California  and  Oregon.  Philadelphia,  1851;  Id.,  1857; 
Id.,  1865. 

Jones,  Solilioring  in  Oregon.     In  Harper's  Mag.,  xiii.  522. 

Josct,  Tlie  War  of  1855-6.     Mi\ 

Kaiser  (P.  C),  Emigrant  Roiwl.     MS. 

Kearny  (S.  H  ),  Report  of  a  Summer  Campaign  to  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
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Ke;'Lr  (J.  M.),  Teaching  in  OregoDi.     MS. 

Kelloy  (Hall  J.),  (Joneral  CircuLir  to  all  Persons  of  Good  Character  who 
wisli  to  Emigrate  to  Oregon  Territory.  CharlestoW",  1831;  (Jeographical 
Sketch  of  tliat  Part  of  North  Ainerica  called  Oregon.  Boston,  1830; 
Histcry  of  the  Ct^lonization  of  the  Oregon  Territory.  Worcester,  1850; 
History  of  the  Seltlemr.it  of  OregHi.  Springfield,  1868;  Memorial  pray- 
ing for  a  tlonation  of  Land,  etc.     n.  pi.,  n.  d. 

Kip  (Lawrence),  Army  Life  on  the  Pacific.     Redfield,  1859;  Indian  Council 


in  the  Valley  of  the  Walla  Walla.     Si:i  Francisco,  1855. 
Kirchhoff  (Theodor),   Reisebildcr  und   Skisscn  aus  Amcrika. 

1875,  1876. 
Knapp,  Statement.     MS. 
Knight's  Scrap  Books,  A  Collection  of  40  volumes. 


Now  York, 


La  Fayette,  Democratic  Sentinel;  Courier. 

LaCrande,  Blue  Mountain  Times;  Gazette;  Grand  Rond  Sentinel;  Mountain 

Democratic. 
Lakeside  Monthly  (The).     Chicago,  1872. 


xxviu 


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Lakevlew  (Or.),  State  Line  Herald. 

Lane  (Joseph),  Autobiography.     MS. 

Lane  (Joseph),  Remarks  in  U.  S.  H.  of  Rep.,  May  7,  1856,  on  Indian  War  ia 
Oregon.  Wash.,  185G;  Report  on  Indian  Hostilities  in  Oregon  [2.3d 
Cong.,  1st  Seas.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  1,  37];  Speech  in  U.  S.  H.  of  Rep.,  .April 
2,  \Si)C>,  on  Suppression  of  Indian  Hostilities.  Wasli.,  1856;  Speech  in 
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1858. 

Langley  (Heiu-y  Cr.),  Trade  of  the  Pacific.     San  Francisco,  1870. 

Ijarkin  (Thomas  O. ),  Documents  for  the  History  of  California,  18X9-56.  MS. 
9  vols. 

Larkin  (Thomas  O. ),  Official  Correspondence  as  U.  S.  Consul  and  Navy  Agent, 
1844-9.     MS.    2  vols. 

Latourelle  (D.  C. ),  Mhiutes  of  tlie  28th  Anniversary  of  the  Willamette  Bap- 
tist Association,  etc.     Portland  (Or.),  1876. 

Lawaon  (Jas.  S. ),  Autobiography.     MS. 

Lee  (Daniel),  and  J.  H.  Frost.     Ten  Years  in  Oregon.     New  York,  1844. 

Legend  of  the  Cascades.     In  Harper's  Mag.,  xlviii.,  1874,  313. 

Lewis  (Philip  H. ),  t  'oal  Diiicoveries  in  Washington  Territory.     MS. 

Lewis  (Meriwether),  and  William  Clarke,  Expedition  to  the  Sources  of  the 
Missouri  and  Pacific  Ocean,  1804-6.  Philadelphia,  1814.  2  vols;  New 
York,  1842.  2  vols;  Travels  to  the  Source  of  the  Missouri  River  and 
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Lewiston  (Idaho),  Golden  Age;  Idaho  Signal;  Northener;  Teller. 

Linn  (E.  A.),  and  N.  Sargent,  Life  and  Public  Services  of  Dr  Lewis  F.  Linn. 
New  York,  1857. 

Livingstone,  Biographical  Sketches.     MS. 

Logan  (David),  Telegram  to  Mayor  of  Portland,  Maine. 

Lockington  (W.  N.),  Notes  on  Pacific  Coast  fish  and  fisheries,     n.  pL,  1879. 

London,  Chronicle;  Morning  Post;  Punch;  Spectator;  Times. 

London  CJeographical  Society,  Journal.     London,  1831-70.    40  vols. 

Long  (Stephen  H.),  Account  of  Exploring  Expedition  from  Pittsburg  to  Rocky 
Mountains.     Philadelphia,  1823.    2  vols. 

Los  Angeles  (Cal. ),  Evening  Express. 

Los  Angeles  County,  Historical  Sketch.     Los  Angeles,  1876. 

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folio. 

Louisville  (Ky.),  Courier-Journal;  Democrat. 

Lovcjoy  {A.  L.),  Founding  of  Portland.     MS. 

Love  (Thomas),  Deposition  before  Joint  Commission,  1865. 

Lowe  (Thomas  R. ),  Lowe  the  Laborer,     San  Francisco,  1877. 

Lyons  (J.  D. ),  in  Historical  Correspondence.     MS. 

Lyons  (J.  D. ),  Hours  with.     MS, 

Maofarlane  (James),  Tlio  Coal  Regions  of  America.     New  York,  1873i 

MacCrregor  (John),  Commercial  Stfitistics,  iii. 

Mack  (Nathan  P. ),  Oregon  from  Sannder  Island.     MS. 

Mackenzie  (Alexan<ler),  Voyage  from   Montreal  to  tlio  Frozen  and   Pacific 

Oceans,  1789-93.     London,  1801.    4to;  New  Y'ork,  1814. 
Maize,  Early  Events.     MS. 
Mann  (S.  S.),  Letter  to  Mrs  Victor.     MS. 
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6  vols. 
Martin  (R.  M.),  The  Hudson's  Bay  Territories,  etc.     Loudon,  1849. 
Massett  (Stephen  C. ),  Drifting  About,  etc.     New  York,  1863. 
McCabo  (.Tames  D. ),  A  Comprehensive  View'of  our  Country  and  its  Resources. 

Phihidelpliia,  etc.    n.  d. 
McClano  (J.  B.),  Fiist  Wagon  Train  to  Or"gon.     MS. 
McCormick  (S.  J.),  Almanac,  1876,  1878. 
McCrackeu  (Jolm),  Early  Stcamboating.     MS. 


i". 


\UTH0RITIE8  QUOTED. 


XXIX 


■McDonaM  (A.),  Deposition  Iwfore  Joint  Commission,  1805. 

McDonald  (D.  H.  Forbes),  Britisli  Coluniliia  and  Vancouver  Island.     London, 

18(5.3. 
McKay  (William),  The  Early  History  of  the  Dalles.     In  Dalles  Mountaineer, 

May  28,  18G9. 
McKinlay  (Archibald),  Deposition  before  Joint  Commission,  18G5. 
McKinlay  (Archibald),  Narrative  of  a  Chief  Factor  of  Hudson  Bay  Cf)mi)any. 

MS. 
McLoughlin  (JohnI,  Copy  of  a  Document.     In  Oregon  Pion.  Assoc,  Trans., 

1880. 
McLoughlin  (John),  Private  Pajjers,  18'2.")-r)G.      MS. 
McMinnville,  Courier;  West  Side;  Yamhill  County  Reporter. 
Mann  (S.  S. ),  Recollections.     In  Historical  Correspondence.     MS. 
Mann  (S.  S.),  The  Settlement  and  Early  Settlers  of  Coos  Bay.     Marshtield, 

1870. 
Marsh  (John),  Letter  to  Commodore  Jones,  1842.     MS. 
Marshall  (Henry),  Statement.     1843.     MS. 

Marshall  (T.  W.  M.),  Christian  Missions.     Nev/  York,  18G4.    2  vols. 
Marshfield,  Coos  B;iy  News. 
Marysville  (Cal.),  Appeal;  Telegraph. 
M;issacro  of  Immigrants  by  the  Snake  Indians  in  Aug.  1854,  Correspondence 

relating  to.     Saleiti,  1854. 
Mathias  (Franklin),  Fraser  anil  Thompscm  River  (Jold  Mines.     In  Olympia 

Pion.  and  Dem.,  May  14,  1858. 
Matthieu  (F,  X.),  Refugee,  Trapper,  and  Settler.     MS. 
Meacham  (A.   B.),   Indian  Policy.     [41st  Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  I4G.] 

Wash.  1870;  The  Wigwam  and  War  Path. 
Mearos  (John),  Voyages  made  in  1788-89  from  China  to  the  N.  W.  Coast  of 

America.     London,  1790;  Id.,  1791,  2  vols. ;  other  editions. 
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Mercer  (T.),  Reminiscences.     In  Wa.shington  Territory  Sketches.     MS. 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  Columbia  River  Conference,  Minutes  of  iVnnual 

Sessions.     Sau  Francisco,  1875  et  set^. 
Military  Posts  from  Council  Bluff's  to  PaciKc  Ocean,  Report  on.     [27th  Cong., 

•M  Sess.,  H.  Com.  Rept.  31.]     Wu.sliiiigton,  1S42. 
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Washington,  185(). 
Miller  (.loacjuin).  Life  amongst  the  Modocs.     London,   1873;    Ride  through 

Oregon.     In  Overland,  viii.  303;  Shadows  of  Shasta.     Chicago,  1881. 
Milwaukee  (Wis.),  Star. 
Mining  Magazine.     New  York,  1853  et  scij. 
Minti)  (.lohn).  Early  Days  of  (h-egon.      MS. 
Minto  (M.  A.),  Female  Pioneering  in  Oregon.     MS. 

iMissionary  Life  in  the  Nineteenth  Century,  Pictures  of.     London,  18.58. 
Missionary  Labors  in  Oreg<m,   Documents,  1830-48.     [41st  Cong.,  .3d  .Sess., 

Sen.  boc.  37.]     Washington,  1849. 
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Mitchell  (John  H.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Sen.,  Feb.  12,  1874,  on  Indian  depreda- 
tions  in  Oregon.  Wash.,  1874;  S|ieecli  in  U.  S.  Sen.,  Dec.  7,  1877,  on 
Northern  Pacific  and  Portland  R.  R.  Wash.,  1877. 
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2d  Sess.,  H.  E.\.  Doc.  45,  131.]  Waah.,  1874;  Memorial  for  Compensa- 
tion. [43.1  Cong.,  2(1  Sess.,  Sen.  Misc.  Doc.  .32.)  Wash.,  1S74;  Official 
Correspondence.  |43d  Cong.,  1st  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  122.]  Wash.,  1874; 
Scrap  lidok,  Statement  of.  Portland,  1873. 
Mofras  (Eugene  Dutlot  de),  Exploration  due  Territoire  do  I'Oriigon.     Paris, 

1844.    2  vols,  and  atlas. 
Monmontli,  Christia.i  Messenger. 
Monmouth  (Or.),  Christian  College  Catalogue,  1878. 
Monterey,  Califoruian,  1840-8.     Also  a  vol.  of  MS.  extraots. 


XXX 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


Monterey  (Cal.),  Democrat. 

Moore  (J.  M.),  Instructiona  to  the  Surveyor-Gen.  of  Oregon,  etc.    Wash,,  ISt'I, 

Morris  (.lamea),  Recollections.     In  Camp-fire  Orations.     MS. 

Morrison,  Reminiscences.     MS. 

Morse  (Eldridgc),  Notes  of  the  History  and  Resources  of  Washington  Terri- 
tory.    MS.    24  vols. 

Moseley  (H.  N.),  Oregon:  Its  Resources,  etc.     Lon<lon,  1878. 

Moss  (Sidney  W.),  Pictures  of  Oregon  City.     M.S. 

Moss  (Sydney  W.),  Pioneer  Times.     MS. 

Mountaineering  in  the  Pacific.     In  Harper's  Mag.,  xxxix.,  Nov.  1869,  793. 

Mullan  (John),  Miners'  and  Travellers  Guide  to  Oregon,  etc.  New  York, 
1805;  Report  on  the  Construction  of  a  Military  Road.    Wash.,  18(53 

Multnomah  County  Medical  Society,  Constitution,  etc.     Portland,  1873. 

Murdock  (Wm.  D.  C),  Our  True  Title  to  Oregon.     Georgetown  (D.  C),  1845. 

Murphy  (J.  M.),  Directory  of  Oregon.     Portland,  1873. 

Murray  (Walter),  Narrative  of  a  California  Volunteer,  1847.    MS. 

Myer  (W.  C),  Percheron  Horses,  etc.     Salem  (Or.),  1878. 

Napa  (Cal.),  County  Reporter,  Nov.  G,  1880. 

Naah  (Wallis),  Oregon:  There  and  Back  in  1877.     London,  1878. 

National  Almanac,  1863,  1864.     Pliiladelphia,  etc. 

National  Democ.  Quart.  Review,  Nov.  1859. 

Nesmith  (J.  W.),   Annual  Address.     In  Or.  Pion. 

Occasional  address  in  Or.   Pion.  Assoc,  Trans 

of  the  Rogue  River  War.     In  Or.  Pion.  Assoc, 
Nesmith  (J.  W. ),  Recollections.     In  Camp-fire  Orations, 
Nesmith  (J.  W. ),  Reminiscences.     MS. 
Nesmith  (J.  W.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Senate,  April  1,  1864. 
Nevada  (Cal. ),  Gazette;  Journal. 

Newberry  (J.  S.),  (rcological  Report  upon  Route.    In  Pacific  R.  R.  Repts.,  vi. 
Newbury  (J.  S.),  Zoological  Report,  in  Pacific  R.  R.  Repts.,  vi. 

■     "  ew  York,  1800. 


Assoc,  Trans.,   1880,  8; 
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Trans.,  1879,  43. 
MS. 


,17.     MS. 
Oregon.    In  Portland  Demo- 


Newcomb  (Harvey),  A  Cyclopedia  of  Missions. 

Newell  (Robert),  Memoranda.     MS. 

Newell  (Robert),  Letter  to  E.  Evans,  Feb.  27,  1 

Newell  (V^^  H.),  Strictures  on  (iray's  History  c, 
cratie  Herald.     Oct.  1886. 

New  Haven  (Conn. ),  Courier  and  Journal. 

New  Mexico  Rcvisita  Cabolica,  1883. 

New  Orleans  (La.),  Picayune. 

New  Tacoma,  Herald;  Ledger;  North  Pacific  Coast;  Times. 

New  Westminster,  British  Columbia  Examiner;  Mainland  Guardian. 

New  York,  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal;  Engineering  and  Mining  Journar; 
Ethnological  .lournal;  Express;  Herald;  Journal  of  Commerce;  Meth- 
odist; Sun;  Times;  Tribune. 

New  York  Eng.  and  Min.  Journal,  in  Portland  Herald,  March  25,  1871. 

New  York  Evening  Post,  in  S.  F.  Bulletin,  Nov.  8,  1866. 

New  York  Maritime  Register,  Jan.  30,  1877,  in  Portland  Wkly  Oregonian, 
Feb.  16,  1878. 

Nicholson  (John),  Deposition  before  .Joint  Commission,  1865. 

Nichols  (Roweiia),  Indian  Afl'aira.     MS. 

Nichols  (Roweiia),  Rogue  River  War.     MS. 

Nicolay  (C.  G.),  The  Oregon  Territory.     London,  1846. 

Niles' Register.     Baltimore,  etc,  1811-49.    76  vols. 

Nordholf  (Charles),  in  Harper's  Magazine,  Feb.  1874. 

Nordhoff  (Charles),  Northern  California,  Oreg(m,  etc.     New  York,  1874. 

North  American  Review.     Boston,  IS19etseq. 

Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  Charter,  etc.  Bo.ston,  1865;  Guide  to  Limds.  New 
York,  1872;  Land  Department,  n.pl.,  n.d. ;  Land  Grant,  n.pl.,  n.d.; 
Memorial  of  Board  of  Directors.  Hartford,  1867;  Report  of  E.  F.  John- 
son, Nov.  18(»7.  Hartford,  1867;  Route,  Res(mrces,  etc.  n.pl.,  n.d.; 
Stewart's  Report  in  U.  S.  Sen.,  Feb.  19,  1860.  [40th  Cong.,  3d  Sess., 
Rept.  Com.  219.J     Washington,  1860. 


AUTH0111TIE8  QUOTED. 


XXXI 


ish.,  18tl. 


ton  Terri- 


)9,  793. 
ew  York, 
1863 
1873. 
C),  1845. 


1880,  8; 
illections 


epts.,  vi. 


1  Demo- 


ournaf; 
Meth- 


foiuan. 


New 

n.tl.; 

John- 

n.d.; 

Seas., 


North  Pacific  Review.     San  Francisco,  1802-3.    2  vols. 

Northwestern  Storage  and  Conuiiission  Company,  Articles  of  Incorporation. 

Portland,  1875. 
Nouvcllea  Anuales  des  Voyages.     Paris,  1819-60.    168  vols, 

Oakland  (C'al.),  Evening  Termini;  Times;  Torchlight;  Tribune. 

Oakland  (Cal.),  Transcript. 

Oakland  (Or.),  Centeimial;  Umpqua  Call. 

Odd-Fellows.  A  large  mimher  of  puMications  of  dififerent  lodges  of  the 
order,  cited  under  the  ahovo  title. 

Odell,  Biography  of  Tliurston.     !MS. 

Odeneal  (T.  B.),  The  Modoc  War.     Porthuul,  1873. 

Ohio,  Statesman. 

Olympia  (Wash.),  Unitarian  Advocate. 

Olynipia  (W.  T.),  Commercial  Age;  Columbian;  Pioneer  and  Democrat;  Puget 
Sound  Courier;  Territorial  Kcpublican;  Transcript;  Washington  Demo- 
crat; Washington  Standard. 

Oregon,  An  Election  Tract,     n.pl.,  n.d. 

Oregon  Afl":iirs,  Letter  of  Secretary  of  War,  April  11,  18(50.  [36th  Cong.,  1st 
Sess.,  11.  Ex.  Doc.  60.]     Waslungton,  1860. 

Oregon,  American  ami  Evangelical  Unionist.     Tualatin,  1848. 

Oregon  and  Cal.  R.  R.  Tarifl',  1876. 

Oregon,  Anecdotes.     MS. 

Oregon  and  California,  A  Collection. 

Oregon  and  California  R.  R.  Company,  Collection  of  Laws  and  Documents, 
u.  pi.,  n.  d.,  fol. ;  Local  Freight  Tariff.     Portland,  1876. 

Oregon  and  Washington,  Claims  growing  out  of  Indian  Hostilities.  [35th 
Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  51;  36th  Cong.,  1st  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  11.] 
Wash.,  1858-9;  Indian  Hostilities.  [34th  Cong.,  1st  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  118J. 
Wasli.,  1856;  Indian  Service,  Rcpt.  Sec.  Int.,  March  2,  18<J0.  [3()th 
Cong.,  1st  Sess.,  Sen.  Ex.  17.]  Wa.sh.,  1860;  Ri'S(mrces.  Portland,  1880 
etbe(]. ;  Scrap  Book;  Settler's  Guide.     New  York,  1872. 

Oregon  and  Washington  Delegation,  Statement  in  regard  to  War  Claims, 
n.  pi.,  n.  d. 

Oregon,  Approval  of  the  Oregon  Bill,  Message  from  President,  Dec.  6,  1 848, 
[30th  Cong.,  2d  Sess.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  3.]     Washington,  1848. 

Oregon  Archives,  1844-50,  Unitublisiied  Documents.     MS. 

Oregon  Commercial  Review.     Porthuul,  1877. 

Oregon  Controvcr.sy  Revived,  etc.     New  York,  1846. 

Oregon:  Cost  and  Conse(piences.     Pliiladelphia,  1846, 

Oregon,  Cultivator;  Herald;  Marine  Gazette. 

Oregon,  Facts  regarding  Climate,  Soil,  etc.  Boston,  1876;  Boston,  1877: 
Boston,  1878. 

Oregon,  Fur-hunting  in.     In  Harper's  Mag.,  xii.,  18.56,  340. 

Oregon,  Instructions  to  tlie  Surveyor-tJeneral.     Washington,  1851. 

Oregon,  Its  A<lvan;iges,  etc.      Portland,  1870. 

Oregon,  Journals  of  Assenddy,  Council,  H(mso  and  Senate,  1st  to  9th  session, 
1849-76,  19  vols.,  containing  all  public  documents  printed  l)y  the  States 
which  arc  cited  in  my  notes  by  their  titles  and  (hites,  the  title  consisting 
of  'Oregon,'  followed  by  one  of  the  following  heaibngs:  Acts;  Adjutant- 
(ieneral  s  Report;  Archives;  Code  of  Civil  Procedure;  Constitution;  Deaf 
and  Dumb  Institute;  Election  Laws;  Inaugural  Addresses  of  Governors; 
Insane  Asylum  Reports;  Institute  for  the  Bliiul;  Investigating  Connnis- 
sion;  L;iws — Organic,  (ieneral,  and  otlic^rs;  Message  and  Documents; 
Public  Instruction  Reports;  Public  Scliools  Reports;  Revenue;  Se<Tetary 
of  State  Reports;  Scliool  L;inds;  Sdiool  Laws;  State  Agricultural  College; 
Stiite  Agricultural  Society;  State  <  leologist;  State  Librarian;  State  Peni- 
tentiary; State  Treasurer;  Statutes. 

Oregon,  Mnnites  of  the  Congregational  A.ssociatiou.     Porthmd,  bSliOetseip 

Oregon  Missions,  letter  of  the  Secretary  of  tiie  Interior,  Keli.  8,  1871.  |41st 
Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  37.]     Washington,  1871. 


m  :i 


xxxu 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


Oregon,  Memorial  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  relative  to  their  preseut  situ- 
ation and  wants,  August  10,  1848.  [80th  Cop  '.,  IstSess.,  H.  Misc.  Rept., 
1)8.  J    Wiishington,  1848. 

Oregon,  Petition  of  Citizens  that  laws  of  tho  U.  S.  may  be  extended,  May  8, 
1848.     [30th  Cong.,  Ist  Sess.,  Sen.  Misc.  Doc,  13G.]     Washington,  1848. 

Oregon  Relics.     MS. 

Oregon,  Report  of  the  Committee  directing  an  inquiry  into  the  situation  of 
the  settlements  on  the  Pacific  Ocean,  etc.  Jan.  25,  1821.  Washington, 
1821. 

Oregcn,  Report  of  Select  Committee,  Jan.  6,  1838.  [25th  Cong.,  2d  Sess., 
Sen.  Rupt.  470.]     Washington,  1838. 

Oregon,  Report  of  Committee  on  P'oreign  AflFairs,  Jan.  4,  1839.  [25th  Cong., 
3d  Soss.,  H.  Rept.  101.]     Washington,  1839. 

Oregon  State  Immigration  Society,  Articles  of  Incorporation.  Portland, 
1877. 

Oregon,  Sketches.     MS. 

Oregon,  Sketclies  of  Mission  Life  among  the  Indians  of.    New  York.    n.  d. 

Oregon  Speeches.     A  Collection. 

Oregon  Spectator,  1848.     MS.  extracts. 

Oregon  Stock  Protective  Association  Report. 

Oregon  Supreme  Court,  Reports,  by  Jos.  (}.  Wilsi.i.  New  York,  1862-9.  2 
vols. ;  Reports  of  Cases  argued  and  detemunea  ty  Bellinger.  San  Fran- 
cisco, 1880.     7  vols. 

Oregon,  The  Early  Labors  of  the  Missionaries  of  the  American  Board.  [4l8t 
Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  Sen.  Ex.  I)oc.  37.]    Wasliington,  1872, 

Oregon,  Wealth  and  Resources.     Salem,  18(54. 

Oregon  Board  of  Trade,  Annual  Reports.     Portland,  1 875  et  sen. 

Oregon  Central  Military  Road,  Report  of  Recent  Sui-v'eys.  Eugene  City, 
18{>5. 

Oregon  Central  Rfiilroad  Company,  Address  to  the  People.  Salem,  1868; 
Statement  of  Facts  relative  to  Incorporation,  etc.     Portland,  1808. 

Oregon  Medical  Society,  Proceedings.     Portland,  1875  et  seq. 

Oregon  Medical  and  Surgeon  Riiporter.     Salem,  1809  et  seq. 

Oregon  Monthly  Magazine.     Portland,  1854  et  seq. 

Oregon  Pliysio-Medical  Journal.     Salem,  18C0  et  seq. 

Oregon  Pioneer  Association,  Constitution,  etc.  Salem,  ^1875;  Trar  actions. 
Salem,  1876  et  sec[. 

Oregon  Protestiint  Episcopal  Clmrch,  History  of.     Vancouver,  1876. 

Oregon  City,  Enterprise;  Oregon  Argus;  Spectator. 

Overland  Monthly.     San  Francisco,  1808-75.      15  vols. 

Pacific  Northwest,  Facts  relating  to  the  History,  Topography,  etc.  New 
"S'ork,  1882;  Travellers'  Ciuide.     Portland,  1882. 

Pacilic  Radroad  Reports.     Wasliington,  1855-00.     4to.      13  vols. 

Pacific  Tlirashing-machine  Circular.     Portland,  1878. 

Pacific  University  and  Tualatin  Academy,  Catalogue.    Portland,  1864  et  seq. 

Palmer  (Joel),  Early  Intercourse.     MS. 

Palmer  (.loul),  Journal  of  Travels  over  the  Rocky  Mountauis,  1845-<).  Cin- 
cinnati, 1852. 

Palmer  (.loel),  Wagon  Trains.     MS. 

Pajaid  (Cal.),  Times. 

Parker  (Samuel),  .lournal  of  an  Exploring  Tour  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Ithaca,  1838;  Id.,  1840;  Auburn,  1842;  Id.,  1846. 

Parker  (J.  (J.),  Puget  Sound.     MS. 

Parkman  (Francis),  The  California  iind  Oregon  Trail.     New  York,  1849. 

"arvisli  (J.  L. ),  Anecdotes  of  Oregon.     MS. 

Parsons  ((rcorge  F. ),  Life  and  Adventui'es  of  James  W.  Marshall.  Sacra- 
iiDuto,  1870. 

tcit.'e  (H.  M.),  Journals,  MS.;  Memoranda,  MS.;  Rough  Sketch,  MS. 

Peihii  ton.  East  Oregonian,  Independent. 

Poii.lU  ion  (J.  S.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  1846. 


in  i' 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


XXXllI 


it  situ- 
Rept., 

May  8, 
I,  1848. 

.tion  of 
ingtoii, 

iSesa. , 

Cong., 

rtlaud, 

a.  (I. 


:-9.     2 
Frail- 

[4l8t 


City, 
1868; 


tions. 

New 

seq. 
Cin- 


Pendleton  (Or.),  Tribune. 

PenfM-a  (B.  J.),  Report  of  Recent  Surveys  of  the  Oregon  Central  Military 
Roail.     Eugene  City,  1865. 

Peoria  (Illinois),  Register. 

Perkins  (James  H.),  Annals  of  tlie  West.     St  Louis,  1850. 

Petaluma,  Argus. 

Pettygrovo  (F.  W.),  Oregon  in  1842.     MS. 

Phelps,  Reminiscences  of  Seattle.     MS. 

Philadelpliia,  Council  Fire;  Sun. 

Philomatli,  Crucible. 

Philomath  College,  Catalogue.     Philomath,  1877. 

Pickett  (Charles  E.),  The  Paris  Exposition,  etc.     San  Francisco,  1877. 

Pioche  (Nev.),  Record. 

Pioche  (Nev.),  Journal. 

Pioneer  ('li.o).     San  Francisco,  18.54-5.     4  vols. 

Pioneer  and  Historical  Society  of  Oregon,  Proceedings.     Astoria,  1872. 

Placerville  (Cal.),  Courier. 

I'ollock  (J.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  16,  1846. 

Poore  (B.  P.),  Congressional  Directory,  1882-3.     Washington,  1883. 

Portland  Academy  Catalogue,  1868. 

Portland,  Information  for  the  Guidance  of  Foreign  Vessels.     Portland,  1875. 

Portland  Newspapers,  Advertiser,  Bee,  Bulletin,  Catholic  Sentinel,  Commer- 
cial, Commercial  Reporter,  Democratic  Era,  Deutche  Zeituug,  Dramatic 
Chronicle,  Evening  News,  Herald,  National  (iazette.  New  Northwest, 
News,  Oregon  Churchman,  Oregon  Herald,  Oregonian,  Oregon  Times, 
Pacific  Christian  Advocate,  Pioneer,  Real  Estate  Gazette,  Rieal  Estate 
Journal,  Standard,  Telegram,  Temperance  Star,  West  Shore,  Willamette 
Farmer. 

Portland  Academy  and  Female  Seminary,  Catalogue.     Portland,  1868  et  seq. 

Portland  Board  of  Trade,  Reports.     Portland,  1876  et  sen. 

Portlanil  Library  Association,  Annual  Reports.  Portland,  1865  et  seq.;  Con- 
stitution, etc.     Portlan<l,  1878. 

Portland  Oregon  Case,  Brief  on  Behalf  of  Stark,  Coffin,  etc.  Washington, 
n.  d. 

Portland  Public  Schools,  Rules  and  Reg\ilations.     Portland,  1875. 

Portland  (East),  Charter  and  Ordinances.     East  Portland,  1875. 

Port  Townsend  (W.  T.),  Argus;  Message. 

Prescott  (Ariz.),  Arizona  Miner. 

Prim  (P.  P.),  Judicial  AflFairs.     MS. 

Proceedings  First  Natl  Convention  of  Cattlemen.     St  Louis,  1884. 

Protestant  Episcopal  Church,  2.3d  Convocation.     Portland  (Or.),  1875. 

Pueblan  el  Nuevo  Oregon,  in  Olivera  Docs. 


Quarterly  Review.     London,  1809  et  seq. 
Quigley  (Hugh),  The  Irish  Ilace  in  California,  etc. 
Quincy  (111. ),  Union. 


MS. 


San  Francisco,  1878. 


Rabbison  (Antonio  B.),  Growth  of  Towns. 

Raymond,  Notes.     MS. 

Raymond  (R.  W.),  Mining  Industry,  etc.  New  York,  1874.  Silver  and 
Gold,  etc.  New  York,  1878.  Statistics  of  Mii.es  and  Mining.  Wash- 
ington, 1S70. 

Red  Bluff  (Cal),  People's  Cause. 

Re.lBluflF(Cal.),  Sentinel. 

Rees  (Willard  H.),  Address  before  Oregon  Pioneer  Assoc.  In  Or.  Pion. 
Assoc,  Trans.,  1879. 

Rees  (W.  H.),  Letter  to  H.  H.  Bancroft,  Sept.  8,  1879;  in  Proceedings  of 
Or.  Hist.  Society,  1875;  in  Portland  Wkly  Oregonian,  Feb.  5,  1876. 

Reid  (of  North  Carolina),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Feb.  7,  1846. 

Reid  (William),  Progress  of  Oregon  and  Portland  from  1868-78.  Portlaud, 
1879. 


JCXXIV 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTEE 


Hemy  (Jules),  and  Julius  Breuchley,  A  Journey  to  Great  Salt  Lake  City. 

London,  1861.  2  vola. 
Keno  (Nev.),  Gazette, 
lioao  (Nev. ),  State  Journal. 
Revere  (Joseph  Warren),  A  Tour  of  Duty  in  California.    New  York,  1849, 

etc. 
Rhinchart  (W.  V.),  Malheur  Indians.     MS. 
Rhinehart  (W.  V.),  Oregon  Cavalry.     MS. 

Richardson  (Albert  D.),  Beyond  the  Mississippi.     Hartford,  1807. 
Ridpath  (John  C),  Popular  History  of  the  U.  S.     New  York,  18V7. 
Ritz  (Philip),  Great  Northern  Interior.     MS. 
Robert  (H.  M,),  Annual  Report  upon  the  Improvement  of  Rivers  in  Orogon« 

Washington,  1873. 
Roberts  ((ieorge  B.),  Recollections  of  Hudson's  Bay  Co.     MS. 
Roberts  (William),  Tlic  Oregon  Bible  Society.     Portland,  187<5. 
Robertson  (Wyndham),  Oregon.     Washington,  1846. 
Roder  (Henry),  Bellingham  Bay.     MS, 

Roseburg,  Ensign;  Independent;  Pantagraph;  Plaindealer;  Western  Star. 
Ross  (Alexander),  Adventures  of  the  First  Settlers  on  the  Oregon.     London, 

1849. 
Ross  (John  E.),  Narrative  of  an  Indian-Fighter.     MS. 
Rossi  ( L'Abbe),  Souvenirs  d'un  Voyage  en  Oregon  et  en  Californie.     Paris, 

1864. 
Russell  (Florence),  Child  Life  in  Oregon.     Boston,  n.  d. 
Russell  (John),  Recollections  and  Suggestions.   1813-73.     Boston,  1875. 
Russell  (William),  Narrative.     In  Oregon  Sketches.     MS. 
Ryan  (R.  F.),  Enos,  or  the  last  of  the  Modocs.     San  Francisco,  1873;  Judges 

and  Criminals,     In  Golden  Era  [1853]. 

Sacramento  (Cal.),  Bee;  Record;  Record-Union;  Transcript. 

Saint  Amant  (M.  de),  Voyages  en  Californie  et  dans  I'Oregon.     Paris,  1854, 

St  Helena  (Cal.),  Wkly  Star. 

St  Helen's  (Or.)  Hall,  Catalogue,  1873. 

St  Louis  (Mo.),  Gazette;  Republican;  Union, 

St  Louis  (Mo,),  Republican,  in  Salt  Lake  City  Tribune,  Oct,  2,  1879. 

St  Matthew  (Jolm  H.),  in  Overland  Monthly,  vi,  299-303. 

Salem,  American  Unionist,  Argus,  Baptist  Beacon,  Capital  Chronicle,  Chron- 
icle, College  Dial,  Democratic  Preso,  Democratic  Review,  Literary 
Gazette,  Mercury,  Oregon  Arena,  Oregon  Educational  Monthly,  Oregon 
Statesman,  Real  Estate  Circular,  Record,  Town  Talk,  Willamette 
Farmer. 

Salisbury  (Conn.),  News. 

Salt  Lake  City,  Herald;  Tribune. 

San  Bernardino  (Cal,),  Argus;  Guardian-Times. 

San  Diego  (Cal,),  Union, 

Sandwich  Islands  Gazette;  News. 

San  Francisco  Newspapers,  Alta  California,  Cal.  Courier,  Cal,  Farmer,  Cal. 
Star,  Call,  Christian  Advocate,  Chronicle,  Coast  Review,  Commercial 
Herald,  Elevator,  Evangel,  Evening  Bulletin,  Evening  Picayune,  Exam- 
iner, Golden  Era,  Globe,  Herald,  Journal  of  Commerce,  Mercantile  Re- 
view and  Ship,  Register,  Mining  and  Scientific  Press,  Mining  Review 
and  Stock  Ledger,  Monitor,  New  Age,  News  Letter,  Pacific  News,  Pacific 
Rural  Press,  Post,  Scientific  Press,  Times, 

San  Joaquin  County,  History  of.     Oakland,  1879.  Atlas,  folio. 

San  Jos^  (Cal.),  Patriot;  Pioneer. 

San  Jos^,  Times, 

Santa  Barbara  (Cal, ),  Index. 

Santa  Cruz,  Sentinel;  Courier. 

Santa  Rosa  (Cal. ),  Democrat. 

Sawyer  (L.  S.  B.),  Reports  of  Cases  Decided  in  the  Circuit  and  District 
Courts,  etc,     San  Francisco,  1873-80.     5  vols. 


I 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTEU. 


XXXV 


Paris, 


latrict 


Raxon  (Isabella),  Five  Years  within  the  Golden  flate.     Philailelphia,  18C8. 

Saxton  (Charles),  in  Niies'  Itegister,  Ixix.  '242. 

Saxton  (Charles),  Oregon  Territory.     Oregon  City,  1840. 

Say  ward  (W.  T.),  Pioneer  Ileminiscenccs.     MS. 

Scammoa  (C.  M.),  In  and  around  Astoria.     In  Overland,  iii.  495. 

Scenes  in  the  Rocky  Mountains.     Pliiladelphia,  1840. 

Schoolcraft  (Henry  R.),  Archives  of  Aboriginal  Knowledge.     I'hiladelphia, 

18(50.  Gvols. 
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U.  S.  Geol.  Survey,  Hayden,  Bulletin  III.  No.  I.  '27. 
Scraflf  (John  P.),  Letter  of.     In  Walla  Walla  Union,  April  II,  1874. 
Scribner's  Monthly  Magazine  [later  The  CenturyJ.     New  York,  1871  et  seq. 
Seattle  (Wash.),  Intelligencer;  Pacific  Tribune;  Puget  Sound  Dispatch. 
Seattle  Wkly  Post. 

Sevier  (A.  H.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Senate,  March  '25,  1840. 
Seward  (William  H.),  Speeches  in  Aliiaka,  Vancouver's  and  Oregon,  Aug. 

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Sharpies  (A.),  Introductory  Address,  etc.     Salem  (Or.),  1807. 
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Shea  (John  Gilmary),  History  of  the  Catholic  Missions.     New  York,  1855. 
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Silliman  (Benjamin),  American  Journal  of  Science  and  Art.     New  Haveu, 

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Simpson  (Sir  G.),  in  Hud.  Biiy  Co.  Report,  July  and  Aug.  1857. 
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1st.  Sess.,  Sen.  Doc.  47.]    Washington,  1849. 
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Steilacoom  (Wash. ),  Puget  Sound  Herald. 


XX  XVI 


AUrHORri'IEN  gUOTEl). 


i\ 


Stephens  (Akxandor),  Speech  in  U.  S.  H.  of  Rep.,  Fel».  12,  1859,  on  AdmiH- 
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Taylor  (Alexander  S.),  Hist.  Summary  of  Lower  California.  la  Browne's 
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Taylor  (Christopher),  Oregoniana  in  the  Californian  Mines.     1848.  MS. 

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Tilton  (James),  Deposition  before  Joint  Commission,  1865. 

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i 


A UTUDHITIES  y UOTKI>. 


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,  J858; 
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ou  thtj 

B8. 

iinnati, 


lington 
lines  of 


ndians. 

Folio, 
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Tucker  (Ephraiiu  W. ),  A  History  of  Oregon.     Buflulo,  1844. 

Tuthill  (Franklin),  History  of  California.     San  Francisco,  1866. 

Tuthill  (Win.  M. ),  Pioneer  Justice  in  Oregon.     In  Overland,  xii.  224. 

Tuzo  (H.  A.),  Deposition  before  Joint  Coniniission,  1805. 

Twiss  (Travcrs),  The  Ongon  Question.  Loudon,  1840;  The  Oregon  Terri- 
tory.    New  York,  1840,  etc. 

Tyson  (P.  T.),  in  Son.  Ex.  Doc.  47,  Slst  cong.  Ist  sesa. 

Umatilla,  Advertiser;  Colund)ia  Press. 

Umpqua  Academy,  Catalogue.     Salem,  1808et8eq. 

Umpcjua  (Or.),  Wkly  (Jazctte. 

Union,  Mountain  Sentinel. 

Uniouvillu  (Nov.),  Register;  Silver  State. 

United  States  Catholic  Magazine.     Bidtimore,  1844  et  seq. 

United  States  Exploring  Expedition  [Wilkes].  Philadelphia,  1944-58.  4to,  17 
vols. ,  folio,  8  vols. 

United  States  Geological  and  Geographical  Surveys.  J.  W.  Powell,  Contri- 
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United  States  Geological  Surveys  of  tlie  TorritoriL's.  F.  V.  Hayden.  Annual 
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United  States  Geological  Surveys  West  of  the  100th  Meridian.  George  W. 
Wheeler.  Bulletins,  Reports,  and  Various  Publications.  Washington, 
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Pacific  Rivilroail;  Meteorological  Reports;  Patent  Office;  Postmaster- 
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United  States  Government  Documents,  House  Exec.  Doc;  House  Journal; 
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Veatch  (John  A.),  Oregon,  Washington,  1809. 

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the  Oregon  Mountains.  In  Overland,  iv.  201;  Woman's  War  with 
Whiskey.     Portland,  1874. 

Victor  (Frances  Fuller),  Captain  Jack  and  His  Defence.     MS. 

Victor  (Frances  Fuller),  in  Overland  Monthly,  xiii.  129-31. 

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Standard. 


XXXVllt 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


I 


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Waldo  (Daniel),  Critiques.     MS, 

Walker  (Joel  P.).  Narrative.     MS. 

Wallamet,  or  Willaitiette.     n.  |)1.,  n.  d. 

Wallainot  University,  Catalogue.     Salem,  1863  et  seq. 

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Washington  Territory,  Sketches.     MS. 

Wivs-sen  (F.),  The  District  of  the  Lakes.     In  Overland,  ii.  160. 
Watt  (Jos. ),  in  Camp- lire  Orations.     MS. 
Watt  (W.  W.),  First  Things  of  Oregon.     MS. 
Weed  (Charles  E.),  Queen  Charlotte  Island  Expedition.     MS. 
Wells  (William  V.),  Wild  Life  in  Oregon.     In  Harper's  Mag.,  xiii.  588. 
Wentworth  (of  111.),  Speeches  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  27,  1846;  Jan.  14,  1846. 
Western,  Biography  of  Joseph  Lane.     Washington,  1852. 
Weston,  Lea(ler. 

Whatcom  (Wash.),  Bellingham  Bay  Mail. 
White  (Col.),  Recollections.     In  Camp-fire  Orations.     MS. 
White  (Elijah),  A  Concise  View  of  Oregon  History.     Washington,  1840;  Ten 

Years  in  Oregon.  Ithaca,  1850;  Testimonials  and  Records.    Wash.,  1861; 

Tlirilling  Adventures.     New  York,  1859. 
White  (Elijah),  Government  and  the  Emigration  to  Oregon.     MS. 
Whitman  (Marcus),  Results  of  the  Oregon  Mission.     In  Missionary  Herivld, 

Dec.  1806. 
Whitman  (Perrin  B.),  Letter.     MS. 

Whitman  County  in  the  (Ireat  Palouse  Country,  Descriptive.     Colfax,  1878. 
Whitman  and  the  Massacre  of  his  Protestant  Mission.     San  Francisco,  18''4. 
Wick  (Wm.  W.),  Speech  in  House  of  Rep.,  Jan.  30,  1846. 
Williamson  (R.  T.),  in  U.  S.  Senate,  .31  cong.,  1st  sess. 
Williams,  South-western  Oregon.     MS. 

Wilkes  (Charles),  Narrative  of  the  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition.     Philadel- 
phia, 1844.  4to.  3  vols.;  Philadelphia,  1845.  5  vols.;  London,  1845. 
Wilkes  (Charles),  Western  America.     Piiiladelphia,  1849. 
Wilkes  (George),  History  of  Oregon.     New  York,  1845. 
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Willamette  Falls,  Canal,  antl  Lock  Company  Circular.     Oregon  City,  1869. 
Williams  (George  H.),  Speech  in  U.  S.  Sen.,  Feb.  4,  iS68,  on  Reconstruction. 

Washington,  1808. 
Williams  (L.  L. ),  South-western  Oregon.     MS. 
Williamson  (R.  S.),  Routes  in  California  and  Oregcn^  Roport.     In  Pacific  B. 

R.  Repts.,  vi. 
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Wilson  (Joseph  G.),  Addresses  on  the  Death  of.     Columbus,  1873;  Railroad 

Lands  in  Western  Oregon.     San  Francisco,  1872. 
Wimmel  (H.),  Californian.     Cassel,  1807. 
Winser  (H.  J.),  Great  Northwest.     New  York,  1883. 
Wood  (H.  Clay),  Young  Joseph  and  Nez  Perc^  Indians.     Portland,  1876. 
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1878. 
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Sen.  Ex.  Doc.  32.]    Washington,  1859. 


iL. 


AUTHORITIES  QUOTED. 


mix 


Long  Jcumoy  from  Atlan- 


ct.  1874, 
1.,  1874. 


vols. 


Wyeth   John  B  ).  Oregon,  or  «  Short  History  of 
Wysc  (Frano.8),  America.     London,  1845. 

Zaval,.hm  (l>.mtry),  Delo  o  Kolouiy  liJas.     MS, 


5. 

,  1846. 


S;Ten 
1861; 

erald. 


1878. 

18''4. 


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seq. 
19. 
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HISTORY  OF  OPvEGOK 


CHAPTER  I. 


OREGON    IN    1834. 

TiiK  Northwest  Coast  and  the  Oregon  Territory-Physical  Features 
—Mountain  Ranges  and  Rivers— The  Imperious  Columbia— Distri- 
RUTioN  OF  Vegetation- Climate— Sunshine  and  Rain— Post-plant- 
ings OF  Civilization— Fort  Vancouver  —  Its  Lord  Paramount— 
The  Garden— Hospitality— Money,  Morality,  and  Religion— Fokt 
(iEORGE  — Fort  Nisqually  —  Forts  Langley,  Umpqua,  and  Walla 
AViLLA  — Okanagan  and  Col viLLE  — Forts  Hall  and  Boise  — Fort 
AViLLiAM  AND  Wapato  Island— TiiE  French-Canadian  Setplement 
—Missionaries,  Traders,  Farmers,  Horse-dealers,  Scientists,  and 
Fur-hunters  as  Empire-builders— Origin  of  the  Term  Oregon. 

^  The  Oregon  Territory,  when  first  tlie  term  came 
into  use,  embraced  the  same  somewhat  undefined 
region  wiiich  in  these  Pacific  States'  histories  I  have 
denominated  the  Northwest  Coast ;  namelv,  the  lands 
lying  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and"  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  and  extending  northward  indefinitely  from  the 
forty-second  parallel  of  latitude.  Later  the  name 
Oregon  was  applied  to  a  narrower  area. 

In  surface  and  climate  it  is  varied;  in  resources 
limitless,  though  its  possibilities  are  little  known. 
There  is  grand  and  beautiful  scenery  in  every  portion 
of  it;  some  wild  and  rugged,  some  treeless  and  lonely  • 
altogether  a  magnificent  stretch  of  primeval  wilder- 
ness. It  IS  divided  longitudinally  by  the  Cascadt; 
Mountains,  one  with  the  Snowy  Range  of  California 

(n 


oimiox  i\  18:m. 


and  Nevada,  and  so  called  from  the  turmoil  of  the 
Colmnbia  in  passing  through  them  ;  while  the  eastern 
portion  is  cut  transversely  by  the  Blue  Mountains — 
in  popular  parlance  blue,  from  the  contrast  of  their 
violet  shadows  with  the  tawny  plain.  Another  and 
lower  range  rims  the  seaboard  from  Lower  Califor- 
nia and  along  the  Oregon  frontage  to  the  Russian 
possessions;  the  high  spurs  thrown  out  by  the  Coast 
and  Cascade  ranges  separate  the  valleys  thus  formed 
in  southern  Oregon  by  barriers  as  insurmountable  as 
those  in  Greece. 

Besides  mountains  and  rivers  there  are  forests,  not 
spread  over  broad  areas  of  level  surface  as  they  were 
back  of  the  English  Plantations;  beneficent  nature 
has  for  the  good  of  civilized  man  ct)nfined  tliem  to 
tlie  mountain  sides  and  r.)  tlie  low  lands  along  the 
streams.  On  the  mountains  different  species  of  pine, 
fir,  and  spruce  prevail,  while  near  the  streams  grow 
deciduous  trees,  oak,  maple,  ash,  alder,  cotton-wood, 
and  w^illow.  This  distribution  of  forest  and  prairie 
gives  a  charming  diversity  to  the  landscape  in  tlie 
western  portion  of  tlie  territory,  from  California 
northward;  and  singularly  atliactive  is  the  valley  of 
the  Willamette  witli  its  infinite  variety  of  forms,  the 
richness  of  verdure,  and  the  frequent  small  rivers 
with  their  fertile  and  wooded  borders. 

In  western  Oregon  there  is  scarcely  a  spot,  and  few 
])laces  in  the  eastern  part,  where  there  is  not  visible 
some  lofty  snow-dad  peak  of  the  Cascade  Range, 
standing  as  sentinel  of  the  centuries,  and  forming  a 
landmark  and  guide.  In  many  places  three  or  five  of 
these  ijlisteniniif  heisjfhts  mav  be  seen  at  once.  Hardlv 
less  striking  are  the  purpled  sununits  of  the  continu- 
ous range,  silvered  with  snow  in  spring  and  autumn, 
and  glowing  during  the  afternoons  of  sunnner  under 
a  rosy  violet  mist.  Eastern  Oregon  seems  less  prolific 
of  natural  beauties  than  the  country  west  of  the  Cas- 
cade  Range,  where  the  Colund)ia  River  provides  not 
only  uninterrupted   navigation   from   the   sea   to  the 


EASTERN   AND  WESTERN. 


110 


heart  of  the  mountains,  hut  constitutes  in  itself  a 
continuous  panorama  of  rare  views,  to  which  minds 
even  of  tlie  least  ideality  soon  become  attached.  As 
the  eastern  foothills  sink  to  plain,  tlie  forest  disap- 
pears, only  a  few  scattering  pines  remaining  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  Dalles;  by  the  bars  and  on  sandy  mar- 
gins of  the  river  grow  willows  and  low  shrubs,  while 
above  them  rise  high  rounded  bluffs,  bald  and  mo- 
notonous, yet  not  without  picturesque  effect.  Beyond 
these  the  country  rolls  off  in  broken  plains,  covered 
in  spring  by  a  delicate  verdure  bright  with  flowers, 
later  wearing  a  russet  hue  that  early  gave  it  the  name 
of  desert.  Yet  even  through  this  eastern  part  there 
is  much  to  please  the  eye  in  the  softly  flowing  outlines 
of  the  ever-changing  scene,  in  the  calm  blue  which 
canopies  the  im])erious  Columbia  raging  at  its  rocky 
obstructions,  and  in  the  deep  canons  that  channel  the 
inflowinif  rivers  from  the  south.  A  hundred  miles 
from  the  mountains  there  are  smaller  streams  with 
open  valleys,  occupied  as  grazing  lands  by  native 
horse-owners,  the  tJmatillas,  Cayuses,  Walla  Wallas, 
and  Nez  Perces. 

Yet  farther  east,  beyond  the  Umatilla  and  Walla 
Walla  countries,  is  the  Snake  or  Lewis  River  region, 
in  the  eyes  of  those  who  visit  it  as  worthless  as  it  is 
wild  and  lonely.  Its  waterless  deserts,  severely  hot 
in  summer  and  cold  in  winter,  inspire  the  overland 
tourist  with  dread ;  and  many  a  trappei-  and  voyageur 
meets  his  death  fi-om  want  in  crossing  them.  Yet 
fertile  spots  are  found,  pleasant  little  valleys  where 
the  climate  is  delightful,  and,  so  far  as  appears,  the 
earth  fmitful.  North  (»f  the  Snake  River  the  whole 
region  is  unexj)lored  except  as  traversed  by  fur-hunt- 
ers; iiRle^d.  away  at  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains i,^  a  large  and  diversified  tract,  a  terra  in- 
cognita to  the  world  at  large.  And  for  many  years 
to  come  this  portion  of  the  Oregon  Territory  offers 
few  attractions  to  agriculturists.  On  the  other  hand, 
all    the   western    portion    of    Oregon,   especially    the 


L 


4  OKECION   IN    1834. 

Willamette  Valley  and  the  Puget  Sound  region,  has 
been  favorably  spoken  of  by  successive  ex[)lorcrs,  until 
its  spreading  fame  agitates  the  question  of  ownership. 

Little  is  yet  known  of  agricultural  and  mineral  re- 
sources, but  its  mild  and  equable  climate,  affecting  as 
it  does  the  quality  and  value  of  furs,  and  being  in  itself 
so  })eculiar  considering  the  latitude,  is  l)etter  under- 
stood. The  winters  of  western  Oregon  are  so  mild 
that  little  ice  forms;  but  they  are  wet,  and  cloudy  of 
sky.  The  rains  begin  about  mid-autumn  and  continue 
with  greater  or  less  constancy  till  May,  after  which 
fleeting  showers  occur  until  the  June  rise  of  the  Colum- 
bia begins  to  decline.  This  excessive  moisture  comes 
in  a  measure  from  the  Japan  current,  and  is  more  im- 
mediately owing  to  the  south-west  winds  of  autumn 
and  winter,  driving  inland  the  evaporations  of  ocean, 
which  being  arrested  by  the  Cascade  Range  are  pre- 
cipitated on  its  seaward  sides.  Hence  the  j)eculiari- 
ties  of  the  Oregon  climate ;  the  mountains  wall  the 
moisture  from  their  eastern  slopes,  Tendering  that 
region  arid.  The  dense  growth  of  the  western  forests 
are  of  those  trees  that  live  on  the  moisture  of  the 
atmosphere,  but  do  not  like  it  about  their  roots.  The 
evergreens  of  Oregon,  the  firs  especially,  refuse  to 
grow  on  land  tluit  is  subject  to  overflow,  and  their 
foliage  protects  the  roots  from  rain.  Spruce,  yew, 
hemlock,  and  cedar  wow  on  lower  lands  than  firs 
and  pines.  It  may  seem  anomahtus  that  trees  which 
avoid  water  should  thrive  in  a  so-called  moist  climate, 
and  also  that,  while  the  climate  is  so  wet,  Oregon's 
ntmosphere  is  remarkably  dry,  as  evidenced  by  the  fact 
that  wet  articles  exposed  to  the  air,  but  protected 
from  the  rain,  dry  quickly  even  in  the  rainy  season. 
Observing  this,  the  early  Oregonians  call  their  ordi- 
nary rains  'mists,'  and  maintain  that  they  do  not  wet 
people;  and  by  a  further  stretch  of  imagination  their 
descendants  may  fancy  themselves  not  affected  by  the 
December  and  January  mists. 

But  even  if  the  winters  are  unpleasantly  rainy,  the 


CLIMATE   AM)   Fl)01». 


wuiuiuors  componsato.  By  the  first  of  July  the  cloudss 
wliich  clothe  the  prairies  in  waving  grass  and  beds  of 
flowers  have  passed  away,  and  a  clear  sun  ushers  in 
each  long  delightful  day,  which  begins  in  a  clear 
twilight  two  hours  after  midnight,  and  ends  only 
in  another  lingering  twilight,  softer  though  not  more 
beautiful  than  the  first.  ()ften  the  temperature  of  the 
dry  sunnner  season  falls  to  sixty  or  fifty-seven  degrees 
Fahrenheit ;  seldom  it  exceeds  seventy-two  or  seventy- 
six,  though  occasi(nially  rising  for  a  brief  period  to 
ninety  or  one  hundred;  yet  whatever  the  heat  of 
meridian,  by  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  it  begins  to 
abate,  leaving  the  evening  so  j)leasantly  cool  that  the 
bed  requiies  a  blanket — ^so  comfortably  cool  that  the 
settlers  acquire  a  love  for  sleep  that  becomes  charac- 
teristic, antl  is  sometimes  mentioned  to  their  discredit. 
About  four  months  of  drv  weather,  with  little  or  n(» 
i-ainfall,  ctinstitutes  the  summer  of  western  Oregon, 
during  whicji  the  grass  becomes  yellow  and  tlie  earth 
])owdered  drain  ripens  and  is  gathered  in  August. 
Septeml)ei'  is  seeding  time,  experience  early  teaching 
that  it  is  better  to  have  the  wlieat  in  the  ground  over 
winter,  even  if  it  must  be  pa.stured  down,  than  trust 
the  chance  of  late  sj)ring  sowing. 

The  food  resources  native  to  western  Oregon  are 
fish,  game,  and  berries.  The  Indians  use  a  root  re- 
sembling the  potato,  which  they  call  trapato,  found 
in  abundance  on  Wapato  I.sland,  and  also  in  some 
shallow  lakes  or  overflowed  prairie  land.  In  wild 
fruit  the  country  is  prolific ;  but  none  are  as  fine  as 
the  same  kinds  in  the  middle  states  of  the  continent. 
Elk,  bear,  and  deer  are  plentiful,  but  ov.ing  to  the 
difificulty  of  pursuit  through  the  der.se  undergrowth 
of  tlie  mountain  forests,  the  cliase  is  laborious.  Tliere 
is  an  abundance  of  water-fowl,  conspicuous  among 
Vvhich  are  brant,  geese  of  several  species,  cranes,  mal- 
lard, canvas-back,  and  summer  duck,  blue-winged  and 
green-winged  teal,  snij)e,  golden  and  killdce  ph)vei', 
antl  other  wading  birds,  some  «)f  which  are  not  pal- 


OREOON   IN    1834. 


atablo.  Of  game-birds  found  in  woods  tluTo  aro  also 
plenty;  grouse,  quails,  pheasants,  and  wood-doves  in- 
habit the  thickets  of  young  tirs,  and  tlie  groves  of  oak 


young  tirs,  and  tJie  gr 
and  fir  that  skirt  the  older  and  darker  forest.  Sin»^ 
ing  birds  wliich  make  tlieir  homes  in  trees  are  rare. 
The  only  really  musical  l)ird  of  Oregon  is  the  meadow- 
hirk,  whicli  carols  to  the  passer-by  of  the  happiness 
he  finds  in  his  humble  life  near  the  ground. 

The  streams  are  well  stocked  with  fish — the  brooks 
with  trout,  and  the  rivers  with  salmon  of  two  or  three 
sjtecies.  The  most  palatable  and  largest  of  these, 
the  salmo  quiunat,  has  been  one  of  the  chief  articles 
of  food  for  twenty  years,  and  constitutes  a  staple  in 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  supplies;  in  fact,  the 
com|)any's  servants  receive  dried  salmon  and  nothing 
else  when  other  articles  are  scarce. 

Such  were  the  natural  conditions  of  life  in  Oregon 
in  1834.  European  civilization,  however,  had  already 
driven  in  its  stakes  here  and  there  about  the  wilder- 
ness preparatory  to  its  overthrow.  For  some  time 
j»ast  the  country  had  been  dominated  exclusively  by 
fur- traders  from  Canada  and  Great  Britain ;  now 
people  from  the  United  States  begin  to  come  and 
settle.  Ownership  becomes  a  nuKjt  question ;  the 
territory  is  held  by  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  under  treaty  of  joint  occupancy.  Altht)Ugh 
in  the  History  of  the  Northwest  Coast  I  have  given  full 
descriptions  of  the  fur- traders'  forts  and  incipient 
settlements,  I  deem  it  advisable  t(3  review  them  here, 
so  that  the  reader  may  have  the  picture  fresh  in  his 
mind  at  the  opening  of  this  part  of  my  history. 

The  most  important  post  and  place  in  all  the  Ore- 
gon Territory  was  Fort  Vancouver,  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company's  headquarters.  It  was  situated  upon  a 
beautiful  sloping  plain,  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Columbia,  about  six  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Multnomah  River,  as  the  Willamette  below  the  falls 
was  still  called,  and  opposite  the  centre  of  the  Wil- 


FORT   VANCOUVER. 


lainette  Valley,  at  a  jtoiiit  where  the  Columbia  is 
hroad  and  much  lUvided  by  low,  woody  islands,  which 
add  diversity  t«>  a  prospect  embracing  every  element 
of  grandeur  and  grace,  from  glistening  snow-peaks  to 
the  reriections  of  leaning  shrubbery,  whose  flowers  of 
white  or  red  are  mirrored  in  the  calm  surface  of  this 
most  majestic  of  rivers. 

The  fort  was  not  formidable  in  appearance.  It  c<m- 
si.sted  of  a  .strong  stockade  about  twenty  feet  high, 
without  bastions,  embracing  an  area  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  by  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  Within  this 
enclosure,  around  three  sides,  were  ranged  the  dwell- 
ings and  oflices  of  the  gentlemen  in  the  company's  ser- 
vice. In  the  centre,  facing  the  main  entrance  or  great 
gate,  was  the  residence  of  Doctor  John  McLoughlin, 
the  governor  by  courtesy  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
j)any  in  Oregon,  a  French  Canadian  structure,  painted 
white,  with  piazza  and  flower  beds  in  front,  and  grape- 
vines trained  alojig  a  rude  trellis.  The  steps  leading 
to  the  hall  of  the  governor's  liouse  were  of  horseshoe 
foi'm,  and  between  the  two  flights  stood  a  twenty-four- 
})ound  cannon,  mounted  on  a  ship's  carriage,  and  on 
either  side  of  this  were  two  mortar  guns,  all  with  shot 
piled  orderly  about  them,  but  otherwise  looking  in- 
nocent enough  in  their  peaceful  resting-places.  There 
were  no  galleries  around  the  walls  for  sentries,  nor 
loop-holes  for  small-arms,  no  appearances,  in  fact, 
indicating  a  dangerous  neighborhood.  Near  the  cen- 
tre of  the  enclosure  rose  the  company's  flag-staft*, 
and  everything  about  the  place  was  orderly,  neat,  and 
business-like.  The  magazine,  warehouses,  store,  and 
shops  were  all  contained  within  the  palisades,  and  dur- 
ing the  hours  a})pointed  for  labor  every  man  attended 
to  his  duties,  whether  as  trader,  clerk,  smith,  baker, 
oi"  tailor, 

A  bell  large  enough  for  a  country  church  was  sup- 
ported by  three  stout  poles  about  twenty  feet  high, 
covered  with  a  little  pointed  roof  to  keep  ofl'  the  rain. 
This  brazen  monitor  rang  out  at  five  o'clock  in  the 


8  OKKiiON    IN    I»:M 

iiiorning,  roiisino-  tin;  furriern,  mochanics,  and  fannor« 
to  their  tasks.  At  ui<(lit  it  aimouncud  breakfast;  at 
iiiiii!,  work  ajj^ain;  at  twelve,  dinner;  at  one,  work;  at 
six,  suspension  of  labor,  and  suj)j)er.  Saturday's  work 
ended  at  five  in  the  afternoon,  at  which  time  the 
physician  of  the  establishment  served  to  the  men 
their  week's  rations,  consisting  in  winter  of  eight 
gallons  of  j)otatoe's  and  eight  .salt  salmon,  and  in 
summer  of  pease  and  taU(>w;  no  bread  or  meat  being 
allowed,  exeej)t  occasionally.  The  Indian  servants  of 
the  Indian  wives  hunted  and  fished  for  additional  sup- 
plies. Nor  was  this  unremitting  industry  unnecessary. 
The  management  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  re- 
quired its  posts  to  be  self-su])porting.  The  extent  of 
territory  they  traded  over  was  innnense,  and  the 
number  of  their  forts  increased  the  demand  for  such 
articles  as  could  be  j)roduced  only  in  favorable  localities. 
For  instance,  at  Fort  Vancouver  the  demand  for 
axes  and  hatchets  for  the  tra])pors  and  Indians  re- 
quired fifty  of  them  to  be  made  daily.  In  addition  to 
the  manufacture  of  these,  the  smiths  had  plenty  to 
do  in  rej)airing  farming  tools  and  milling  machinery, 
and  making  the  various  articles  required  by  a  com- 
munity of  several  hundred  people.  The  carpenter, 
the  turner,  and  the  tailor  were  equally  busy;  two  or 
three  men  were  constantly  enq)loyed  making  bread 
for  tlie  fort  peo})le  and  sea-biscuit  i\n-  the  coasting 
vessels.  The  furs  had  to  be  l)eaten  once  a  week  to 
drive  out  moths  and  dust.  The  clerks  had  not  only 
to  keep  accounts  and  copy  letters,  but  keep  a  jour- 
nal of  every  day's  affairs.  Am(>ng  so  many  persons, 
some  were  sure  to  be  in  the  hospital,  and  on  these 
the  best  medical  care  was  bestowed.  Thouijh  so  fai- 
fi'om  the  world  as  to  seem  removed  from  the  world's 
wants,  Foit  Vancouvei-  was  no  place  for  the  indul- 
gence of  poetic  idleness. 

And  if  within  the  fort  this  industry  was  necessary, 
it  was  none  the  less  so  without,  where  a  larm  of  about 
.seven  hundred  acres  had  l^een  brought  under  cultiva- 


TIIK  (iAUbKN    AM>   lAU.M,  9 

tion,  on  wliicli  was  mi.sed  ahuiidaiicf  of  ^Tain  and 
V('«(otal)l(>s,  it'quirinj;'  extensive  storehouses.  Lai«;-e 
hands  of  cattle  and  slieejt  were  kept,  the  latter  iin 
proved  hv  careful  hretsdinijf  until  thev  yielded  twelve- 
pound  Het'ces.  From  the  few  Enj,dish  a|)|ue  seeds 
elsewhere  mentioned  had  sprun<^  trees  which,  thout^h 
youn«^,  were  so  crowded  witli  fmit  as  to  nctul  pi'op|iin_L>', 
and  from  the  peach  sprouts  hrought  from  Juan  Fi-r- 
nandez  Island  had  »^rown  lar«(e  trees  that  were  hearin*; 
their  first  fruit.  Indeed,  the  garden  at  Fort  Vancouver 
jejoiced  in  a  scientific  overseer  by  the  name  of  Bruce, 
who  on  visitintj^  England  with  McLoughlin  would  see 
nothing  in  the  duke  of  J)evonshire's  garden  so  pleasing 
to  him  as  his  Fort  A'^ancouver  plants,  yet  was  careful 
to  abstract  as  many  of  the  C^hiswick  improvt  nents  as 
his  mind  could  carry.  Even  tlu  n,  and  before,  Bruce 
cultivated  strawberries,  figs,  and  lemons,  tlie  first  with 
'reat  success,  the  other  two  with  the  fruitl.s.s  efforts 
that  alone  could  be  expected  in  the  northern  tem- 
jterate  zone ;  ornamental  trees  and  flowers  also  received 
his  fostering  care. 

On  the  farm  was  a  flouring  mill  and  thrashing 
machine,  worked  bv  oxen  or  horses  in  the  Arcadian 
way,  vet  sufficient  for  the  wants  of  all.  A  few  miles 
above  the  fort,  on  a  little  stream  falling  into  the 
Columbia,  stood  a  saw-mill,  cuttinif  kunber  enouuii 
durmg  the  year  to  supply  not  only  the  fort,  but  to 
load  one  or  two  vessels  for  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 

Between  the  fort  and  the  river,  on  the  smooth 
sloping  plain,  lay  a  village  consisting  of  thirty  or 
forty  log  houses,  ranged  along  a  single  street,  and 
occupied  by  the  servants  of  the  com])any,  Canadians, 
half-breeds,  and  Hawaiians,  with  a  few  from  the 
Orkney  Islands.  In  every  house  an  Indian  woman 
presided  as  unstress,  and  the  street  swarmed  with 
children  of  mixed  blood.  Xothing  offensive  met  the 
eye;  everywhere  cleanliness  and  decorum  j)revailetl. 

When  a  visitor  came  to  Fort  Yancouvei-  and  the 
fort  was  sekkan  without  its  ouest  even  in    18;U— he 


10 


OREtON  IN   1834. 


\l 


i 


would,  if  a  person  of  consideration,  be  met  at  the  boat- 
landing  by  the  presiding  officer,  McLoughlin,  a  tall, 
large,  commanding  figure  of  bene^'olent  mien,  who 
courteously  made  him  welcome  to  every  comfort  and 
convenience,  as  well  as  to  his  own  genial  society  and 
that  of  his  associates.  Entering  by  one  of  the  smaller 
gates  at  either  side  of  the  principal  entrance,  he  was 
escorted  to  the  dc^ctoi's  own  residence,  and  assigned 
[)lain  but  comfortable  quarters;  for  it  was  not  in 
empty  show  that  the  hospitality  of  Fort  Vancouver 
consisted,  but  in  its  thorough  home-like  features,  its 
plenty,  and  its  frank  and  cordial  intercourse.  The 
visitors  were  all  of  the  sterner  sex,  no  white  ladies 
having  yet  set  foot  within  these  precincts. 

It  was  a  rule  of  the  company  that  the  Indian  wives 
and  offspring  of  the  officers  should  live  in  the  seclusion 
of  their  own  apartments,  whicli  left  the  officers'  mess- 
T'oom  to  themselves  and  their  guests ;  and  while  no  more 
time  than  necessary  was  consumed  at  table,  the  good 
cheer  and  the  enlightened  conversation  of  educated 
gentlemen  threw  over  the  entertainment  a  luxury  and 
refinement  all  the  more  enjoyable  after  the  rude  ex- 
periences of  a  journey  across  the  continent  or  a  long 
voyage  by  sea.  After  the  substantial  dinner,  concluded 
with  a  temperate  glass  of  wine  or  sj)irits,  the  company 
withdrew  for  half  an  hour  to  the  'bachelors'  hall,' 
to  indulge  in  a  })i}>e,  and  discuss  with  animation  the 
topics  of  the  time.  When  the  officers  and  clerks  re- 
turned to  business,  the  guest  might  choose  between 
the  library  and  out-door  attractions.  A  book,  a  boat, 
and  a  horse  were  always  at  his  command.  The  sab- 
l)ath  was  observed  with  the  decorum  of  settled  society. 
The  service  of  the  established  church  was  read  with 
impressiveness  by  Doctor  McLoughlin  liimself,  and 
listened  to  with  reverence  by  tlie  gentlemen  an<l 
servants  of  the  company.  Respect  for  religion  was 
inculcated  both  by  prece})t  and  cxam}»le.  Observing 
that  during  his  ten  years'  residence  in  the  country 
maii_y   young  children    were   coming   forward   in    the 


FOU'JS  GEOiy-iE  AND  NISQUALLY. 


II 


[•e- 
sn 
It, 
ib- 

fy- 
th 

]icl 

lid 

las 

lig 

[y 

he 


village  and  within  the  walls  of  the  fort,  McLoughliu 
secured  the  services  of  an  American  as  teacher,  one 
Solomon  Snnth,  left  objectless  by  the  failure  of 
Wyeth's  expedition ;  and  the  school  thus  organized, 
the  first  in  Oregon,  was  a  good  one,  wherein  were 
taught  the  English  branches,  singing,  deportment,  and 
morality.  It  was  tiie  heart  and  brain  of  the  Oregon 
Territory,  though  there  were  other  places  pulsating 
in  res})onse  to  tlie  efforts  at  Foi"t  Vancouver. 

The  most  western  establishment  was  Fort  George, 
the  Astoria  of  18  1  I  -14,  It  no  longer  deserved  to  l)c 
called  a  fort,  the  defences  of  every  tlescri})tion  havin.g 
di.sappeared,  while  at  a  little  distance  fn)ni  the  old 
stockade,  now  in  ruins,  was  one  principal  building  of 
hewn  boards,  surrounded  with  a  nundn^r  of  Indian 
huts.  Only  about  four  acres  were  under  cultivation, 
and  only  one  white  man,  the  trader  in  charge,  resided 
there.  It  was  maintained  luoi'e  a«  a  point  of  observa- 
tion than  as  a  post  affording  commereial  advantages. 

A  ])lace  of  more  in»portance  was  Fort  Nisqually, 
situated  on  a  little  tributary  of  the  river  of  that  name, 
and  less  than  a  mile  from  the  waters  of  Puget  Sound. 
It  consisted  of  a  stockade  about  two  hundred  feet 
square,  guarded  by  bastions  well  armed,  enclosing  a 
dozen  small  dv/ellings  and  the  magazine;  and  ware- 
houses of  the  company.  The  situation  was  unsur- 
passed, on  an  o[)en  plain,  yet  convenient  to  exhaust- 
less  forests  of  good  timber,  within  a  short  distance  of 
navigable  waters,  and  wirh  the  grand  Mount  Rainier 
in  full  view.  The  fort  had  only  been  established 
about  one  year,  at  this  time.  Away  to  the  north.,  on 
rivers  draining  the  valleys  of  Bntisli  Columitia,  were 
several  trading  posts,  Fortl^angley  and  the  rest,  owing 
allegiance  to  the  Oregon  governor,  but  not  re<piiring 
mention  in  this  connection. 

The  only  other  post  of  tlu;  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
in  what  is  now  Oregon,  was  situated  near  the  con- 
fluence of  Elk  Creek  with  the  ITnipcjua  Kiver,  two 
hundred  miles  Sduth  of  the  Ccdmnbia,  and  occu]>ying 


1-'  OKEliON    LN    lo.i4. 

a  fine  poHitioii  among  the  hills  of  that  beautiful  coun- 
try. It  was  but  a  ^inall  place,  with  a  twenty-acre  farm 
attached,  under  the  charge  of  a  French  trader.  The 
neat,  dwellings  and  other  buildings  were  surrounded 
ijy  the  usual  palisade,  with  bastions  at  the  corners, 


KORI'S. 


for  tho  Tiulians  in  this  quarter  were  more  ravage  than 
those  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the  Columbia. 

About  two  hundred  miles  oast  of  Fort  \"anc;)uvei\ 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  ( 'olumltia,  near  where  't  makes 
its  great  i»»md  to  the  west,  and  at  the  mouth  of  the 


WALLA  WALLA  AM>  OKANAGAN. 


13 


Walla  Walla  River,  was  a  fort  of  that  uaino.  This 
t'StahlishiiK'nt  was  also  a  stockade,  and  heing  in  the 
country  of  warlike  savajj^es.  there  were  two  bastions, 
with  an  inner  jj^allery,  and  otlier  defences  strongly 
constructed  of  drift-logs  which  had  been  brought  from 
the  mountains  and  heaped  ashore  at  this  2)lace  by  the 
June  freshets.  Little  agricultural  land  being  found 
in  the  vicinity,  and  no  tind)er.  Fort  Walla  Walla  was 
without  the  attractions  of  Fort  V^ancouver,  but  it 
ranked  nevertheless  as  a  place  of  importance,  being 
the  ]>rincipal  trading  post  between  California  and 
Stuart  Lake,  and  accessible  by  water  from  Fort  Van- 
couver. It  was  on  the  way  from  the  great  fur-hunt- 
ing region  about  the  head-waters  of  the  Snake  River 
and  its  tributaries,  and  the  first  resting-place  the 
overland  traveller  met  after  leaving  the  Missoui'i 
River.  There  was  always  a  genial  and  generous 
officer  stationed  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  on  whose  head 
many  a  weary  [)ilgrim  called  down  blessings  for  fa>»/is 
U'ceived.  Horses  were  plentiful,  and  a  few  cattle 
were  kept  there,  but  no  grain  was  raised.  The  little 
garden  spot  by  the  river  furnished  vegetables,  and 
those  of  an  excellent  (juality.  The  cliinate  w  as  usually 
delightful,  the  only  discomfort  being  the  strong  sum 
nier  winds,  which  drove  about  with  violence  the  dust, 
and  sand,  and  gravel,  so  that  it  was  di'emi'd  impossi- 
ble to  cultivate  trees  or  shrubbciy ;  hence  the  situa- 
tion appeared  without  any  beauty  exct'pt  that  dei'ived 
from  a  cloudless  sky,  and  the  near  neighborhood  of 
the  j)icturesque  cliffs  of  the  Cohnnbia  and  Walla  Walla 
rivers. 

())ie  hundred  and  thirty-eight  miles  north  from 
F(»rt  Walla  Walla  lay  Fort  Okanagan,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Okanagan  River,  like  the  otlu'rs  a  stockade,  in 
charge  of  a  gentlenjaidy  officer.  Other  trading  posts 
were  locati'd  at  favorable  points  on  the  Kootenais 
River,  on  the  Spokan(\  on  Lake  Fend  d'Oreille,  and 
on  the  Flathead  River,  besides  s(>veral  north  of  the 
fiftieth  parallel.      But  the  i)ost  of  the  greatest  impor- 


14 


OUEaON  LV   1834. 


tance  next  to  Fort  Yalicouver  was  Fort  Colvillc,  situ- 
ated on  the  Columbia  River,  one  hundred  miles  north- 
east of  Fort  Okanagan,  though  much  farther  by  tlu; 
windings  of  the  river.  In  the  midst  of  a  good  agricul- 
tural country,  with  a  fine  climate,  good  fishing,  and 
other  advantages,  it  was  the  central  supply  post  for  all 
the  other  forts  in  the  reiifion  of  the  north  Columbia. 
Established  shortlv  after  Fort  Vancouver,  with  its 
allotment  of  cattle,  consisting  of  two  cows  and  a  bull, 
it  had  now  like  Fort  Vancouver  its  lowing  herds, 
furnishing  beef,  butter,  and  milk.  It  had,  besides, 
bands  of  fine  horses  and  other  stock,  and  a  grist-mill 
for  the  lar<ife  vield  of  jjfrain.  On  the  well-cultivated 
farm  grew  also  excellent  vegetables  in  abundance. 

Such  a  convenience  as  a  saw-mill  did  not  exist  in 
all  the  u})per  country,  notwithstanding  the  number  of 
l)osts,  hence  there  could  be  little  architectural  display 
or  furniture  except  of  the  rudest  kind.  Bedsteads 
and  chairs  were  luxuries  not  to  be  thought  of;  bunks 
and  stools  were  made  from  sj)lit  logs,  with  a  hatchet. 
Yet,  since  those  who  called  at  Fort  Colville  had  trav- 
elled many  hundred  miles  with  only  a  blanket  for  a 
bed,  the  good  fare  hen'  afibrded  made  the  place  to 
them  a  Canaan. 

Two  forts  had  this  year  been  established  in  the  ter- 
ritory east  of  the  Blue  Mountains  drained  by  Snake 
River.  The  first  was  Fort  Hall,  erected  by  an  Amer- 
ican, Nathaniel  J.  Wyeth,  on  tliis  river,  at  its  junc- 
tion with  tlie  Portneuf;  the  second  was  I'rec-ted  by  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  on  tlie  same  river,  a  mile 
below  the  mouth  t)f  the  Boise,  and  called  Fort  Boise. 

The  American,  Wveth,  this  beinij:  his  second  ad- 
ventu)v  in  these  parts,  wlu)  had  thus  recently  built, 
stocked,  and  manned  Fort  Hall,  went  on  to  the  lower 
Columbia  River  that  same  autumn  to  meet  a  vessel, 
the  brig  May  Dacre,  of  Boston,  latlen  with  goods 
frojn  the  United  States,  as  the  eastern  seaboard  of 
tlu'  gi'cat  republic  was  then  designated  by  westei'ii 
adventurers,  and  at  the  time  of  which  1  write  he  was 


M 


I 


FORT  WILLIAM. 


15 


engaged  in  building  a  fort  and  trading  post  on  Wapato 
Island,  which  he  called  Fort  William.  With  him  came 
others,  of  whom  I  shall  have  occasion  to  speak  in 
another  place.  While  the  work  was  being  advancetl, 
the  men  in  Wyeth's  service  were  living  in  temporary 
huts;  pigs,  chickens,  goats,  and  sheep  were  running 
about  in  the  vicinity;  iho  May  Dacre  was  moored  to 
the  bank,  and  a  prospective  rival  of  Fort  Vancouver 
was  already  well  under  way.  Mr  Wyeth's  adventures 
are  given  at  length  in  Tlic  Aorfhirest  Coast,  this  volume 
beijinniniif  with  an  account  of  settlers  from  the  Ignited 
States  promising  ];ermanence. 

Nor  was  Fort  William  the  only  settlement  in  Ore- 
gon exclusive  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com})any's  forts. 
Thomas  McKay,  one  of  the  race  of  Alexander  McKay 
of  the  Astor  expedition,  and  one  of  the  com])any's 
most  celebrated  leaders,  occupied  a  farm  on  the  Mult- 
nomah opposite  the  lower  end  of  Wapato  Island. 
And  there  were  other  farms  from  fifty  to  a  hundred 
miles  soutli  of  this.  The  servants  of  the  company 
were  hired  for  a  term  of  years,  and  were  free  at  its 
expiration.  But  as  they  had  been  obliged  to  receive 
their  pay  in  kind,  for  which  they  had  not  always 
use,  and  had  seldom  saved  their  earnini>fs,  if  thev 
wished  to  retire  they  must  live  not  far  from  Fort 
Vancouver,  and  ccmtinue  as  the  company's  dei)end- 
ents,  raising  wheat,  in  ex(;hange  for  which  they  re- 
ceived sucli  indispensable  articles  as  their  condition  of 
life  demanded. 

There  were  of  this  class,  commonly  called  the 
French  Canadians,  a  dozen  or  more  families,  most  of 
them  settled  on  a  l)eautiful  and  fertile  prairie  about 
forty  miles  south  of  the  Columbia,  in  the  Valley  Wil- 
lamette, They  lived  in  log  houses,  witli  large  fire- 
])laces,  after  the  manner  of  plt)neers  of  other  countries ; 
liad  considerable  land  under  cultivation  ;  owned  liorses 
of  the  native  stock,  not  remarkal)le  for  l)eauty,  but 
tough  and  fleet;  and  had  the  use  of  such  cattle  as  the 


l(i 


()UE(i()X    IN    1834. 


fur  company  chose  to  lend  them.  Numerous  luilf- 
hreed  cliildren  played  about  their  d<H)rs;  tliey  liad  no 
cares  of  cliurchor  state;  no  aspirations  beyond  a  com- 
fortal)]e  subsistence,  which  was  theirs;  and  being  on 
good  terms  with  tlieir  only  neighbors,  the  natives, 
tliey  passed  their  lives  in  peaceful  monotony.  At  the 
falls  of  the  Willamette  were  the  log  houses  which  had 
been  built  by  McLoughlin  in  connection  with  his 
mill-works  there,  and  which  were  occupied  occasion- 
ally by  the  company's  servants,  some  improvements 
bi'ing  still  in  ])rogress  at  that  place. 

In  addition  to  the  French  Canadians  were  a  num- 
i)er  of  Americans  who  had  come  to  the  country  with 
Wyeth's  first  expedition,  and  had  also  made  settle- 
ments in  the  same  neighborhood,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  Willamette  River.  In  all  the  American  terri- 
tory west  of  the  Blue  Mountains  there  were  about 
thirty-five  white  men,  including  the  })arty  at  Fort 
William,  who  had  not  belonged  to  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Conipan}',  but  were  there  with  the  intention  to  settle 
|iernianently. 

Another  element  was  this  yt^ar  introduced  into  the 
early  society  of  Oregon.  Since  the  fallen  condition 
of  the  race  left  no  spot  of  earth  untainted,  it  followed 
that  missionaries  were  needed  to  look  after  the  spir- 
itual iiiierests  of  tlie  natives  of  this  western  Eden. 
Missionaries  weiv  there  in  the  persons  of  two  brothers, 
named  Lee,  assisted  \>y  certain  laymen,  who,  after 
having  been  received  with  the  usual  hospitality  at 
Fort  Vancouver,  were  busy  erecting  a  dwelling  and 
making  other  inij)rovements  at  the  }»lace  selected  for 
their  station,  a  little  to  the  south  of  the  French  Cana- 
<lian  settlement  in  the  Willamette  A'allev. 

Besides  tlie  missionary  family,  there  were  at  Fort 
Vancouvei'  two  uentlemen  from  the  United  States, 
who  were  travelling  in  the  interests  oi'  science,  Messrs 
Townsend  and  Nuttall,  naturalists,  jifter  whom  and 
Vty  whom  so  many  of  our  western  plants  were  named; 
so  that  it  cannot  be  said  of  Oregon  that  her  earliest 


THK   NAMK   OUKOON. 


17 


.0  the 
ition 
)wed 
spir- 
den. 


aiu 


M 


society  was  not  good.  After  the  faihire  of  the  Astor 
adventure,  and  previous  to  1834,  few  persons  had 
visited  tlie  Colunihia  Kiver  except  those  in  some  way 
connected  with  tli(!  fur-traders.  Wyetli's  first  com- 
pany of  twelve,  iuchiding  himself,  was  the  only  j)arty 
of  the  kind  and  number  to  enter  Oregon.  Two  years 
previous,  David  ])ouglas,  a  Scotch  botanist,  had  visited 
the  territory  and  had  s[)ent  some  time  roaming  over 
its  mountains;  and  rarelv  liad  the  river  been  entered 
by  a  foreign  or  American  vessel. 

Another  constituent  of  early  Oregon  society  a})pears 
at  this  juncture,  and  if  not  so  respectable  as  the  fur 
magnates,  so  religious  as  the  missionaries,  so  learned 
as  the  scientists,  or  so  ordt'r-loving  as  the  French 
Canadians,  united  with  the  small  American  element 
it  l)ecame  a  power  in  the  land.  It  made  its  appear- 
ance in  the  form  of  ten  persons  coming  with  a  band 
of  horses  from  California,  and  led  l)y  Hall  J.  Kelley, 
who  once  figured  on  paper  as  the  would-be  founder 
of  a  new  Pacific  empire. 

East  of  the  Blue  Range,  and  in  and  about  the  ]^ockv 
Mountains,  were  American  trappers  and  traders,  who 
from  their  wandering  and  precarious  mode  of  life 
could  not  be  accurately  numbered,  but  were  in  all 
probably  ten  or  twelve  hundred,  to  whom  were  opposed 
e(jual  numbers  owing  allegiance  to  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company.  These  were  at  that  time  hardly  to  be 
spoken  of  as  component  parts  of  any  Oregon  commu- 
nity, but  siHue  in  time  added  themselves  to  those  who 
had  come  from  the  United  States. 

Thus  has  been  outlined  a  picture  of  the  Oregon 
Territory  in  1 8:] 4,  at  which  time  this  History  of  Ore- 
yon  begins. 


XiiK  Xamk  Okk<h>n'. 

Tn  regard  to  the  word  Oregon,  its  signification  and  origin,  I  will  hero  give 
what  is  known.  Its  first  appearance  in  print  was  iu  the  book  of  Jonathan 
Carver,  who  therein  represents  that  he  heard  from  the  natives  in  the  vicinity 
of  the  head- waters  of  the  Mississippi,  to  which  region  he  peuetratiMl  as  early 
aa  1T()<),  oi  a  great  river  flowing  int.  he  great  western  ocean,  an.l  called  hy 
Hist.  Oit.,  Vol..  I.    2 


18 


OKEOOX  IX  lau. 


them  the  Oreijou,  Oreijan,  or  Orii/ttn.  Nothing  is  said  by  Carver  of  tlie  mean- 
ing or  origin  of  the  word.  It  is  doubtful  whetlier  Carver  understood  the 
natives,  or  whether  tliey  made  such  a  statement,  though  there  may  have  been 
some  sound  or  symlxd  l)y  wliich  or  from  whicli  to  coin  tlie  word.  There  coubl 
have  been  no  ol»jeet,  apparent  to  us,  for  him  to  misrepresent ;  he  could  never 
have  dreamed  that  tliis  probably  meaningless  sound,  caught  up  from  the  wind 
by  his  too  attentive  ear,  should  ever  be  applied  to  the  designation  of  a  great 
progressive  state.  P'rom  his  atan<lpoint,  it  was  as  much  to  his  crcilit  to  report 
a  great  river  to  which  there  was  no  name,  as  one  to  which  there  was  a  name  ; 
or  he  may  have  preferred  to  manufacture  a  name.  We  cannot  tell.  Kut  it 
so,  he  did  it  in  a  most  foolish  and  bungling  manner,  in  evidence  of  which  I 
will  further  explain. 

As  a  rule,  the  aboriginals  of  America  have  no  name  for  tlieir  rivers,  and 
mountains,  and  lakes.  It  is  not  necessary  they  .slioultl  have;  they  can  live  by 
but  one  river  at  one  time,  and  tliat  to  them  is  '  the  river.'  Or  they  may  apply 
to  it,  as  to  other  natural  objects,  general,  local,  or  descriptive  terms;  it  is 
common  for  the  town,  country,  river,  and  tribe  to  be  designated  by  the 
name  of  the  chief,  which  name  changing,  changes  all  the  rest.  According 
to  lUanchet  in  J/i.i(oriciil  Mmjitzhn',  ii.  33"),  the  lower  Chinooks  called  the 
L\i\\xm\na,  ytihiitl-minmkl,  'great  river,'  purely  a  general  anil  descriptive  term, 
a:id  no  name  at  all.  Chief  Factor  Tolmie,  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
writes:  '  Indians  have  names  only  for  particular  localities,  ami  not  for  rivers. 
Ihe  white  people  gave  the  name  Walamet  to  the  whole  Wallamet  valley  and 
river.'  When  Clarke,  of  the  Lewis  and  Clarke  expedition,  visited  the  coast 
about  Tillamook  Hea<l,  he  understood  tlie  Indians  to  say  that  they  procured 
wapato  roots  by  trading  with  the  Indians  over  on  the  Shocatilciim  or  Cohunbia 
Iviver.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  Clarke's  misapprehension  of  the  meaning  of 
his  informant,  for  the  word  was  never  heard  of  afterwartl,  and  it  certainly  bear.s 
no  resemblance  to  the  one  whoso  origin  we  are  seeking.  With  reference  to  thi.s 
rise  I  nijvde  special  inrpiiry  of  an  intelligent  chief  of  one  of  the  most  intelli- 
gent tribes  of  the  region  of  the  upper  Colundjia,  the  Nez  I'erces,  living  on  one 
of  its  tributaries,  whether  it  was  possible  for  that  stream  ever  to  have  had  a 
distinctive  appellation  by  which  it  was  known  to  any  peoples  upon  it,  or  about 
it,  or  about  the  head-waters  of  tlie  Mississippi,  or  Mi.ssouri,  or  any  other  .stream; 
and  he  Jissured  me,  what  I  knew  before,  that  it  was  not  possible.  It  is  very 
certain  that  the  word  Oregon  does  not  I)el()ng  to  any  of  the  several  dialects  of 
the  territory  drained  by  the  Columbia  River.  In  looking  fur  traces  of  it  among 
those  of  the  country  which  was  travelle<l  over  l)y  Car\er,  in  which  the  r  sound 
is  wanting,  words  must  be  looked  for  with  the  cognate  /  or  other  con.soiiant. 
In  the  Iro(piois  language  the  word  i/irf'/tn,  meaning  'all,'  is  closely  related  to 
'great,'  as  in  k-iniii  and  koirnnca  of  the  Oneida  \nA  Cayuga  dialects.  It  is  to 
be  noted  here  tliat  the  Iroquois  travelled  far  and  wi<le  with  the  fur-traders. 
In  the  Algonijuin  tongue  oiini-i/nm,  according  to  Mackenzie,  signifies  '  port- 
age;' while  again  in  Iroquois,  according  to  Schoolcraft,  ti-nr-o-ijii  means  'a 
place  of  water  rocks,'  t!  being  '  vater,'  ni/a  'a  place,'  and  nr  an  abbreviation 
of  tar,  'rock.'  (riut,  in  AlgoiKpiin,  Knisteneaux,  Ojibwa,  Snake,  and  other 
Indian  tongues,  is  a  common  ending.  In  Algonquin,  yioi  signifies  '  lake,'  being 
usually,  however,  combined  with  other  words,  as  in  Sci(jai/i<j<ni,  the  Knisten- 


INDIAN  AND  SPANISH  ORKJIN. 


10 


oaux  as  well  a  Algonquin  form.  The  terminal  syllable  in  the  different  dialects 
in  variously  pronounced  </aii,  ijini,  and  i/on.  In  the  Shoshone  language  occur 
two  wordH  bearing  some  relation,  if  not  a  very  near  one,  to  the  Hubject.  O-i/ii'ii, 
ways  Stuart  in  his  Moiitniin,  means  'river,' and  Oo-rook-iiii  'under,'  'on  tiie 
bottom;'  and  a  word  of  a  similar  sound  in  Algoncjuin  has  a  similar  mean- 
ing. Schoolcraft  mentions  that  o  is  a  common  prefix  to  the  names  of  various 
parts  of  tlie  body,  hesides  tliese  various  analogous  sounds  and  meanings  in 
several  of  t)ie  native  languages,  we  have  in  the  Oregon  territory  one  river  with 
the  prefix  o  and  the  ternnnal  </(/»-  the  Okamujau.  After  all  this  research  we 
arrive  at  nothing  nearer  tiian  that  the  word  ;/««  relates  in  several  ilialects  to 
water  in  some  form,  and  might  possibly  be  used  to  signify  a  river,  any  river, 
but  not  necessarily  tlie  Colundtia. 

A  popular  theory,  and  one  frequently  advanced  as  new,  concerning  tlie 
origin  of  the  word,  is  that  the  first  European  discoverers  called  the  L'olund)ia 
Iwiver,  and  country  adjacent,  Oregon,  from  tlie  abundance  of  oriyaiiiim,  or 
wild  marjoram,  a  plant  iiossessing  some  medicinal  virtues.  This  conjecture 
is  open  to  several  objections,  the  first  that  the  plant  mentioned  grows  a  long 
distance  from  the  coast,  the  only  portion  of  the  country  visited  by  the  early 
navigators;  nor  is  the  presence  of  it  very  conspicuous  anywhere.  Mengarini, 
a  writer  in  the  Xew  York  Ethuoloij'iml  Joiinial,  i.,  1871,  advances  the  idea  tliat 
the  word  comes  from  huracan,  the  Spanish  for  hurricane,  founded  on  the  fact 
that  at  some  seasons  of  the  year  strong  winds  prevail  on  the  Columbia  lliver. 
The  Spaniarils  derived  their  word  '  liuracan '  from  a  native  American  word 
found  among  the  people  of  the  central  parts;  '  liurakan '  is  tlie  name  of  a 
(juiclie  god,  meaning  the  tempest.  Tlie  Englisli  hurricane  and  the  Fre;>ch 
oiiriii/(tii  are  forms  of  the  same  word;  but  an  the  French  had  little  to  do  witM 
tlie  earliest  history  of  tfie  Northwest  Coast,  the  origin  of  the  name  has  nevei 
lieen  ascribed  to  them. 


Of  .all  the  conjectures  hazarded  by  writers  from  time  to  time,  the  one  th.'*; 
•suggests  a  Spanish  origin  from  orejou,  meaning  'a  pull  of  the  ear,' bi'.t  for 
tliis  purpose  often  interpreted  '  long  ear  '  or  '  lop  ear, '  seems  to  have  been  most 
popular,  though  not  supported  by  facts  or  probabilities.  It  has  been  often 
repeated,  with  not  so  much  as  a  qualifying  doubt,  that  the  Spaniards  travel- 
ling up  the  northern  coast  met  a  tribe  of  Indians  with  ears  of  extreme  length, 
weighed  down  ))y  heavy  ornaments,  and  from  tliis  circumstance  the  Span- 
iards called  them  'Long-ears,'  and  the  country  La  Tkrni  di'  los  Orcjoiix, 
which  became  corrupted  into  Orci/on  by  Englishmen  and  Anierican.-i.  Otlier.-s 
assert  that  while  the  derivation  is  correct  it  was  not  properly  ai)plied  by 
these  first-named  writers,  but  that  it  signifies  the  country  of  lop-eared  ralibits, 
this  animal  abounding  there  as  well  as  in  California.  So  popular  became  this 
tiieory  in  tiie  mining  times  of  1848-9  that  tlie  Oregoniaiis  went  by  tlie  i.  >iie 
of  '  Lop-ears  '  among  the  Californiau  miners.  Indeed,  I  suspect  tliiri  ;>pportuiiity 
to  ridicule  their  ol>trudiiig  neighbors,  proving  too  good  to  be  losi,  really 
first  gave  currency  to  the  idea.  From  jest  it  grew  to  earnest;  soberer- 
minded  people  then  began  to  lo<  k  for  a  more  distant  origin.  On  inves- 
tigation it  does  not  appear  that  any  tribe  upon  the  Oregon  coast  was  ever 


20 


()UE«iON    I.N    KSH4. 


« 


IP 


iiioro  (idilicted  to  tar  oriiameiitation  than  is  cninmon  to  all  savaj^o  nations, 
or  that  they  woru  heavier  ornaments.  Neither  is  Oregon  inhabited  by  lop- 
lared  rabbits  in  a  degree  to  distingiUHh  it  from  some  otlier  countries. 

Dates  must  not  be  disregarded  as  we  look  for  proof  or  disproof  of  the  cur- 
rent theories  concerning  the  word.  'Ihat  it  is  not  of  early  Spanish  origin  is 
established  by  the  fact  that  it  does  not  occur  in  the  Spanish  voyages,  or  on 
the  Spanish  maps.  The  Spaniards  never  had  a  name  for  the  Cohnnbia  Ilivi  r, 
unless  it  be  Sun   Rottuf,  which  they  applied  in  1775  on  one  of  their  maps, 


Carver's  Mai*. 

without  being  sure  that  any  river  llowed  there.  On  their  sidiaecpient  nmps  in 
i  7!)  1-2,  after  the  river  had  been  visited,  it  was  put  rlown  as  Ifio  tie  In  Columbia. 
It  is  clear,  then,  that  the  name  Oregon  had  not  been  applied  to  the  country 
l)y  any  navigator  up  to  that  time,  nor  for  a  long  time  afterward.  'Ihe  word 
docs  not  occur  in  Lewis  and  Clarke's  journal,  though  it  is  found  in  Jefferson's 
iiLstrnctions  to  Lewis,  but  not  with  reference  to  the  river.  It  is  not  in  any 
work  published  in  the  United  States  or  England  previous  to  the  year  1811, 
the  first  year  of  American  settlement,  with  one  exception;  that  exception 
is  the  book  of  travels  by  Carver  first  mentioned,  and  which  was  published 
in  London  in  1778.  It  comes  in  thus:  'From  the  intelligence  I  gained  from 
the  Naudowessio  Indians,  among  whom  I  arri\cd  on  the  7th  of  December, 


CAIlVKIl    AM)    lUlVANT. 


21 


.ps  lu 

mbid. 

iiitry 

Iwonl 

any 
1811, 
ptioii 
slied 
from 
Ibur, 


aii<l  wlxmi-  language  1  perfectly  ac(|uiri'<l  iluring  a  iiMidunei-  of  seven  nionthf. 
uuil  also  fioiii  tlie  accounts  I  afterward  obtained  from  tlie  AwHiuipoils,  wlio 
wjicak  tlie  same  tongue,  being  a  revolted  hand  of  the  NaudowesHioH;  and 
from  the  Killistinoes,  neighbours  of  the  Assiniitoils,  who  speak  the  t'hipi^way 
language,  and  inhabit  tlie  hea<ls  of  the  Kiver  lUmrbon;  I  say,  from  these 
nations,  together  with  my  own  observations,  1  have  learneil  that  the  four  most 
capital  rivers  on  tlio  Continent  of  North  America,  viz.,  the  St  l^awrence,  the 
Mississippi,  the  lUver  liourbon,  and  the  Oregon,  or  the  I{iver  of  the  West,  have 
their  sources  in  the  same  neighborhood.  The  waters  of  the  three  former  are 
within  thirty  miles  of  each  other;  the  latter,  however,  is  rather  farther 
west. ' 

There  is  a  happy  audacity  in  CarA'cr's  statements,  whether  or  not  he  iu- 
temled  to  deceive,  common  to  discoverers  and  geographers  of  that  day.  On 
Ilia  map  he  has  tlie  J/hhIm  o/  tliv  Orlijuii  put  down  in  latitude  47^  longi- 
tu<le  117°,  and  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  head-waters  of  the  upper 
Mississippi.  Meantime,  antl  d(ud)tle.ss  while  his  map  was  being  engraved,  he 
received  reports  of  the  iliseoveries  and  movements  of  the  Kussiaus  in  the 
Pacific,  who  hatl  been  active  during  the  years  intervening  between  170(5  and 
1778,  the  latter  being  the  date  of  publication  of  Carver's  book  in  London. 
On  a  map  of  17()8  by  .leilerys  the  name  Ji'iiff  of  the  Went  'according  to  the 
Kussian  maps '  is  shown.  In  the  very  year  of  the  publication  of  Carver's 
narrative  Cook  was  making  his  famous  voyage  along  the  Northwest  Coast, 
and  a  general  interest  was  felt  among  the  maritime  powers  as  to  the  results 
of  any  expedition  of  discovery.  Enough  had  come  to  Carver's  ears  to  make 
liim  place  in  the  text  of  liis  book,  though  it  was  too  nmch  trouble  to  do  so 
on  the  map.  the  sources  of  the  Origan  'rather  farther  west, '  and  to  add  to 
his  imaginai'y  stream  the  secondary  name  of  Uiver  of  the  West. 

His  assertion  that  four  of  the  greatest  rivers  of  the  continent  rose  within 
thirty  mili^s  of  each  other,  though  pointing  toward  truth,  was  purely  specula- 
tive. It  Mas  the  fashion  in  those  days  to  array  speculation  in  positive  forms. 
Also  when  he  said,  '  This  shows  that  these  parts  are  the  highest  lands  in 
North  America,'  he  meant  those  lands  where  he  was,  about  the  hea<l  of  the 
Mississippi;  therefore,  if  any  such  river  as  Orij^in  existed,  it  rose  there,  in 
that  neighborhood,  'ihe  partial  discovery  of  the  Russians,  and  other  inimors, 
led  him  to  identify  it  with  the  Iliver  of  the  West;  and  the  discovery  made 
8ubse()uently  that  there  is  a  i>oint  on  the  continent  where  three  great  rivers 
head  near  togetlu'r  gave  a  weight  to  the  former  sup})ositiou  which  it  did  not 
merit. 

The  first  American  writer,  after  Carver,  to  make  u.se  of  the  word  Oregon 
seems  to  have  been  the  poet  Bryant,  in  1817.  Struck  with  the  poetical  images 
suggested  to  his  youthful  mind  by  reading  Carver's  narrative,  and  knowing 
just  enough  of  the  country,  from  the  reports  of  ship-masters  and  rumors  of 
the  hasty  government  expedition  of  1804  (i,  to  fire  his  imagination,  he  seized 
upon  the  word  that  fitted  best  his  metre,  an<l  in  his  T/iiiiiii/o}>sls  made  that 
word  immortal.  The  popularity  of  Bryant's  verse  both  at  home  and  abroad 
lixed  it  in  the  public  mind.  Its  adoption  as  the  name  of  the  territory  drained 
by  the  Kiver  Oregon  I  am  inclined  to  ascribe  to  the  man  who  claims  it.  Hall 


2*i 


oKKdON  IN  ih:w. 


J.  Kelky,  the  evidence  heing  in  Iuh  favor,  ami  no  a<U*rHc  olainiant  ai)iH'ar- 
ing.  Ah  Htated  in  his  ni»lor;i  of  thf.  Sflllftiifiit  of  (hrijnii,  ht-  wan  the  hrMt 
to  make  that  apjilication  faniiliir  to  the  puhlie  uiimi,  whiUi  previonH  to 
liiH  writings  ami  coireBpondenco  tlie  country  was  known  as  the  '  Northwest 
Territory,'  'Colunihia  Kiver.'or  'River  Oregon.'  Ahont  the  time  tliat  Kelley 
was  lahoring  to  raise  a  compat.y  for  Oregon,  and  importuning  Congress  and 
the  cabinet  menihers  for  aid,  thfre  are  fre(|nent  allusions  to  the  Hul)ject  in 
Xili'x'  IteijUfi'i;  xl.  407:  xli.  28 j;  and  xlii.  8'2  and  ;188.     lie,  t<M>,  was  looking 


MArKENZiE's    Map. 


for  its  origin,  and  says:  'Oregon,  the  Indian  name  of  this  river,  was  traceil 
hy  me  to  a  large  river  called  Orjon  in  Chinese  Tartary,  whose  latituile 
corresponds  with  that  of  Onyoii  in  America.  The  word  Killdnnirk/i,  the 
name  of  the  trihe  a  little  south  of  the  outlvt  of  the  Oregon,  was  also  traced  to 
11  people  called  Kilviuc/in,  who  anciently  lived  near  the  mouth  of  the  Orjon 
in  Asia.'  This  coiueideuue,  however,  does  not  account  for  the  nhanner  in 
which  Carver  ohtained  it;  for  he  did  not  ohtaiu  it  upon  the  8lu)res  of  the 
Pacific,  hut  about  the  head- waters  of  the  Mississippi.  Kelley,  in  his  anxiety  to 
prove  hi.'j  assertions,  states,  without  other  evidence  than  a  reference  to  the 
'  .Miirine  Archives  of  Madrid, 'that  Cuadra,  a  Spanish  capbiin  in  the  service  of 
the  viceroy  of  Mexico  in  1 7!>2,  and  who  in  that  year  was  at  Xootka  with  Captain 
Vancouver  of  the  Britisli  exploring  scjuadron,  and  captains  (Iray  and  Ingra- 
ham  of  the  American  trading  fleet  in  the  Pacific,  'called  this  rivcv  Ori'i/on.' 
The  reference  to  a  manuscript  in  the  archives  of  Madrid  must  iiave  been  for 


KKLLKY  AM)  HUMHOLDT.  98 

<1i>tplay,  giiico  luitlier  Kt'lUy  imr  liis  rea<hTs  oiilil  liavo  lia'l  access  to  it 
without  jouriit'yinj^  acnwH  tlie  Atlantic,  iiud  it  it*  t'xtreiriily  douUtful  if  he 
ha<l  ever  Been  niiythinir  Mhc  it;  though  he  may  have  believed,  in  the  confused 
Htate  of  )iis  intellect,  that  H\u-ii  a  fact  had  been  coinnumiuated  to  him. 

Ill  aiiotiuT  pliice  he  remark.s:  'After  Hurveyiiig  f'  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
bill  I  Hui)ii(wed  the  word  Ori-jini  to  be  <if  Portuguese  derivation— 0)-f|/o«,  a  fort. 
It  Mecinc.i  an  ai(j(roi)riate  name;  tlie  entrance  of  tlie  river  being  well  fortified 
liy  nature."  He  alno  refers  to  the  fact  that  lluinboldt  speaks  of  '  le  mot 
Indian  Origan,' ami  says,  'Humboldt  Wius  a  particular  observer  and  correct 
writer,  and  would  not  have  called  this  word  Indian  without  good  authority.' 
lint  this  is  a  statement  a.s  disiiigenuouH  as  the  first.     In  referring  to  (iray's 


Cookk's  M.\p. 


discovery  of  the  Columbia  River  in  ITO'i,  TTumboldt  adds  a  note,  wherein  ho 
mentions  a  doubt  thrown  by  Malte-Brun  upon  the  identity  of  the  Columbia 
witli  the  Tncoiitchi-Teme,  or  Ort!i/(iii  oi  Mackenzie,  which  illustrates  how  far 
great  men  may  sometimes  wander  from  the  truth.  Mackenzie  in  IT'JH,  after 
the  discovery  and  naming  of  the  Columbia,  having  come  overland  from  Canada, 
discovered  a  river,  tlie  Fra-ser,  wliicli  he  hopetl  and  believe<l  was  the  Columbia, 
and  which  in  iiis  narrative  he  calls  by  that  name,  alternately  using  '  Tacoutche 
Tesso '  and  '(ireat  River '  in  his  book;  and  having  'Tacoutche  Tesse,  or  Co- 
lumbia River,'  engraved  on  his  map.  Hut  that  Mackenzie  calls  any  river  the 
Origan,  or  Oregon,  is  not  true. 

Ifuiiiboldt's  criticism  on  an  unknown  geographer,  however,  furnishes  a  key 
to  the  manner  in  which  a  merely  speculative  idea  became  perpetuated  through 
a  mistiike  in  map-engraving,  when  he  goes  on  to  say  that  he  does  not  know 
whether  the  Origan  enters  into  the  lake  placed  in  3i»"  to  41'  north  latitude, 
tir  pierces  the  mountain  chain  to  enter  some  little  bay  between  Bodega  and 
Cape  Orford;  but  that  he  objects  to  the  fittempt  of  a  geographer,  ordinarily 
learned  and  pnulent,  to  identify  Ortf-gan  with  Origeii,  a  name  which  the  above- 
mentioned  gef)grapher  erroneously  believes  to  have  been  placed  on  tiie  map  of 
Antonio  Alzate,  <,'>o<j.  Math,  el  P/ii/fiiiiiK  ft  Politiiiiie,  toni.  xv.  110-17;  and 
lie  further  explains  that  Alzjite  had  placed  the  words  '  cuyo  origen  se  ignora  ' 
near  tiie  junction  of  the  Oila  and  tiio  Colorado,  and  that  the  words  being 
separated  liy  the  engraver,  tlie  geographer  whom  he  is  criticising,  not  under- 


24 


OKKliOX   IN    l.s;U. 


Htaniling  the  SpanUh  language,  aut\  seeing  the  word  Origen,  ami  prnhahly 
having  read  Carver's  hook,  jumps  to  the  conclusion  that  this  is  the  Origan, 
and  so  represents  it,  to  which  Jlunil)olilt  very  properly  takes  exception,  in 
tile  language  so  disingenuously  quoteil  hy  Kelley.  He  has  confounded  the 
•Spanish  word  Oriijen  witli  '  Ic  mot  Indkn  Orii/fin.'  But  Huniholdt  calls  it  an 
Indian  word  because  lie  has  Iieen  so  told  hy  Carver  and  those  M'ho  copied 
him;  hence  his  mistake;  the  Indian  word  resemhling  it  in  the  countries 
explored  hy  Hundioldt  ))eing,  as  .alreaily  mentioned,  'huracan.'  On  a  map 
contained  in  ('oob''x  Unirfrxitl  (troi/roji/ii/,  printed  in  London,  without  date, 
Imt  from  the  names  upon  it  not  existing  before  Vancouver's  surveys,  we  may 
infer  the  time  o.  its  publication,  the  Columbia  la  represented  as  rising  near 


\PtlfNCCW  flOVAlk 
->ISLKHOfr 

9.  CllarlolU4  m, 


'ing  Omrgt  Si 


^"^%^^. 


QDIVIRA 


Pavnk's  jVIai'. 

the  Mississijipi,  and  running  nearly  dut^  west  to  the  Pacific  Ocean;  it  is  called 
/fimr  of  till'  WcM  near  its  mouth,  and  /^'cc;-  Oreijoii  where  it  rises.  In  a 
similar  work  by  Johr.  I'ayne,  New  York,  17SM),  the  River  of  the  West  ia  made 
to  delmuch  into  the  strait  of  Juan  cle  F\ica,  while  the  name  Oregon  appears 
on  the  heail,  which  is  far  east  of  the  heail  of  the  Missouri.  Both  are  evidently 
borrowed  from  Carver. 

<!reenhow  thinks  the  word  M'as  invented  by  Carver.  He  s;iys:  '  Ou  leav 
i  ig  the  river,  Cray  gave  it  the  name  of  his  ship,  the  Cobitiiliin,  which  it  still 
bjars;  though  attempts  are  made  to  Hx  upon  it  that  of  Orc(jon,  on  the 
.strength  of  accounts  which  Carver  pretended  to  have  collected,  in  J7l)(i, 
iunong  the  Indians  of  the  upper  Mississippi,  respecting  a  River  Oregon,  rising 
near  T,ake  Superior,  and  e.uptying  into  the  Strait  of  Anian.' 

Ihus  have  I  given  in  detail  all  that  is  known  concerning  the  niime  and  the 
naming  of  Oregon,  from  which  it  appears  clear  to  my  mind  that  tlie  word 
tame  from  Carver  through  Hryant  and  Kelley.  How  Carvcu-  o])tained  it — 
whetiier  with  him  it  M'as  pure  Hction,  vagary,  caprice,  or  the  embodiment  of 
a  fancied  soimd — we  shall  never  kn<"v.  That  any  natives  of  America  c^ver  em- 
jiloyed  the  word  for  any  purpose  there  is  no  evidence.  Out  of  some  Indian 
word  or  words,  or  parts  of  words,  perhaps.  Carver  made  a  name  for  that  yet 
inisceu  river,  flowing  into  that  mystical  and  mythical  strait  «hich  had  been 
the  dream  of  discoverers  for  over  two  hundred  years,  and  f<ir  which  they  had 


FUKTHEU  AUrHOKITIES. 


■J.i 


ot  ceascl  t.   look  when  hi.  book  was  i,„l>li.she,l      'J  l,„,.efo,.,.  .1 
the  evidence  vr.uM  rea.U-Om/o.    invent.,!  hi    ■  «">n.n.ng  of 

I"«  .....norials  to  Cn^ros.     n      "  !  n'-'  "'T'  '"'  ''^'  '^'^"'-'>'  ^''-''^'^ 

it  frcu  the  three  .sonLhe.rjiv;!!"  '''"""'  ""'""'''  ^^''^  -'"l'^-' 

Jl.  n,'y;.,  no.  101   0-7-  J'^ninT         t  '^'''^  ^^"''■'    ■'^^'  Con.,.,  3d  8,..., 

7'm«..  0.,/o.   Plon^n-  jJr^^'I^l  '"-"'•  ■\''"''-  /->''.  MS..  15-11,; 

-■"  ^'"n.n,   Aug.   7    /sri.    /;w,/f '■""""■''  '"""•"'///-  i-  70:  r./Z/br- 
^"""•'/,  Aug.  20,   1874,  IW.  R.  R.  R,^„,t    i  ',      'v^"'  ,f '"•   ^"^''"«  C''-" 

Tnu  to  ore,o,,  170;  si:';;':!  if'-^-^^r';;:  rru''" ''-"'  ^"" 

Mn.yhy\.  Onyon   ])!r.,    187-^    so-    V        a^       '  '  ^^"jl'Onl .  ]\  orhl,  v.  {,10; 


PM 


MM 


If 


m 


CHAPTER   II. 

LIFP:  AT  FOIir  VANCOUVER. 
1825- I S4(). 

MARRIAr.F,    ReLATTONS  —  FiDKT.lTY-     S(>(  I.\l,     CONDITIONS  —  MrLotTOHMX — 

Douglas  —  Pei .^k  Skken  <}<ii)EN  —  ERMATiN(i kk  —  Thomas  McKay- 
Duncan   FlNLAYSON — GaIRDNER  AND  T0I.MIE—  PaMBRIN— McKlNLAY— 

Bi.At'K — Rae — \r(L(jr(iiiLJN  Junior — Lewks — Dunn — Roberts — Bar- 
uiwW — Mansox — McLeou — BiRNiE,  (^RANT,  MiBean,  McDonald,  Max- 
well, Ballenukx,  axd  McTavish — Patriots  and  Liberals — Aititudk 
toward  the  Settleus — The  Blessed  Beavers. 

So  long  and  so  conspicuously  before  the  world  stood 
the  metropolitan  post  of  the  Pacific,  so  unique  was 
its  position,  and  so  mighty  its  influence  on  the  settle- 
ment and  (Hcui)ation  of  Oregon,  that  although  I  have 
often  briery  rioticed  the  place  and  its  occupants,  a 
ch)ser  scrutinv,  and  furtlier  familiarity  with  its  inner 
hfe  and  tlie  characters  of  its  occupants,  seem  not 
undesirable  or  uninteresting  at  this  juncture. 

Up  to  August  I  8.'}(),  Fort  A'^ancouver  was  a  baclielor 
establisliment  in  character  and  feeling,  if  not  in  fact. 
The  native  women  who  hehl  the  relation  of  wives  to 
the  officers  of  tin;  cc.npany  were  in  no  sense  equal 
to  their  station;  and  this  feature  of  domestic  life  in 
( )regoM  was  not  a  ]>leasing  one.  It  was  with  the  com- 
panv  a  matter  of  business,  but  with  the  individuals  it 
was  something  different.  To  l)e  forever  debnrred  from 
the  society  of  intelligent  women  of  their  own  race; 
to  become  the  fathers  of  half-l)reed  children,  with  no 
prosjK'ct  of  transriiitting  their  names  to  })osterity  with 
increasing  dignity,  as  is  every  i  ight-minded  man's  de- 
sire ;  to  accunudate  fortunes  to  be  devoted  to  anvthing 

(2f.) 


MMVES   AND  CHILKKEN. 


27 


Imt  t'iin()V)l(Mn<'nt — sucli  was  the  ])rosent  life  and  tlie 
visible  future  of  these  oeutlenieii.  The  coimeetion  was 
so  evidently  and  purely  a  husinesb  .le  that,  as  I  have 
before  stated,  the  native  wives  and  children  were  ex- 
cluded from  the  officers'  table,  and  from  social  inter- 
(M)urse  with  visitors,  livinij^  retired  in  apartments  of 
th.  1  ■  own,  and  keepin<i;"  separate  tables/ 

>Jot  to  be  dtij^raded  by  conditions  so  anomalous  pre- 
su]>poses  a  character  of  more  than  ordinary  strength 
and  loftiness;  and  this,  a  close  scrutiny  of  the  lives 
of  the  ])rincipal  officers  of  the  company  in  Oregon 
will  show.    But  if  there  was  ])rescnt  no  higher  motive, 


'  'i  111'  fiiinilics  lived  separate  ami  in  private  entirely.  ( ientlenien  who  came 
tratling  to  the  fort  ni^ver  saw  the  family.  '  We  never  saw  anyl)o<ly.'  Ifonri/'.t 
l.i/i'  of  Mrl,oiii;liliii,  MS.,  13.  '1  he  stiitemeiit  of  Mrs  Eloi.se  MeLoughlin 
Kae  Harvey  ')■•.:!  been  of  j,M-eat  use  in  (leterinininj,'  many  points  of  the  history 
of  those  early  times.  Jioss  Cox,  in  his  gf)ssipy  hook,  Ai/nntiiri'M  on  tin' 
I 'oliiiiiliiii  l}'ni'i\  v..  'M',\  A,  says:  ' 'I  he  half-hreed  women  are  excellent  wives 
and  mothers,  and  instances  of  improper  conduct  are  lare  among  them.  'I  hey 
are  very  expert  at  tlie  needle,  and  make  coats,  trousers,  vests,  gowns,  shirts, 
shoes,  etc.,  in  a  manner  that  would  astonish  our  Knglish  fashioners.  'I  hey 
are  kept  in  great  s>d)j<'ction  liy  tlieir  respective  lords,  to  whom  they  are  slav- 
isiily  suhniissive.  I  hey  an;  not  allowed  to  sit  at  the  same  tahle,  or  indeed  at 
any  tahle,  for  they  still  continue  the  .savage  fashion  of  s(|uattingon  the  ground 
at  their  meals,  at  which  their  lingers  supply  the  place  of  forks.  'J  he  propri- 
etors generally  send  their  .sons  to  Canada  or  Kngland  for  eihication.  'Ihey 
liave  a  wonderfid  aptitmlc  for  learning,  and  in  a  slii>rt  time  attain  a  facility 
in  writing  and  speaking  iioth  French  and  Knglish  that  is  quite  astoni.shing. 
'Iheir  manners  are  naturally  and  iinaflectedly  polite,  and  their  conversation 
ilisplays  a  degree  of  pure,  easy,  yet  ini])a.s.''ioned  ehxpu'ncc!  seldom  heanl  in 
the  most  refined  societies.'  '1  his  is  a  soinewliat  snjierticial  view.  'Ihe  quick- 
ness in  the  chililreii  is  true  euo\igh,  hut  the  paternal  name  soon  disappears, 
'i'lie  daughters  often  marry  whites,  the  sons  .seldom.  Saya  another  writer: 
'  Many  of  tli<^  officers  of  tlie  company  marry  half-hreed  women.  'I  hese  dis- 
charge their  several  duties  of  wif-,  .Mid  mother  with  fidelity,  cleverness,  and 
attention.  They  are  in  general  go  id  hoiisowives;  and  are  remarkalily  ingenious 
as  iicedle-women.  Many  of  them,  hesides  possessing  a  knowledge  of  English, 
speak  Frendi  correctly,  and  possess  other  accomplishments;  and  they  some- 
times atteiiil  their  husliands  on  tiieir  distant  and  tedious  journeys  and  voyages. 
I  hese  half-lireed  women  are  of  a  superior  class,  lieing  the  daughters  of  chii'f 
traders  and  tactors,  and  other  persons  high  in  tiie  comiianys  service,  liy  In- 
ilian  women,  of  a  su[ierior  desctiiit  or  of  siiperi"  .crsonal  attractions.  'Ihough 
tiiey  generally  dress  after  tln^  English  fashion,  according  as  they  see  it  used 
l>y  tht^  English  wives  of  the  superior  odicers,  yet  tlu^y  I'etain  one  peculiarity 
tlu^  leggiu  or  gaiter,  which  is  niai^.e,  now  that  the  tanned  deerskin  has  been 
superseiled,  ot  thi'  liiiest  and  most  gau-'  \  'oloreil  cloth,  heantifuUy  ornamented 
with  heads.'  /)iiiiii'x  Orri/on  Tnrifnn/,  147  S.  'I  his  seems  to  he  iin  eivst(>ru 
view  jiresented  .second-hand  hy  tiie  author.  Heforo  l.S4'J  or  IStlJ  tiiere  was 
not  a  white  \\ife  of  a  Hudson's  Hay  officer  in  Oregon  to  he  imitated.  Aliout 
that  time  (Jeorge  H.  KohiTts,  who  had  lieen  on  a  visit  to  Englanil,  hrought  to 
Fort  Vancouver  the  only  white  woman  evtr  at  homo  witiiin  its  walls.  She 
diecl  in  IH.'iO  at  tlie  Cowlitz  farm. 


28 


LIl'K   AT  KOIIT   VANCOUVKU. 


III! 


tlu'V  were  eonipelled  to  a  lite  of  eouiparative  viitiui 
by  way  of  exnmple  to  their  subordinates.  He  who 
respected  not  liis  own  marriage  rehitions,  or  those  of 
others,  must  suffer  for  it,  eitlier  l)y  incurring  tlie 
wratli  of  the  c-ompany,"  or  the  vengeance  of  tlie  na- 
tives, or  both.  Licentiousness  could  not  be  tolerated, 
and  this  was  one  reason  why,  with  so  many  discordant 
elements  in  the  service,  such  ])erfect  ordi^r  was  main- 
tained. And  this  discipline  was  as  rigidly  enforced 
outside  the  fort  as  within  it.'* 


Notwithstanding  the  conjugal  n^lations  here  de- 
scribed, society  at  Fort  Vancouver  end)raced  many 
happy  elements,  and  nund)ered  among  its  mend)ers 
men  who  would  have  graced  a  court. 

Fonnnost  among  these,  we  may  be  suri',  was  John 
McLoughlin,  always  a  pleasing  character  to  contem- 
])late.  On  the  consolidation  of  the  Northwest  and 
Hudson's    Bay  fur  companies,   he  had    l)een   sent  to 

•^  There  is  a  story  iu  Cox's  Coliimlmi  Plii'r,  .345,  in  which  is  given  au  iii- 
utauce  of  the  seduction  by  one  trader  of  another's  wife;  Imt  it  resulted  in 
the  seducer  quitting  tlie  company's  service,  anil  the  discarding  of  the  unfaith- 
fid  niistresy.  Cox  also  tells  us  that  wlien  a  trader  wislied  to  separate  from 
his  Indian  wife  ]ie  generally  allf)wed  her  an  aniuiity,  or  married  her  comfort- 
ably to  one  of  tlie  voyageurs,  who  for  a  dowry  was  glad  to  becouie  tlse  1ms- 
l»and  of  III  <l<niif  il'iiii  hoiiriji-oii.  A  retired  partner,  thus  disend)arrassoil,  on 
arriving  in  Canada  was  soon  an  object  of  inti'rest  to  the  ladies  of  Montreal 
and  (jhiebec,  where  he  was  met  by  numiTous  hosjiitable  invitations,  and 
wluire,  in  slior„,  he  soon  was  able  to  marry  a  wife  to  his  taste.  More  often, 
liowever,  vhen  the  period  h.o  had  fixed  upon  for  quitting  the  Indian  country 
ari'ives,  he  finds  the  woman  who  had  been  for  many  yeai's  a  faithful  partner 
cannot  in  a  moinent  be  whistled  ofl'  and  '  let  down  the  wiml  to  prey  at  fortune." 
Children  have  grown  up  about  him;  the  jiatural  att'ectioii  of  the  father  de- 
spises the  laws  of  civilized  society,  the  patriot  sinks  in  the  parent,  and  in 
most  cases  the  temp(;rary  Unison  ends  in  a  permanent  union.  See  JIUt.  Nortli- 
vest  Coaxt,  arid  J  list.  Hrif.  Col.,  this  series. 

■'  In  the  spring  a  clerk  who  understood  the  country  would  go  with  the 
trvppers,  and  ^.■hatevcr  that  clerk  said,  the  others  had  to  do.  They  wi're  all 
free,  but  at  the  .same  time  they  had  to  conu^  iiiider  the  control  of  that  one 
man.  Ihey  had  their  by-laws,  which  were  enforced.  '  If  tiiey  did  anyihitig 
wrong,  it  was  reported  to  the  company,  and  they  wouhl  br  punished  aeeord- 
iiigly.  'Ihey  all  had  Imliiin  wiimen,  never  more  than  one.  Old  I'octor  Mc- 
Loughlin would  hung  them  if  they  had  more  than  one.'  Mottliim'n  /'ij'iii/<(', 
MS.,  17.  Saint-.Vuiant  asserted  thai  tne  coinp.my's  jioliey  of  reidmpensing 
ag.mts  without  iuii)osing  sacriliees,  of  maintaining  the  Imlians  in  absolute 
dependence  with  tile  aid  of  tiie  Ci'.nadians,  and  of  errating  more  eonsuiners. 
eau.sed  tiieni  to  fa\(ir  marriages  <.f  subalterns,  especially  those  wlio  hud  some 
n;eans,  with  Indians,  ami  to  grant  tlieni  lauds  along  the  Willamette,  Cowlitz, 
and  Nisqually, 


JOHN    .M(  I»U<;JIM.V. 


•29 


III- 
.1  ill 
ifaitli- 
roiii 
'ort- 
huti- 

OII 

real 
Jim  I 

iitry 
■tiii'V 
iiiio.' 
(k- 
!  ill 
•trtii  - 

till' 
all 

OIU' 

liiiK 

Mug 
luti' 

rrs. 
line 
litz, 


tt^ 


Oivadii  as  fliiet'  factor  and  virtual  yovcruor  of  the 
irreat  Xoj'tliwost.  He  was  Ixd-ii  in  tlie  citv  of  Que- 
bee,  of  Irisli  parentage/  in  1 784,  and  educated  in 
Paris  foi'  the  profession  of  niedieine.  He  fiiterctl  the 
Xorthwest  (onijiany  at  an  early  age,  and  \vliile  in 
their  service  was  stationed  at  several  jjosts,  and  finally 
at  Fort  Frances,  on  ]jake  of  the  Woods,  fi-oni  which 
station  he  was  transferred  in  IH"J4  to  the  ( 'ohnnhia 
River. 

Finding  Fort  George  unsuitable  for  a  })ennanent 
cstablislnnent,  .such  as  he  desired,  he  founded  Fort 
Vancouver  in  1824-5,  leaving  the  okl  jjost  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river  in  charge  of  Donald  Mansion.  The 
selection  of  the  new  site  was  fortunate;  prosperity 
reigneil,  and  the  days  at  Fort  A'ancouver  were  of  the 
])leasantest  in  the  early  amials  of  the  Northwest 
('oast.  Here  he  lield  sway  for  many  years,  absolute 
monarcli  of  the  district  of  the  Columbia,  comprising  all 
the  Hudson's  Bay  trap])ing-groun(ls  west  of  the  liocky 
Mountains,  antl  extending  as  far  south  and  north  as 
the  trapping  parties  ventured  to  j)enetrate.' 

Of  McLoughlin's  ])ersonal  appearance  almost  every 
visitor  who  came  to  Fort  Vancouvei-  has  left  a  sketcli. 
All  agree  in  r-epresenting  liim  as  of  couMnanding 
])resence,  paitly  the  effect  of  a  tall,  well-foinied  ])cr- 
son,  somewhat  inclined  to  stoutness,  flowing  whiter 
hair,  and  a  benevolent  ex})ression  of  countenance. 
He  seems  to  liave  become  gray  early  in  life,  for  lie 
was  onlv  thii'ty-nine  when  he  came  to  Oreiron.      To 

'Sec  ///.<^  lirit.  Col.,  chiip.  xvii.,  this  si-ries.  Ifowison,  Rept.  on  Comt,  \'2, 
afiinns  that  McLoughli"  io  i  f  Irish  parentage;  aii<l  Je«so  Applegato,  in  liis 
\"kii:s  of  ICytori/,  MS.,  27,  saj s  tile  name;  hut  (icorge  '1'.  Alkii,  wh.i  was  tor 
many  years  at  Fort  Vaiicimvei  and  siioiilil  lie  good  authority  on  this  (loint, 
says  ho  was  Seoteh.  '  I  am  not  i  ure  but  liis  grand latlier  cniigratid  to  ( 'aiiada. 
'Ihedoetor,  thougli  a  true  Cuiiadiaii,  used  to  tell  ^iiieechites  of  ohl  Scothiiid, 
possil.ly  fllrlli^'hed  hy  his  graudfathcr.  One  I  renieinher,  of  a  certiiin  iligli- 
land  elm  f  win.  wa.s  in  the  hahit  oi  eiurviiig  a  v  "ow  cane,  ami  of  druniiiii^ig 
the  unwilling  of  his  ehui  to  eh.ireh  with  it,  s.,  that  the  faith  of  that  trdie 
eaiiie^to   he  edled   the   religion   of   the   ydlow  stiek.'  Alla,i\i   /.V»i(«wff«<y<., 

•'NleLoughlin  was  failed  ' governor  hy  courtesy,  hut  he  had  no  right  to 
the  title.  Sir  dohii  H.  I'ell.v  was  the  governor  in  Kngland,  and  Sir  (Jeorgc 
Simpson  the  resident  governor,    /,'ot«ris   /,Wolltrthii.<,  .MS.,  78. 


30  LIKK  AT  FOIIT  VANCOUVER. 

this  fine  personal  a})poaraii('e  lie  added  courtly  man- 
ners, an<l  ij^reat  ali'aUilitv  in  conversation.  With  the 
air  of  one  nionarcii-ljorn,  he  was  fitted  to  govern  men 
both  hy  awe  and  love.  Such  was  the  autocrat  of  the 
Columbia  when  he  first  became  known  to  American 
traders,  missiona)  ies,  and  settlers.  White  men  and 
led  alike  revered  him." 

He  prevented  wars,  upheld  rii^ht  and  justice,  and 
ruled  with  a  strong,  firm  hand.  Perha])s  there  is  no 
more  difticult  office  to  fill  than  tliat  of  sole  arbiter, 
not  onlv  bv  reason  of  the  immerous  cares  atteiidini*;  it, 
but  becausti  tlie  struggle  of  a  single  will  to  maintain 
the  mastery  of  the  many  recjuires  a  great  expenditure 
of  mental  force.  Absolute  monarchs  must  be  strict 
disciplinarians;  to  relax  in  the  ieast  is  to  encourage  a 
freedom  fatal  to  tlieir  infiueiicc.  McLougldin  ])os- 
sessed  and  acted  or  tliis  knowledoe;  and  like  other 
potentates,  acquired  a  certain  (juickness  of  tianper 
that  made  him  the  terror  of  evil-doers,  from  the 
trader  to  the  ploughboy." 

This  unlimited  power  carried  with  it  imlimiti'd 
responsibility,  and  placed  McLoughliu  in  very  deli- 
cate pt)sitions,  not  alone  with  regard  to  his  business 
with  the  comiianv,'^  but  also  in  dealino's  with  and  treat- 
ment  of  tliose  who  had  no  connection  with  the  eom- 
j)aiiy,  and  es})ecially  Americans,  witli  whom,  on  account 
of  the  i)olitical  situation  of  the  Oreiifon  Territorv,  he 

*Ho  ix  thus  spoken  of  iiiauy  years  lator  l)y  aii  American  settler  in  Oregon: 
'  McLouglilin  was  one  of  nature's  nol)lenien.  He  was  six  feet  six  or  seven 
iaelies  in  heiglit,  and  his  locks  were  long  and  white.  He  used  to  wear  a  large 
blue  cloak  tlirown  around  hiui.  You  can  iniagiae  a  man  of  that  sort — a  most 
heautiful  picture.  See  him  walking  down  to  his  church  Sunday  morning — 
it  was  really  a  sight.'  C/uk  I  trick's  J'li/ilir  IIccoiiIh,  MS.,  4,.  5;  Jhtrnii'x  L'lJ'i 
of  MrfAmijIiU'i,  MS.,  o,  G.     See  also  J/isf.    lirit.  Col.,  cliap.  xvii.,  this  series. 

''  J/iim'if'.s  Lift'  oj'  JfrLniiij/iliii,  MS.,  1()-18.  '1  may  mention  tiiat  a  young 
American  gentleman,  Mr  Dwigiit,  of  Salem,  Mass.,  having  come  across  the 
jilains,  liad  been  rather  impo.scd  upon  hy  the  comj)any's  agent  then  at  Fort 
Hall,  having  had  to  leave  his  rille  for  provisions  supiilied  liini  tliere,  and  com- 
jdaiued,  or  ratlier  s[ioke  ot  tiie  matter  to  me,  tlien  at  tlie  Sundwieli  Islands.  I 
wrote  and  explained  tlie  case  to  McLougldin,  who  innnediately  sent  orders  to 
Fort  Hall  and  had  the  rifle  forwarded  to  Mr  Dwight  free  oi  all  cliarge.  1 
!iad  the  pleasure  of  returinng  it  to  liini.'  Allmi's  licwinitirfiircs,  MS.,  JO,  11. 

*  '  McLougldin  was  a  stout,  hearty  man,  and  very  deternnnud  in  character. 
Even  the  directory  in  London  eoidd  not  well  control  him:  lie  would  have  his 
own  wav.'  Fiiilit)iso)i'.i  )'.  /.,  MS,.  70. 


JAMES   1)()U<;LAS. 


31 


egon: 

poveu 

large 

llllOHt 
|"g— 

tries. 

the 
iFort 


I 


was  (ispt'cially  careful  to  be  in  friendly  relations,  as 
well  for  the  honor  of  the  company  as  from  a  nice 
sense  of  justice.  Yet  it  will  1)("!  seen  that  he  dared  to 
discriminate,  as  in  the  cases  of  Kelley  and  Young. 
His  liberality  of  sentiment  and  freedom  from  secta- 
rian j)rejudices  w ere  proofs  ecjually  of  a  noble  nature 
and  a  cultivated  mind,'  and  his  energy  and  genial 
dis})<)sition  placed  liini  foremost  in  every  good  work. 
I  miglit  have  some  doul)ts  as  to  the  [)ropriety  of 
attributing  so  many  high  qualities  to  a  single  character, 
were  it  not  that  every  authority  I  turn  to — and  they 
are  mnnerous — bears  me  out  in  it,  and  compels  me 
to  record  some  small  ])ortion  of  the  almost  universal 
j)raise.  McJ^oughlin  tlid  not  always  ])lease,  but  in  the 
end  most  ])eople  came  to  say  with  Finlayson,  "By 
the  light  of  maturer  years,  and  considering  the  eir- 
cunntances  under  which  he  was  ])laced,  I  cannot  but 
express  my  utmost  admiration  of  his  character." 

While  McLouglilin  was  at  Fort  William,  on  Lake 
Superior,  James  Douglas,  a  youth  of  seventeen,  was 
sent  there  from  Scotland,  and  placed  in  the  service  of 
the  company.  McLoughlin  was  to  him  as  an  elder 
brothel-.      For  years  they  were  C(mstantly  associated.'" 

Tall  like  McLoughlin,  but  unlike  the  doctor  he 
was  dark  and  grave,  as  was  the  Black  Douglas,  the 
strongest  pillar  of  the  Scottish  throne.  Unlike  the 
doctor,  too.  I'.e  was  not  (piick  or  enthusiastic,  but 
painstaking,  cool,  methodical,  and  resolute.  His  man- 
ners were  by  some  thought  pom])()Us;  but  courtly 
beai'ing,"  in  a  man  of  his  size  and  gravity  of  dej)ort- 
ment,  nmst  partake  somewhat  of  })omp.      I  think  hf 

*  He  wa.s  .ibove  proselyting.  Ho  was  liroad  in  liis  views.  'A  man,  dying, 
left  him  lii.s  daughter  to  l">ring  up;  the  fatlier  being  a  I'rotestant,  McLoughlin 
would  not  put  the  daughter  to  a  Catholic  school,  so  conseiontioiis  was  lie.' 
Ap}ili'(i(i/r'.t  I ■/>(/>■,  MS.,  14. 

'"See  Hi/it.  lirit.  Vol.,  chap,  xvii.,  this  .series. 

"  '  I  have  ofte!i  smiled  at  Dougla-s'  l)ehavior  to  people,  honest  perhaps, 
liut  rough,  who  had  not  been  accustomed  to  show  much  outward  respect  to 
any  one;  lii.s  excessive  politeness  would  e.xtort  a  little,  in  that  way,  from 
tl.eni.'  /'ol>('rf.i'  Ii'ecolli'clioiis,  MS.,  17. 


32  LIFE  AT   FUUT  VANCOUVKU. 

inipressed  all  tlie  early  settlers  of  Oreijon  as  heinj; 
much  less  approaehahle  than  the  dootoi',  Avhile  at  thi^ 
same  time  they  could  but  admire  his  bearing  toward 
them.'"' 

Next  in  rank  at  Fort  A^aneouver  was  Peter  Skeen 
Ogden,  son  of  Chief  Justice  Ogden  of  Quebec.  His 
father  had  been  a  loyalist,  in  early  tunes,  in  New 
York,  and  had  emigrated  to  Canada.  Young  Ogden 
was  for  a  short  time  in  the  service  of  Mr  Astor,  and 
later  of  the  Northwest  Company,  from  which  he  was 
transferred  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  He  had 
been  active  in  establishing  posts  and  negotiating  com- 
mercial relations  with  Indian  tribes.  In  one  of  his 
expeditions  he  discovered  the  Humboldt  River.'*  Og- 
den was  a  contrast  in  every  way  to  McLoughlin  and 
Douglas,  being  short,  dark-skinned,  and  rather  rough 
in  his  manner,  but  lively  and  v,  Itty,  and  a  favorite 
with  everybody."  He  died  at  Oregon  City  in  1854, 
aged  sixtv  years.^'' 

Frank  Ermatinger  was  another  pc^rson  of  note  at 
Vancouver;  a  stout  Englishman,  jovial  and  com- 
panionable, but  rather  too  much  given  to  strong 
drink.  He  was  a  successful  trader,  and  was  sent  out 
to  compete  with  the  American  fur  companies  in  the 
Flathead  and  Nez  Perce  countries.  Afterward,  when 
Oregon  City  had  been  established,  he  took  charge  of 
the  com})any's  business  there,  and  figured  a  little  in 
American  affairs,  being  nuich  esteemed    l)y  the  set- 

'■* '  Douglas  would  not  flatter  you.  .McLougliliu  w;is  uioro  free  aiul  vaay 
tliail  lie.  Hi!  was  a  man  borii  to  comuiaiid;  a  martial  fellow.  Jf"'  never  gave 
au  evasive  answer;  he  was  a  gentleman,  too.'    Wtili/o'i  Critiijm.'y,  .MS.,  11. 

^■'Ai>i>k';i<if,:'.i  Vkir.^,  MS.,  13. 

'^  He  carrieil  his  lo\  i:  of  fuu  and  frolie  to  groat  lengths.  '  One  of  his  trieUs 
played  at  home  was,  as  I  liave  ofteu  heen  told — and  played  too  ou  his  own 
mother — to  sentl  notes  to  all  the  midwivcs  in  (^ueliee,  asking  them  to  repair 
to  the  house  of  .Mrs  Ogden  at  a  eertiiiu  liour,  greatly,  of  course,  to  the  aston- 
isiunent  and  indignation  of  that  lady.'  A  linn's  Rcnihiisccnroi,  MS.,  l). 

'•^ There  is  au  anecdote,  told  l>y  au  eye-witness,  of  Ogden's  Indian  wife,  to 
tlie  effect  tliat  wlieu  the  Hudson's  Hay  and  American  companies  were  com- 
peting in  the  mountains,  riding  into  tiie  enemy's  camp  to  recover  a  pack-animal 
loaded  with  furs,  the  gallantry  of  the  American  trappers  permitted  her  to 
recapture  the  pack.  Tlie  Indian  women  were  very  useful  to  the  traders  in 
many  ways. 


lAtTOKs,  tiiai>j:j{s,  and  CLKJJKS. 


Xi 


tiers.  Allan,  a  brother  rlork,  stiys  he  was  soiiKitiiiies 
styled  J-}ar(l()]i)]i  at  the  fort,  fVoiii  tlie  color  and  size  of 
Ills  nose;  tliat  hv,  was  fond  of  taikinin',  and  would 
aildress  liiniself  to  tlie  governor  in  all  liuniors  when 
others  stood  aloof,  bearding;  the  lion  in  his  den,  as  the 
clejks  called  it,  and  beiin''  met  sometimes  with  it 
^rowl.  "Frank,"  said  the  governor,  "does  nothing 
i)ut  bow,  wow,  wow!""* 

One  of  the  most  noted  storv-tellers  of  the  bach- 
elor's  hall  was  Thomas  McKa}^  a  step-son  of  Mc- 
LougJilin- — for  the  doctor's  wife  was  an  Ojibway 
woman,  formerly  the  wife  of  Alexander  McKay,  who 
was  lost  on  the  ToDquin.  Thomas  McKay  acquired 
a  reputation  for  daring  which  matle  him  the  terror 
of  the  Indians.  Townsend,  who  met  him  at  Fort 
Vancouver,  said  he  often  spoke  (»f  the  death  of  Ids 
father  with  the  bitter  animosity  and  love  of  ven- 
geance inherited  from  his  Indian  mother;  and  that 
he  declared  he  would  yet  be  known  on  this  coast  as 
the  avenjjfer  of  blood.  But  had  he  been  in  truth  so 
hloody-minded  he  could  hardly  have  been  so  success- 
ful a  trader.  He  was  undoubtedly  brave,  antl  led 
many  a  trailing  jwrty  into  the  dreaded  Blackfoot 
country ;  and  was  accustomed  to  anmse  the  clerks  at 
Fort  Aumccmver  with  his  wonderful  adventures.  In 
telling  a  story,  says  Allan,  he  invariably  commenced, 
"It  rained,  it  rained;  and  it  blew,  it  blew" — often 
throwing  in  by  way  of  climax,  "and,  my  God,  how  it 
did  snow!"  (|uite  regardless  of  the  unities. 

McKay  was  tall,  dark,  and  powerful  in  appearance, 
and  often  Strang-^  in  his  deportment.  Perhai)s  the 
tragical  fate  of  hih  father  had  impressed  him,  as  well 
as  the  recollection  that  in  iiis  own  veins  ran  savatjfe 
blood.  His  first  wife  was  a  Chinook,  the  mother  of 
William  McKay  of  Pendleton,  who  was  brouglit  uj) 

'*  Enncatinger  married  a  Miss  Sinclair,  a  relative  of  Doctor  McLoughliii's 
wife.  He  was  rather  too  intimate  witli  the  doctor  to  suit  Sir  (leorge  Simpson. 
He  went  home  to  England  on  a  visit,  and,  to  annoy  the  doctor,  Simi)son  pre- 
vented his  return  to  Oregon,  where  he  ha<l  left  a  joung  wife,  and  ordered  him 
to  he  stationed  at  Red  River.  IMicrt.i  I'ecolkctioii^.  MS.,  '2. 
Hist.  Oh.,  Vcu,.  I.    3 


:;4 


LIFE  AT  FOKT   \'AX(.OUVEU. 


tf 


in  McLouglilin's  houseliold,  and  afterward  sent  to  the 
oast  to  be  educated.  His  second  wife,  the  niotlier  of 
the  famous  scout,  Donald  McKay,  half-brother  ot 
William  McKay,  \va8  a  half-breed  daughter  of  Mon- 
toure,  a  confidential  clerk  of  the  company.  They 
were  married  at  Vancouver  by  Blanchet.*' 

Duncan  Finlaysc^n,  one  of  the  many  Scotchmen  in 
the  company's  service,  came;  to  Fort  Vancouver  in 
1  8 'H,  remaining  there  until  18.'J7.  It  is  believed  by 
those  who  know  best  that  the  council  in  London  wei-c 
for  some  reason  dissatisfied  with  McLoughlin's  man- 
agement, and  sent  out  Finlayson  to  keep  an  eye  on  him. 
He  had  no  direct  charge,  yet  was  consulted  on  all 
j)oint8  by  the  head  of  the  department.  Matters  of 
this  kind  were  kept  close  at  Fort  Vancouver.  By 
the  light  of  subsequent  events,  however,  it  seems 
probable  that  the  London  council  were  dissatisfied 
with  the  invasion  of  the  territory  west  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  by  the  American  companies,  and  desired 
more  vigorous  opposition.  Hut  McLoughlin,  however 
irritated,  was  too  just  to  visit  his  anger  upon  the  com- 
j)any's  agent,  wlio  remained  at  Fort  Vancouver  on 
the  most  amicable  terms  with  its  governor. 

Previous  to  1833  there  had  been  no  physician  at 
Fort  Vancouver,  except  Doctor  McLouglilin,  who, 
through  the  epidemic  of  1830  and  the  several  seasons 
of  fever  that  followed,  suti'ered  nmch  fatigue  from 
care  of  the  sick,  and  nmch  annoyance  from  tlie  inter- 
ruption of  his  business.  In  1833  two  young  surgeons 
came  out  from  Scotland,  Gairdner  and  Tolmie.  The}' 
had  for  their  patron  Sir  William  Hooker.  Gairdner 
Jiad  been  studying  under  the  celebrated  Ehrenberg. 
He  was  surj^eon  at  Fort  Vancouver  from  1833  to 
1835,  but  being  troubled  with  hemorrhage  of  the 
lungs,  went  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands  in  the  autumn 
of  the  latter  year,  where  he  died.  Being  a  young- 
man  of  high  attainments,  his  death  was   much  de- 

•'Or.  Skrt<-h,<,  MS.,  21;  Noberfs   h'lroUi'CtloH-^  MS.,  03. 


w 


OKNTLEMEX   SUBOKDINATKS. 


:«5 


II  at 

who, 

i,soiis 

Toni 

itei- 

eons: 

liey 

Iner 

erg. 

5  to 

the 

linn 

luno- 

de- 


M 


|»loied.  Dr  CJairdner  made  a  study  of  tlio  sahnon  of 
the  Columbia  Kiver,  and  his  authority  o^i  their  liabits 
is  still  hijjfh. 

William  Frazer  Tolmie,  his  associate,  was  from  the 
University  of  Glas<ifow,  and  made  botany  a  stmly. 
He  had  been  at  Fort  Yaneouver  but  a  few  months 
when  he  was  assigned  to  tlie  post  on  Millbank  Soun<' 
Returning  to  Fort  Vancouver  in  18:H),  lie  served  in 
the  medical  department  for  stn'eral  years. 

Thus  we  see  that  there  was  no  lack  of  good  society 
at  Fort  A'ancouver.  Besides  the  residents,  there  were 
many  gentlemen  scattered  ovci-  the  country  at  the 
dilieVent  posts,  and  in  the  field  as  traders,  leading- 
trapping  parties,  and  carrying  on  connnercial  warfare 
with  tiie  American  companies,  and  usually  getting 
the  better  of  them,  owing  to  a  superior  organization 
and  a  better  (jualit^  of  goods. 

Prominent  among  tlie  cViief  clerks  who  had  charge 
of  posts  in  the  Ulterior  was  Pierre  C.  Painbrun,  for 
several  years  in  charge  of  Fort  Walla  Walla,  where 
he  dispensed  hospitality  with  a  free  hand.'*' 

Archibald  McKinlay,  who  succeeded  Pambrun  at 
Walla  Walla,  was  another  Scotchman  who  had  been 
in  the  service  of  the  Northwest  Com})any.  Genial 
and  stout-hearted,*"  he  was  a  worthy  successor  of  th(> 
favorite  Pambrun,  and  the  friend  and  ally  afterward 
of  the  American  missionaries  in  tlie  upper  country. 
He  possessed  that  very  necessary  acquirement  in  an 
Indian  countrv,  knowledge  of  the  native  character."" 

'■''  Mr  Paiultrun  was  of  Freudi  (.'aiiadian  origin,  ami  wius  foniiL-rly  a  lieu 
tenant  in  the  I'oltit/i'iirH  ('(inndkn.t.  His  wife  was  a  native  woman,  l)y  wliom 
lie  liail  several  children.  One  of  liia  daughters  was  married  to  l>r  Barclay,  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  in  IS.SS,  at  the  same  time  that  her  father  was 
formally  married  to  her  inotlier.  l'aird)ruu  died  in  1M40,  from  bruises  received 
in  a  fall  from  his  horse,  occasioned  hy  the  slipping  of  tiie  giii<liiig-rope  from 
the  mouth  of  the  animal,  which  thereupon  became  uumana.geahlo  and  ran  away 
with  iuni.  lildtic/ie/'n  Ctit/i.  Church  in  Or.,  47;  Lfe  and  Fro.i('n  (Jr.,  215;  Faru- 
h(im'/i  Traveln  to  (he  Rockij  Mounfnin.'i,  155. 

'•  He  was  a  tall,  fair,  sandy -complexioned  Highlander,  weighing  two  hun- 
ilred  pounds,  sociable,  civil,  clever,  and  a  man  of  some  intellect;  a  very  lively, 
active,  sharp  Scotchman.  J/aw'  Pioneer  Tiniex,  MS.,  'M. 

"See  //?V.  Northwest  C'oaw<,  this  series,  passim;  MrKinlay's  Nnrratiw, 
MS.,  9-12;  (>/■.  SpecMtor,  Aug.  5,  1847;    I'irtor's  Hirer  of  the  M'est,  31. 


'M 


LII'K  A I    I'OKT    VAN<UIVKK. 


I  Jiin  jiwaro  that  it  was  a  coimnoii  Ix'licf  aiii(>ii<x 
tlu!  t'arly  scttlcrH,  lurausi!  tlio  Hudson's  Hay  people 
were  less  tVeijUeiitly  attacked  than  (»tlieis,  tliat  they 
eiij()ye(l  iimnuiiity;  hut  such  was  not  tlio  caso.'' 
Nothing'  l)ut  their  uiiiroriii  just  treatment,  and  the 
firnniess  and  intrepidity  of  the  leach'rs  and  officers  in 
charuje,  ))reserved  tliis  appan>nt  se<'ur'ity.  ivxcept  in 
thi;  vicinity  of  Fort  Vancouver,  or  aniontjf  the  (hseased 
and  wasted  tril)es  of  tlie  Wilhmiette  and  (\ihunbia 
valleys,  tlu-n^  needed  to  he  exercised  sleepless  vijj^i- 
lance,  and  a  scrui)ulous  reiifard  to  the  sujH'rstitions  of 
the  (liH'erent  tribes. 


( 'hief  Factor  Samuel  Black,  in  chai'n^e  of  Fort  Kam- 
loop  at  the  junction  of  Fraser  and  '^rhomi)son  rivers, 
was  a  great  favorite,  antl  many  were  the  stories  told 
of  him."  His  nuu-der  by  one  of  the  fort  Indiiins 
shows  that,  though  he  had  l;ei'n  among  them  many 
years,  he  was  no  more  safe  from  tiieir  fury  or  super- 
stition than  were  others."^ 

William  (jrlen  Hnc,  a  large,  handsome  man,  educated 
at  Ediuburgli,  was  a  native  of  the  Orkney  Islands. 
From  IH.'U  to  I8;}7  he  was  emi)loye(l  as  trader  at  the 
dirt'erent  posts,  and  was  then  appointed  head  clerk  at 
Fort  A^ancouver.  In  I  HoS  luMuarried  Maria  Eloiso, 
daughter  of  J)r  McLoughlin,  soon  after  which  he  was 
ap})()inted  chief  trailer,  antl  sent  to  Stikeen  Kiver  in 
IH40  to  receive  from  the  Russians  their  fort  at  that 
})lace,  leased  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  He  left 
the  po.st  at  Stikeen  in  cliarge  of  John  McJjoughlin, 
son  of  ])r  McLoughlin  and  brother  of  his  wife.  In 
1841  he  was  sent  to  California  to  take  charge  «;f  the 

-'  Tradorn  of  iiitorior  j)o«ts  were   in  constant   (liin<,'cr  of  Tinliaii  attacks 
(hily  a  few  men  could  bo  ke))t  at  eaeli  post,  and  the  Indians  at  times  were  dis- 
contented.    Wliou  in  want  of  provisions  they  cfmld  not  get,  they  would  become 
I lesperate  and  easily  excited,   liitniclt'x  Ricollir/ioii",  M.S.,  i.  1J2. 

'■'■^Sec  }/int.  Xortliiir.it  Count,  passim,  this  series.  Black  was  an  odditv.  He 
iiad  a  ring  presented  him  at  the  coalition  of  the  Northwest  and  Hudson'^s  Bay 
companies,  engraved,  '  To  the  most  worthy  of  the  worthy  Northwesters. ' 
Bolivrts  Jierollectioii.%  M.S.,  !). 

'" MrKi)iltii/'n  Nar.,  MS.,  13,  14;  SiinpnoHH  Nnr.,  i.  IT)?;  h'obcrtu''  lieroUa-- 
lion.",  M.S.,  10;   ToiV.'^  NcwCnleilonh,  MS.,  13-19. 


Ft'HTHEK  CHARAtTEUlSTICS. 


a; 


vij^n- 


loatod 

aiuls. 

it  tlu' 

ik  at 

loise, 

was 

er  in 

that 

e  left 

lilin, 

11 

10 


T 
tJ 


ktaoks 


.   Ho 
iBay 

sters.' 


leollri: 


foinpuny  s  l)usiiio.ss,  wliidi  c(»iitimu'(l  uiidor  liis  nian- 
uircnifiit  until  his  death  hy  hi.s  own  hand  in  IH4(>.** 

John  MeLouglilin.  junic  .-,  second  son  of  Dr  Mc- 
Jioughlin,  was  hut  a  young  man  to  bo  placed  in  charge 
of  a  fort,  and  appears  to  liavo  hoon  in  no  way  worthy 
of  the  name  he  horo.  About  a  year  after  Mr  liao  left 
him  at  Stikeen.  he  was  murdered  by  his  own  men, 
Canadians  and.  kanakas.  An  account  of  the  affair  is 
given  in  the  History  of  Uie  North  wed  Coast  One  who 
kne,v  him  <'alled  him  too  y<»ung  and  hot-headed  for 
such  service ;  but  there  is  reason  to  think  that  he 
brought  about  his  own  death  by  his  debaucheries.'^'' 
JSir  (leoige  Simpson,  who  investigated  the  nmrder, 
treated  it  in  such  a  way  as  to  incur  the  life-long  dis- 
pleasure of  Dr  McLouglilin.  This,  however,  was  not 
the  only  cause  for  ofi'ence,'"  a  tacit  disagreement  having 
existed  for  at  least  ten  years  between  the  resident  gov- 
ernor of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Ccmipany  and  the  'emperor 
of  the  west.'  Sir  George  was  of  humble  though  re- 
spectable origin,  a  Scottish  family  of  Caithness,  and  his 
father  was  a  schoohaiaster.  He  was  in  the  possession 
of  no  personal  qualities  that  could  awe  McLoughlin. 

-*  Mrs  Uai;  had  tliree  children  when  .she  returned  to  Oregon  on  the  death 
of  her  husl>and,  a  sou  and  two  daugliters.  '1  lie  sou  inherited  a  largo  property 
in  the  Orkney  Islands,  but  died  early.  The  daughters  became  Mrs  Theodore 
Wygaiit  and  Mrs  Joseph  Myriek  of  Portland.  Mrs  llae  was  married  again 
to  Daniel  Harvey  of  Oregon  City,  who  wiis  in  charge  of  McLoughlin 's  mills  at 
that  place,  and  by  whom  she  had  two  sons,  Daniel  and  Janies,  both  becoming 
residents  of  Portland.  Noherts'  liec,  Mii.,'24,  f)7;  Harvey's  Li/e  of  McLough- 
lin, MS.,  passim. 

'^•'  l)octor  MuLoughlin  hatl  three  sons;  the  eldest,  Joseph,  was  uneducated. 
He  settled  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yamhill  River,  and  died  there.  His  widow,  who 
was  a  daughter  of  Mr  McMillan  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  in  early 
Astoria  days  marrieil  Etienne  t  irt^goire,  a  French  settler.  David  McLoughlin, 
the  younger  son,  was  sent  to  Paris  and  London  for  education,  and  was  some 
time  at  Addiseoinbe,  where  young  men  are  trained  for  the  East  India  Com 
pany.  He  returned  to  Oregon,  spent  his  inheritance,  and  became  a  resident 
of  Montana. 

■^"  '  I  don't  know  how  the  feud  between  the  doctor  and  Sir  George  originated. 
The  doctor  was  "at  outs,"  I  think  in  1831,  and  threatened  to  retire;  and  Dun- 
can Finlayson,  who  afterwards  married  a  sister  of  Lady  Simpson,  and  cousin 
of  Sir  George,  came  to  supersede  him.  The  doctor  did  not  leave  for  England 
till  March  18H8,  and  returned  still  in  the  employ  of  the  company.  It  wa.s 
said  that  Sir  G'.'orge  had  prei)are<l  the  governor  and  committee  to  give  the 
doctor  a  "  wiiigging, "  but  that  when  he  came  into  their  presence  his  fine 
matily  appearance  and  bearing  was  such  that  they  had  no  heart  for  the  fight.' 
Roberts'  Recollections,  MS.,  22-3. 


I 


rw 


38 


LiFE  AT  FOKT   VANCOUVEK. 


I 


il   I 


The  fop  of  the  Columbia  district  was  John  Loo 
Lewes,  an  old  Northwester,  who  after  having  been 
many  years  at  the  several  northern  posts  was  placed 
in  charge  of  the  district  of  McKenzie  River,  and 
afterward  at  Fort  Colville.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  per- 
sonal appearance,  and  possessed  many  good  qualities. 
He  had  the  misfoi'tuni!  to  lose  his  right  hand  by  the 
accidental  discliarge  of  a  gun.  When  he  retired  from 
the  service  in  184G  he  proceeded  to  Australia  with 
the  intention  of  remaining  there ;  but  habit  was  too 
strong  upon  him,  and  he  returned  and  took  up  his 
abode  at  Red  River. '^^  A  son  of  Mr  Lewes  was  the 
first  representative  from  Vancouver  county  when 
Oregon  territory  was  organized. 

John  Dunn,  who  wrote  a  book  on  Qyogon  made  up 
])artly  from   his  own    observations    but  more  largely 


ffx/m   those    of  others,  was 


in 


charge 


of   I'ort  Mc- 


Loughlin,  cm  Milbank  Sound,  in  1830;  but  later  ho 
was  at  Fort  George  on  the  Columbia,  where  he  re- 
mained till  about  1840.  Dunn  was  one  of  two  young 
naval  apprentices  sent  out  in  the  ship  (ianymede  in 
1830.  George  B.  Roberts  of  Cathlamot  was  the 
other.  This  latter  gentleman  was  for  many  years 
clerk  at  Fort  Vancouver,  being  cognizant  of  a  long 
series  of  interestinii'  events.  His  Reconvictions  in  man- 
uscript,  from  whicli  T  have  made  so  many  extracts, 
has  proved  very  valuable  to  me."^ 

"  Aiiilermnx  Hist.  Xorf/mr.st  CouM,  M.S.,  8,'5-C. 

■'"Roberts  li.us,  by  recjui^st,  fiirnishcil  his  own  biographical  aketch.  It  is, 
like  all  Ilia  writiuga,  rich  'ii  incident  ami  allu.sioii,  and  though  not  written 
with  the  expectation  that  ii  woidd  bo  inserted  verbatim  in  thi.n  lii.story,  there 
can  be  no  objection  to  the  follnwing  (piotation:  '  I  oajj  born  at  Ahlborou;,'h  in 
••^uiiolk,  east  coa.st  of  England,  lifty  niilea  or  ho  rortli  of  the  Thainevi,  Khh  of 
December  1815,  tlie  birthplace  of  the  poet  ( 'rabbi.  Throuij;li  the  kind  intfrcst 
of  Sir  Edward  Beriy,  Nelson's  llag-ca))tain  at  the  Vile,  to  wliom  Nelson  s  dd  of 
the  French  iw  the  lleet  entered  Aliouki;- Jiay,  "Count  'em.  Sir  Kd'ard,".SV,(</(t7/'rt 
hij'f  nf  Nilsoii,  I  was  admitted  to  the  (i.'cenwich  Royal  Naval  Scho-..i  at  the 
age  of  between  eleven  and  twelve,  on  tie  30th  of  August  '27,  where  I  rc- 
inaineil  till  .'M  of  November  1830,  and  wat^  then  with  several  others  bound 
apprentices  for  seven  years  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  (.'onipany's  naval  service,  and 
sailed  from  London  on  the  11th  of  November  1830  in  the  )>ark  <t<i.i>i/t,it(/i'. 
Captain  Charles  Kissling.  She  wa.s  only  213  tons,  had  a  crew  of  l\0,  carried 
6  cannonades  in  the  waist,  ami  was  for  all  Indian  purposes  a  safe  sh'p.  'Iho 
small  si/t  was  owing  to  the  diflieulties  and  dangers  of  the  Columbia,  th  -i 
'jcing  no  charts,  buoys,  or  pilots  in  those  days.     Wc  arrive!  at  the  Columbia 


li 


SOME  WRITEllS. 


31) 


loin^ 


It  is, 

rittfu 

there 

III  {h  in 

l(hh  of 

rest 

!iiu  (tf 

i/lmi/'n 

lit  the 

I  re- 

|)l)UIl(l 

ami 

lirrioil 
'Uio 
Ith'  "i 

Biiilna 


■•5lj 


Alexanflor  Caullield  Anderson  was  born  at  Cal- 
cutta in  India,  in  1814,  and  educated  in  England. 
At  about  twenty  years  of  age  lie  entered  the  service 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Cor.ipany  on  the  Northwest 
Coast,  but  was  not  so  much  at  Fort  Vancouver  as 
north  of  tliat  fort.  Fr.Mu  his  inanuscri})t  Hiskmj  of 
Ihe  XortJnrcst  C(ia4  much  valuable  and  interesting 
matter  has  been  obtained. 

Doctor  Forbes  Barclay  came  to  Ore,.;<':i  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  coiupany  in  1839,  and  remained  at  Fort 
Vancouver  till  1850,  when  he  became  a  resident  of 
Oregon  City  Mid  a  natui-alized  Amei'ican  citizen. 
Barclay  was  a  native  of  the  Shetland  Islands,  and 
was  born  on  (^hristmas-day,  1812.     While  but  a  lad 

after  calling  at  the  S.  Islaiuls,  ahout  Augus^i  Ist.  The  iipjjrentices  were  traiis- 
lerri'l  t*i  the  Cudhoro,  for  tho  c«ii«t — lint  all  hands  were  ill  with  the  ague  (wo 
calk'il  it).  We  Iiatl  to  go  into  tt^iits  in  Baker'.s  Hay.  I  was  the  last  to  fall  ill, 
aufl  w;is  sent  to  Fort  <  reorge  when  tlie  ship  sailed  for  the  Nortliwest  Coast.  I 
went  to  Vaiicoiivor  in  t'ulpruary  and  assisted  Douglas  (Sir  .lames),  wlio  was 
then  a  clerk  on  DICK)  a  year.  When  the  expedition  to  tlu!  Stikeen  was  fitted 
out  in  "M  1  apiplied  to  join  my  seliool-mates,  1)ut  oji  the  return  of  the  exix^li 
tion,  in  the  winter  of  "34-3."),  1  ha<l  ha<l  enough  of  the  sea,  and  resumeil  my 
former  hcrth,  thougli  for  one  y(-ar  I  kept  tl.e  school  of  some  oO  Indian  ehil- 
ilren — it  must  have  licen  after  S.  II.  Smith  ran  oti'  witli  our  old  liaker's  Indian 
wife.  I  was  then  employed  'ii  the  otlico  and  stows  till  Or  Mel^oiighlin's  de- 
parture for  I'higland,  wlien  l>(iuglas  assumed  charge,  and  took  me  for  aid 
Mistead  of  Mr  Allan  to  oversee  the  men.  We  )iad  ahout  1(H)  to  !.")(),  sometimes 
'-MM),  and  I  w;us  the  overseer.  I  eontinueil  in  tliis  witll  tlu;  exceptions  of  a. 
month  or  two  at  C'im  litz  farm  in  '.'?',(,  Oregon  ( 'ity  in  '40,  and  ( 'lianipotig  in  '4'2. 
I  left  tliat  seiison,  Novemlier  '4'J.  for  Mngland,  with  <  'aptain  McNeill,  as  a  pas- 
senger of  course.  Tlie  doctoi  an  •  Douglas,  then  the  hoard  of  niaiiagemeiit, 
reatl  tome  tlieir  puhlic  lettei  eomim  cling  me  to  the  governor  and  comnnttee, 
and  tluniglitfully  i.sking  them  ti  >  allow  me  to  return  if  I  was  so  disposed, 
lireaking  the  rule  of  the  M-rvice  in  my  ease — generally  there  was  no  return  to 
t.lio  service.  We  leaeliea  '.ondoti  by  way  of  the  Islands,  10th  of  May  '4;i.  1 
was  soon  tii'eil  of  lunne,  where  I  was  out  of  ])lace  and  a  nohody,  and  availing 
myself  of  the  tlioughtfnluess  of  tiie  doctor  and  Douglas,  marri<;d  my  first 
cousin.  Miss  Maitiia  Cable,  of  Aldhorough,  and  sailed  from  ('owes,  Isle  of 
Wight,  otii  of  Dec<>.i,l>er,  on  hoanl  tliL'  hark  /init/urs,  Captain  I'lere,  a  char- 
tered ship;  '-'.ud  arrived  at  tiie  Islands  in  April,  where  we  took  as  fcdlow-pas 
stn.'jer  Rev.  (ieorge  (ifvry.  who  was  coming  to  settle  up  the  .Mi-thodist  .Mission 
hi-  mess  alter  the  death  of  .fason  Lee.  |Mr  (iary  si^t  out  hefon;  the  deatli  of 
.la  .HiliOe.l  Wo  arriveil  safely  at  N'aneouver  in  .May '44.  From  theiiee  on  to 
D  cenlier  '41),  I  luul  charge  of  the  company's  ilepot,  wholi'sale  Inisini-ss,  that 
it  I  r'  i.'eived  and  shipped  all  cargoes,  kept  separate  account  of  eacli  po»t  and 
f  dp.  1  may  say  that  up  to  that  time  1  had  a  better  aciinaintaut^'  of  ail  thingH 
';  Vanoouver  tlum  anybody  else.  I  came  young,  soon  b  .irMcd  p'reni  ii  and 
li.dian,  knew  wluie  e\  erytlnng  was,  and  everybody.  1  hardly  thiidc  there 
was  a  book  or  paper  that  1  hi"In't  fullest  access  to.  I  went  to  take  charge  of 
the  ( 'owlit;'.  tarni  in  184,i.  In  '48  came  the  ineash's,  and  a  sei'iie  of  de.tth;  ill 
'4!»a  typluiid  or  eamp  fever,  of  which  my  poor  wife  died  in  .inly  'M.  In  ';">."> 
I  luarried  Miss  Rose  Birnie,  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland.' 


i 


H 


II 


40 


LlKJi;    AT  FOKT   VANCUUVEn. 


lie  wont  <tii  a  crui'  t'  with  Sir  Jolm  Koss  to  the  Arctic 
regions,  in  search  of  a  nortii-west  passage.  The  ves- 
sel was  wrecked,  and  nearly  all  on  board  were  lost. 
Among  those  wlio  escaped  and  were  ])icked  up  by  the 
Eskimos  was  young  Barclay.  He  was  .taken  to  the 
island  of  Fisco,  where  he  lived  witli  the  Danes  for 
several  months,  finally  returning  to  Scotland  on  a 
vessel  which  touclied  at  tlie  island.  Resuming  his 
studies,  he  graduated  at  tlie  royal  college  of  surgeons, 
in  London,  in  July  1838,  and  left  the  following  year 
for  Oregon,  where  lie  arrived  in  the  sprhig  of  J840.''^" 
Donald  Manson  was  also  a  native  of  Scotland,  wiio 
had  received  a  good  education,  and  in  his  seventeenth 
year,  1817,  entered  the  service  of  the  Hu<lson's  Bay 
Com[)any.  lie  remained  on  the  east  side  of  the 
mountains  till  1828,  when  he  accompanied  Black  into 
the  country  now  known  as  the  Cassiar  mining  dis- 
trict, after  which  he  returned  to  Athabasca,  and  in 
the  autunm  of  1824  was  ordered  to  tlie  Columbia 
River,  arriving  at  Fort  \'^ancouver  in  April  182;i. 
In  the  summer  of  1827  he  assisted  in  the  erection  of 
Fort  Langley,  tlie  fii'st  trading  jiost  established  by 
the  company  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  north 
of  Fort  Vancouver.  He  returned  to  Fort  Vancouver 
in  1828,  in  which  year  two  American  vessels,  the  brig 
Oiryhce,  Captain  ])ominus,  and  the  schooner  Convoy. 
Captain  Tomson,  entered  the  Columbia  to  trade.  Man- 
son  was  sent  to  occupy  the  deserted  post  at  Astoria, 
and  oppose  the  interlojiers.  He  found  the  old  fort  in 
so  ruinous  a  state  that  he  lived  in  a  tent  for  the  season. "' 

•^lu  1842  he  married  Miss  Maria  J'linihnui,  diuighter  of  Pierre  C.  Paiii- 
l)ruii,  l)y  whom  he  hail  five  cliildreii.  'J'ho  rules  of  the  company  prohibiteil 
him  from  leaving  the  fort  to  practise  liis  profi'ssion.  But  in  the  early  settle- 
ment of  Oregon  it  was  the  custom  of  tlie  Americans  to  go  to  the  fort  for 
meilical  advice,  which  was  always  freely  gi\en.  He  was  seven  years  mayor 
of  Oregon  ( 'ity,  nine  years  a  councilman,  and  eighteen  years  coroner.  Ever 
attentive  to  the  duties  »if  citizenship,  stiictly  lionest,  sagacio\is,  and  henevo- 
lent,  he  was  trusted  and  esteemed  hy  all.  l)(Ktiir  liarchiy  died  at  his  home 
in  (Oregon  City.  -May  14,  1873.  Om/on  Ci/i/  EiitmyrUc,  May  Iti,  \H'',\\  Oli/niyiii 
Stmii/iiril,  May 'i-I.IST.S;  /'nrflom'/  (>i;ui'o,)iaii.  May  17,  1873;  Portland  Her- 
•il,',  .May  17.  IH'li;  S.  /•'  Coll,  May  111,  1873. 

"'It  was  during  this  year  that  the  ship  WiWaw  mul  Aim  was  cast  away 
win  11  a  little  distance  inside  the  har  of   the  Columhia,  and  all  on  hoard,  'JG 


MANSON   AXJ>  M.LKOl). 


41 


In  1829  Mansoii  {ic('(»in})<uiUMl  Oo-drii  to  erttal)lisli 
Fort  Si)ni)s<)n,  north  of  Lunoley ;  ami  in  18:30  a  post 
oil  MilUank  Sound,  Fort  McLouglilin,  wliero  lie  vv- 
niained  in  charge  until  18:39,  when  lie  was  granted 
a  year's  absence.  Returning  hi  1841,  In;  succeeded 
Mr  Black,  who  had  just  l)een  murdered  at  Kaniloo|); 
and  in  1842  he  succeeded  John  McLoughlin,  mur- 
dered at  Stikeen.  In  1844  he  was  a})pointed  to  the 
command  of  the  district  of  New  Caledonia,  where 
he  remained  as  executive  otKcer  until  1857,  when  he 
resigned.  Soon  afterward  he  purchased  a  farm  at 
Champoeg.'" 

Donald  McLeod,  born  about  1811,  in  one  of  the 
western  isles  of  the  county  of  lioss,  Scotland,  came 
to  Oregon  in  the  company's  service  iti  1835  by  sea. 
He  was  leading  trapping  parties  in  the  Snake  country 
'vith  Thomas  McKav  in  iy:)(),  and  remained  in  this 
'  .upatiou  ten  years,  when  he  settled  on  a  farm  m  the 
Lualatin  l*lains,  where  he  died  February  20,  187o, 
leavinir  a  Lir^je  foniilv.'^'^ 


:iii 


hiteil 

Utl<- 

foi- 

iiyor 

JVO- 

iiviii 
Iter- 

ay 
•-Mi 


l>ursous,  lost.  Tliis,  liowevor,  was  boforu  tlio  jirrival  of  the  American  ve.s.sols 
or  Mr  Maiisou  at  tlie  inoutli  of  the  river,  and  there  were  none  Imt  Indian  wit- 
nesses. Tiie  erew  gained  the  siiore  witli  arms  wet  ami  (U'fencehiss,  anil  were 
all  miussacred  hy  the  t'latsoiis.  This  wjus  avenged,  and  the  two  t'latsop  chiefs 
killed.  Tlie  Ixohellit,  Cafttain  llyan,  ran  agronnd  on  Sand  Island  in  IHSO,  and 
Wiis  abandoned  hy  tlie  crew,  wlio  proliahly  dreaded  the  fate  of  those  of  the 
Williitm  itinl  Ann.  Tlie  vessel  was  lost,  llad  the  men  remained  hy  the  sliiji 
until  the  tide  turned  tliey  miglit  have  saved  her.  A  part  only  of  the  cargo 
w;us  lo.st.  Ace  (iiiii  Fro.it',1  Or.,  KM)  7;  Naliirfs'  JtWollir/ioiit,  .SlS..  1.").  Tlie 
h)ss  of  another  vessel  two  year.s  later,  ijuite  as  imieli  as  the  occasional  visits 
of  Anierieau  traders,  caused  tlie  company  to  occupy  the  post  at  Astoria  con- 
tinuously after  1S;?0. 

■'^  Triiii.'i.  Or.  Pioii.  A,i.tof.,  DST'J,  .")(!;  /{iirmi's  M<r.  Li/i\  MS,,  '2"2-.'{; 
(/rim'-H  Bmiiinnif.  Aiiicilo/ci,  MS.,  12;  I'urtliiiiil  Orfijonhnt,  March  28,  1874; 
/(/.,  April  8,  1871);  /(/.,  Feh.  ;"),  lS7t>;  S^ili'iii  Fnniin;  .March  17,  1870.  .Mr 
Manson's  wift^  was  Felice  Lucier,  of  l''rench  I'rairie,  whom  lie  married  in 
Octoher  1828,  at  whicli  time  her  father  had  heeii  two  yt-ars  .settled  in  the 
Willamette  N'allcy. 

■^^  Port  Id  ml  /'ii<-if!r,(:/iri.iliiin  Ailrarufr,  .March  (I,  1S7:1.  .McLeod  whih'  in 
tlie  mountiiius  suil'ered  so  Bcverely  witli  liiles  tiiat  he  could  neitiier  riih'  nor 
sit,  hut  was  carried  on  a  litter  between  two  horses.  Tiie  hnliaii  wife  of  an 
.Vnierican  trappir,  Klilierts,  gave  liim  a  tea  made  from  pounded  i<iots  gathered 
near  Fort  X'ancouver,  wliieii  cureil  liini  in  a  few  days.  He  pri'sented  ner  witli 
some  gay  dresses  and  other  trides;  and  to  Kliherts,  wiio  was  in  need  of  a  saw 
anil  two  augers,  he  sent  a  whole  cliest  of  tools.  l-'J,l»rlx'  '/'/vi;i;(f /'.v  l/i/c,  MS.,  42. 
.Fames  Biriiii- ot  Ahenleen,  .Scotland,  wlio  entered  Oregon  in  1818,  succeeded 
Ihinn  at  Fort  <^eorge,  and  remained  at  tliat  (mst  for  nia"v  years.  Wv  tiually 
retired  to  (.'athlamet,  where  he  died   Oeceuilier  21,  KStU,  iiged  G'J  years.      He 


1 


I    i 


42 


LIFE  AT  FORT   VANCOCJVEK. 


The  livt-s  t»t'  tliese  men,  separated  by  thousands  of 
miles  from  the  civilized  world,  and  entirely  deprived 
of  the  companionship  of  cultivated  women,  might  easily 
have  been  barbarous  through  the  lack  of  example 
and  enudation  which  everywhere  exists  in  the  world 
of  intellect  and  relinement.  The  highest  praise  that 
can  be  bestowed  upon  them  is  that  under  these 
temptations  they  never  forgot  themselves.  As  nearly 
as  })ossible  McLoughlin  nuiintained  the  fashions  of 
manor  life  in  England,  the  hospitality,  the  courtesy, 
tlie  riding,  hunting,  and  conversation.  A  dinner  at 
Fort  A'ancouver  was  a  dignified  and  social  affair,  not 
lacking  either  in  creature  comforts  or  table-talk.  As 
early  as  183()  there  was  good  living  at  this  post; 
plenty  of  cattle,  sheep,  swine,  salmon,  game,  and  an 
ample  garden.  Tlie  tal)le  was  set  oil'  witli  a  display 
of  fine  English  glass,  and  ruddy  wines.  No  liquors 
were  furnislied.  McLouglilin  never  drank  either  wine 
or  li<|Uor,  except  on  great  occasions,  to  open  the  fes- 
tivities.     He  presided,  and   led  the  conversation,  the 

was  tlu'  first  vliitc  niiiii  to  dcsooiul  tlic  I'liijxjiui  Kivcr  to  its  inoutli.  Tlie 
second  wife  of  (leorge  li.  Kolierts  was  a  sister  of  Mr  Biniie.  James  (iraiit 
was  ill  eliarge  of  Fort  Hall  win  ii  the  lirst  overland  ininiigratioii  to  Oregon 
crosseil  the  continent,  and  until  (juitu  a  late  period.  No  man  in  Oregon  has 
lieen  more  remarked  niion,  not  to  say  reviled,  hy  the  American  immigrants, 
thoiigh  with  what  justice  let  him  who  reads  decide.  Tiie  same  might  almost  he 
said  of  William  MeBean,  successor  t<v  McKiiday  at  Fort  \\'alla  Walla.  'J'lie 
!>istory  of  events  will  jioint  to  the  justice  or  injustice  of  i)o])ular  opinion. 
.Vrchihald  .McDonald,  for  a  long  time  iu  charge  of  Fort  t'olville,  and  who  had 
a  daughter  famous  for  her  heauty,  talents,  an<l  liorsemanship;  Angus  Mc- 
Donald, in  charge  of  Fort  Hall,  ami  afterward  of  Colville;  Henry  Maxwell, 
dohn  Balleliden,  aud  I  Migald  McTavish,  who  were  the  last  chief  factors  at  F\irt 
N'i'ucouver— were  some  of  the  yet  larger  niunher  of  gentlemen  who  graci'il 
these  halls  with  their  constant  or  occasional  presence.  In  the  early  days  the 
selection  of  olHcei's  for  the  service;  of  the  Hudson's  liay  Company  was  made 
cliietly  with  regard  to  strength  of  coustitiition  and  geni'ral  jirohity  of  chai'- 
acter,  family  intlucuce,  of  course,  regulating  the  stdection.  In  after  years 
the  necessities  of  their  position,  in  couse(iuence  of  the  active  rivalry  of  the 
Is'orthwest  ('omi)any,  demanded  the  infusion  of  more  energetic  elements,  and 
ill  tills  way  a  hody  of  oHicers  was  graiiually  introduced  who  fully  ecjnalled 
ill  all  respects  the  pushing  characteristics  wliieli  marked  the  service  of  the 
Northwest  < 'ompany.  A  ii'/fr-son'.s  llisl.  Xorflnrcxt.  ('oast,  MS.,  87.  '  ( 'oimected 
with  tiie  Hudson's  IJay  Coiiipaiiy  there  are  also  many  geiitleiiieu  who  would 
do  no  discredit  to  any  ciri'le  of  society.  These  gentlemen  sustain  the  forms 
and  courtesies  of  civilized  life  liiuch  more  than  .Americans  engagi^l  in  the 
same  pursuits.'  Kilirin-il-*'  ShlrJi  afOri'ijon  'firrifori/,  MS.,  "J.").  Take  them  all 
in  all.  they  were  a  hody  of  luen  who,  for  physical  strength,  courage,  cool- 
ness, and  general  intrepidity  of  character,  were  rarely  fijualled,  ami  perhaps 
nowliere  excelled. 


•?s 


iiOClAI.  CUSTOMS. 


4.3; 


,li.  Tho 
'.s  (iraut 
I  Oregon 
gou  has 
igrants, 
luowt  )>e 

II.        Til.! 

iliitiidii. 

|\Il<>  liail 

us   Mc- 

axwi'll, 

at  Fdit 

graced 

;iys  the 

,s  iiiailu 

f  ohai'- 

yuais 

.f  the 

H,  anil 

ualloil 

(it   tlio 

leetod 

uoiiM 

fdl'lllH 

|iii  till' 
in  all 

Cliol- 

rhapn 


others  being  seated  aceordiiii;'  to  rank.  Xo  more  time 
was  consumed  at  table  tlian  was  convenient;  there 
was  present  neither  gkittony  nor  intemperance.*'  IT 
i;-uest8  were  present  tJio  cliief  devoted  some  time  to 
them;  after  dinner  lie  showed  them  the  farm  and 
.stock,  offered  them  horses  and  guns,  or  perhaps  made 
up  a  pai'ty  to  escor-t  them  wherever  they  wished  t<» 
go.  Did  tliey  remain  at  the  fort,  there  was  the  oppoi  - 
tunity  to  study  a  whole  museum  of  curious  things 
from  all  parts  of  the  .savage  and  civilized  worlds  all 
kinds  of  wea})ons,  dresses,  ornaments,  mechanisms, 
and  art.  When  these  were  exhausted  there  were  the 
pipe  and  books,  and  the  long-drawn  tales  of  evening. 
Wher't;  were  met  together  so  many  men  of  adventurous 
lives,  mariners  who  had  circunniivigcitcd  the  gh)be, 
leaders  of  tra[)[)ing  parties  through  thousands  of  miles 
of  wildcrni'ss,  among  tribes  of  liostile  savages,  in  heat 
and  cold,  in  sunshine  and  stoini,  contending  always 
with  tlu'  iidiospitablc  wliims  of  n\other  nature,  there 
could  bo  but  little  fla<>t>ing  in  the  conversation.  Some- 
times  the  .story  was  a  tragedy,  sometimes  a  comedy: 
but  no  matter  what  the  occasion  f(»r  mirth,  discipline 
was  always  pii's(>r\'ed  and  j)i'oprietv  regai'ded. 

Afany  Americans  found  shelter  and  entertain- 
ment at  Vancouver,  as  \ve  shall  .see,  most  of  whom 
have  made  suitablt;  acknowledu'ment,  testifvinu-  to  tiie 
gener-ous  assistance  given  to  (ivery  enterprise  not  in 
conHict  with  the  coni])any's  business.  Wluither  it 
was  a  rival  trapj)ing  })arty  lik(!  Jedediah  Smith's, 
which  found  itself  in  trouble,  or  an  unlucky  trader 
like    \N  yeth,''*  a  mi.ssionarv,  a  naturalist,  or  a  secret 

"  '  I  can  SCI'  (HiroM  N'ain'oiiviT  ilinning-hall,  with  tlu'  iloctoi'at  the  head  of 
till)  tilhli;  siiiidt'iily  pull  tlio  hcUtiussi'l.  "  Bruce  I'  and  in  a  few  minutes 
Bruce  would  he  on  hand  «ith  an  oiion  uiuU,  from  which  a  [liuch  would  ho 
taken,  without  a  word  on  either  «ide.  The  (loctnr  never  .siiio'-od;  chewing 
wa.s  out  of  the  (|ne»tioii;  ho  occasionally  took  siiufl',  hut  soerved  afraid  to 
trust  himself  w  itii  any.'  f,'ol„r/K'  ItifolkHioi,'',  MS.,  :i8. 

"'  Wht  II  Wyetli  returned  home  he  sent  out  a  keg  of  choice  smoking  'ol)acco 
with  a  friendly  letter,  to  the  gentlemen  ol  Ba.'lielor's  Hali.  'I'he  doctor  and 
he  were  great  frien.ls,  and  corrcsiionded  for  many  years  afterward.  Allnnn 
/fimiiiixnnris,  MS.,  ".).  The  tohacco  sold  hy  tlie  eonipar.y  was  mostly  from 
lirazil,  twisted  into  io]h'  an  inch  m  diameter,  and  coiled.  It  went  by  the 
name  of  liail-rojic  tolmeeo  among  the  .\mericar.  settlers. 


u 


I, IKK   Al"    KOUT    VANCOUVKH. 


11 


aijccnt  of  the  Uiiitod  States  in  (lis»niist',  one  universal 
law  of  brotherhood  eiiihiaeed  tliem  all.  Their  charity 
sometimes  went  so  far  as  to  elotlie  as  well  as  house 
and  feed  wanderinj^'  stars  of  American  wit,  as  in  the 
case  of  Thoraas  J.  Farnham,  wlio  visited  Fort  Van- 
couver i(i  18  CD.''' 

Likewise  theie  were  other  resources  at  hand.  Tlie 
annual  slnj)  biought  hooks,  ri'views,  tiles  of  news- 
l>apers  ;  and  the  mail  was  brought  overland  by  express 
from  York  Factory,  Red  River,  and  Canada.     With 


uch 


d  the  leadi 


)f  th 


arrival  tne  leadmg  to{)ics  ot  tne  tune  were 
discussed,  more  closely  l>erhaps  from  the  lengtli  of 
time  before  the*  next  batch  of  .subjects  could  be  ex- 
pected. A'^ery  early  in  Fort  X'^ancouver  life,  owing 
to  the  relative  positions  of  the  two  governments, 
British  and  American  institutions  and  ideas  were  com- 
l>ared,  and  defended  or  condenmed  accortling  to  the 
\  iews  of  tlie  disputants.'*"  But  after  the  advent  of  the 
first  niissionaries  and  settlers  as  an  An)erican  element, 
these  discussions  became  more  frecjuent,  and  in  fact 
developed  a  great  deal  of  j»atriotism  on  one  side,  and 
a  liberality  not  to  be  ex[)ected  on  the  otiier.  John 
Dunn  ri'lates  that  in  those  dayn,  from  L8:U  to  184;}, 
then;  were'  two  parties  at  Foit  \  anouver,  i)atriots, 
and  liberals,  or  philosophers."'  Tlie  Briti.sh,  or  pa 
triots,  maintained  that  the  governor  was  too  chival- 
rous, that  his  geni'i'osity  was  tlirown  awa}  ,  and  would 
be  unre(]uited,  that  he  was  nourishing  thost'  who 
wcmld  bv  and  1)V  rise  and  (luestion  liis  own  authority, 
and  the  British  right  to  Fort  Vancouver  itself  This 
party  cited  the  American  free  tra|)pei".  and  the  advo- 
cates of  the  border  lynch-law,  as  s})ecimens  of  Ameri- 
can   ci\  ilization.      They    had    no    faith    in    American 

■'■'  '  Kariihiuii  was  a  jovial,  jolly  fellow  .  l>oiiglii.s  fitted  liiiii  oirt  from  his  ow-u 
warilrolu!  ho  as  to  make  hiiu  preseiitiilile  at  mess,     h'olx'r/.i'  liVCoUrvtioiis,  MS.,  !7. 

'"' '  The  doctor  was  very  foiid  of  argmnelit,  especially  on  iiistorical  points 
connected  witii  the  first  Napoleon,  of  wlioni  lie  was  a  j;reat  adrnir>er,  and  often 
entereii  into  them  with  Captain  Wveth.'  .(/^(»'.^■  I!iiiihii.ia'n<'i''<.  MS.,  !), 

^'  Dunn  was  very  il'-'/eral  toward  the  Auiericans,  having  I>»^n  e.xcitetl  h^ 
the  eoHipetitiou  on  »he  north  coast,  wiile  stationed  at  Mui/ank  Sf»und. 
liohert"'  mrothcfioN^.  MS..  1. 


",'M 


I'ATUKVrs   AM)    I.IBKHALS. 


4o 


With 

J  were 

;-tll    of 
be  ex- 
owing 
ueiits, 
B  coin- 
to  the 
of  the 
'luent, 
II  faet 
e,  and 
John 
184;}, 
riots, 
r  pa 
n\al- 
Adiikl 
who 
»rit\  . 
Th'is 
idvo- 
neri- 
Irieau 


.S.,!7. 
]  points 
|l  ot'tmi 


iftunii. 


missionaries,  noi'  approbation  for  American  traders. 
In  sliort,  tlie  term  Ameriean  with  tluMn  was  synon}'- 
mous  witli  boorishness  and  dishonesty. 

The  hbcr.d  jiarty,  of  whieii  McLouglihn  was  nnder- 
stood  to  be  tlir  leader,  thoutj^h  they  admitted  tliat 
Americans  were  not  exem})t  from  cliarges  of  trickt'ry 
and  tyranny,  l)ein«»;  slaveliolders,  and  sonustimes  even 
as  states  repndiating-  lionest  debts;  and  tliat  the  lialf- 
apostolical  and  lialf-agricultural  cliara^-ter  of  the 
missionaries  was  not,  in  their  judgment,  the  liigliest 
example  of  clerical  dignity;  and  that  the  American 
traders  did  domineer  over  and  corrupt  the  riatives; 
yet  he  thouglit  that  Americans  ought  not  to  be  ex- 
cluded, because  they  had  some  claims  to  tlie  right  of 
occupancy,  claims  really  existing,  though  feeble,  wliich 
would  make  it  both  im[)olitic  and  unjust  to  prevent 
them  any  possession.  And  as  to  American  lynch -law 
and  other  usages  repugnant  to  justice  and  liunuijiity, 
they  were  ratlier  I'xceptions  to  the  American  cod»;  than 
examples  of  American  principles  (»f  legislation,  which 
in  commercial  and  civil  matters  was,  generally  speak- 
ing, just  and  humane,  and  fnun  which  even  British 
legislation  might  derive  some  us*  ful  hints.  They  had 
hopes,  too.  tliat  the  Americans,  by  tlie  iuHui-nce  of  the 
gentlemen  fur-tradei's.  would  beconi  more  civilized. 
Sucli  sentiments  amused  Farnhain  when  he  was  at 
Fort  Vancouver,''"'  and  troubled  many  later  comers, 
who  felt  tlieir  national  iliunitv  assaulted  l)v  Britisli 
patronage  of  tliis  son.'^" 

There  was  an  An-adian  Nunpltcity  aitout  Fort 
N'ancouver  life,  in  it>  early  days,  tiuit  awakens  some- 

^*'  'Another  was  a  Mr  Simpson,  a  yonnf,'  Sooti  '  maxi  of  ro.sp<'ctal>li-  family, 
a  clerk  in  tli<!  service  of  the  liiulroitrs  Iky  (  oinp  ly.  Tlii.s  w:*--  a  line  fellow, 
twenty-Hve  years  of  agc^  full  .>i  mtM-iiy  and  ^ihhI  feeling,  wiU  informed  on 
general  topics,  and  like  most  otlu  i  Bntisli  buhjeets  aUroad,  tronlileil  witii  an 
irrepressible  anxiety  at  the  growing  pow-r  of  the  States,  and  an  o\  erwhulniing 
loyalty  toward  the  mother  country  and  its  soven-ign  skirts.'  Farnfiam's  Cult- 
J'orniii  II  till  <h    mil,  8. 

^'1  often  iiL:.  -d  'h  MeLoughliii  .^y :  "Tl^*^  Enghahmcn  when  they  first 
''ome  out  are  such  raliid  democrats:  hut  in  a  fvw  years  they  always  are  at 
UMwt  conservative. ■■  ■  h'oln-iiy'  /,'iro/lri'fiiih'.  MS.,  17, 


w 


4i; 


IJFK  AT  FOKT  VANCOUVKH. 


thing-  of  poetry  and  sentiment.      It  is  a  bit  of  feudal 
life  in  the  wildei'iiess.     The  fort  is  the  duke's  castle; 
the  otlier  ])Osts  the  de})endent  baronies;  the  leaders 
of  trapping  ])arties  the  cliiefs  who  sally  forth  to  do 
l)attle  for  their  lord.     Every  summer,  when  the  season 
is  at  its  height,  the   fortress  gates  are  opened  to  re- 
ceive,  not  the  array  of  knights  in   armor,   but  the 
brigade  of  gay  and   happy  trappers  home  from  the 
mountains  witli  the  year's  harvest  of  furs.     It  is  like 
the  return   of  the   conquering   heroes.      It  does  not 
need  a  bugle  at  the  gates  to  announce  the  arrival.     A 
courier   has    been    sent    in    advance    tt)   give    notice. 
When  within  two  miles  of  the  fort,  the   song  of  the 
boatmen  can  be  distinctly  heard,  keeping  time  to  the 
oars  bright  Hashing  like  Tc^ledo  blades.     The  company's 
Hag  waves  proudly  from  the  tall    staff.     Everybody 
is   eager   and    excited,    from    the    servants    to    the 
grand  master  himself,  who  stands  at  tlie  landing  with 
the  rest.      Presently  tlie   boats  swi'cj)   round  the  last 
l)()int  into  full   view.     The    number    depends  on   the 
success  of  the  year's  traffic;  there   may    be  twenty- 
five,  or  Iciss;  and  each  can  carry  fifteen  or  twenty  tons. 
Down   they  conw  with  the  cun-ent,  in  perfect  order, 
aniitlst  shouting  and  cheering  fiom  the  shore,  every 
voyageur  in  gala  di'ess,  ribbons  tiuttering  f»'om  Cana 
dian  caps,  and  deerskin  suits  ornamented  with   beads 
and  fringes. 

The  arrival  of  tin'  brigade  was  the  great  event  of 
the  year  at  Foit  A'ancouver,  and  as  we  have  noticed 
before,  the  occasion  when  Mclioughlin  relaxed  his 
abstemious  rule,  and  drank  a  glass  of  wine  to  open  the 
festivities,  which  were  expected  to  last  twenty-four 
hours,  and  during  which  evervbodv  did  as  he  ])leased. 


Tl 


lere    was   m 


tl 


itli 


le   irentlemen  s 


unmii-Jial 


a   iifi 


and 


(liimer  on  such  occasions,  at  which  jollity,  anecdote, 
and  wit  enlivened  the  table  more  than  the  red  wine 
that  was  drunk. ""^ 


Another  picturesque  feature  of  this  early  Hudson' 


A]yple<i<it('',i  Vicwri,   Ms.,  I". 


THE  TKAPl'KUS   (AHA VAX. 


47 


tlie 

with 

;  last 


iit  of 

:icecl 

his 

the 

[tour 

Ibsed. 

rand 

[ote, 

fine 

Ion's 


M 


I 


Ba}'  life  in  Oregon  was  tiiat  of  the  chief  trader's 
caravan  when  it  moved  thntuu^h  the  Indian  country; 
or  when  the  oov^Tnor  himself  made  a  tour  thr()Ui>h 
the  Willamette  Valley,  as  occurred  at  rare  intervals. 
On  these  occasions  Indian  women  were  conspicuous. 
In  addition  t«)  the  trapiuu's'  wives,  there  M'as  the 
grand  dame,  the  wife  of  the  l)ourgeois,  or  leader. 
Seated  astride  the  finest  horse,  whose  trappings,  were 
ornamented  with  colored  quills,  beads,  anil  fringes  to 
which  huno"  tiny  hells  that  tinkled  with  everv  mo- 
tion,  herself  dressed  in  a  petticoat  of  the  finest  Idue 
hroadclotli,  with  embroidered  scarlet  leggings,  and 
moccasons  stiff  witli  tlie  most  costly  beads,  her  black 
braided  liair  surmounti-d  by  a  hat  trimmed  with  gay 
I'ibbon,  or  su[)poi'ting  drooping  feathers,  slie  presented 
a  picture,  if  not  as  elegant  as  that  of  a  lady  of  the 
sixteenth  century  at  a  liawking  party,  yet  quite  as 
striking  and  brilliant. 

When  the  caravan  was  in  progress  it  was  a  })ano- 
rama  of  gayety,  as  each  man  of  the  l>arty,  from  the 
chief  trader  and  clerk  down  to  the  last  tra])per  in  the 
train,  filed  past  with  liis  ever-j)resent  and  faithful  help- 
mate in  her  i)rettiest  dress.  After  them  came  the 
Indian  boys,  driving  the  ]»ack-horses,  with  goods  and 
camp  utensils.  When  the  governor  went  on  a  visit, 
it  was  like  a  royal  j)romenade;  the  camp  equipage  con- 
sisted of  evervtliing  necessarv  for  comfortable  lod^i-in"', 
and  a  bountiful  table,  the  cook  being  an  important 
member  of  the  numerous  i-etinue.  Here  was  feudalism 
on  the  western  seaboard,  as  I  before  remarked.  Tht; 
Canadian  farmers  were  serfs  to  all  intents  and  pur- 
poses, yet  with  such  a  kindly  lord  that  they  scarcely 
felt  their  bondage;  or,  if  they  felt  it,  it  was  for  their 
good.*' 

"  '  It  \va.s  a  iiinst  remarkalilc  condition  of  tilings.  The  old  doctor  would  go 
lown  to  t'hanii)oeg,  and  wliatevur  lie  toltl  them  to  do,  they  would  do.  If  they 
were  shiftles.s,  he  wouM  not  give  them  half  what  they  wanted.  If  thev  were 
industrious,  even  if  they  wore  not  successful,  he  would  give  them  what  they 
wanted.  He  kept  himself  constantly  informed  aoout  thos(!  people,  as  to  how 
they  were  doing.  If  they  went  around  horse-racing,  ho  woul.l  lecture  them 
severely,  and  inak.;  them  afraid  to  do  so.     There  were  no  laws  or  rules.     If 


48 


J.IFK    AT   K(»l!l'    VANCOrX  T.U. 


So  nlisolntc  was  McL(»ut;lilin's  autlioritv  tliat  pre- 
vious totlie  scttlciiuiiitot"  Ainericaus  in  tlio  Willanietto 
A'allcy  no  Icu^al  forms  lia<l  been  thou^lit  nrccssary, 
except  sucli  as  by  the  conipany's  ijfrant  wvrv.  so  niadt;; 
tlic  f^overnor  and  council  having'  power  to  try  and 
punisli  all  ort'enders  belon^ini;'  to  the  company  or 
tiuv  crimes  committtid  in  any  of  "  the  said  company's 
jilantations,  forts,  factories,  or  ]>laces  of  tr-ade  within 
Ihulson's  Bay  territory."  The  ( 'anadians  and  other 
servants  of  the  company  yielded  without  <juestion  to 
the  company's  cjiartered  rijTfht  to  judjuro  and  punish. 
]-Jut  Avith  tlu'  Aniei-icans  it  was  different.  The  charter 
forl)ade  any  British  subject  from  trcspassinj.^  upon  the 
c<»ni})any's  territory  for  purpose's  of  ti'ade ;  but  it  could 
not  forbid  Americans  or  other  })eo[)le.  The  chartei* 
])ermitted  the  com[)any  to  go  to  war,  on  its  own 
account,  with  any  unchristianized  nation  ;  but  the 
Americans  could  not  be  styled  unchristianized,  thouuh 
they  might,  if  proyoked,  become  belligerent.  The 
Americans,  though  so  lacking  in  civilized  conceptions 
according  to  the  ideas  of  the  gentlemen  at  Fort  Van- 
couver, were  stubborn  in  their  legal  rights,  and  were, 
1>esides,  turbulent  in  tlu.'ir  habits,  and  might  [)ut 
thoughts  of  insubordination  into  the  minds  of  the 
company's  people. 

Foreseeing  the  troubles  that  would  arise  on  this 
account,  McLoughlin  took  timely  measures  to  pi'o- 
vide  against  them,  and  ])rocured,  by  act  of  ])arbament, 
the  appointment  of  justices  of  the  peace  in  difi'erent 
parts  of  the  country,  James  Douglas  tilling  that  office 
at  Fort  Vancouver.  These  justices  were  empowered 
to  adjudicate  ui)on  minor  ott'ences,  and  to  impose  pun- 
ishment; to  arrest  criminals  guilty  of  serious  (;rimes 
and  send  them  to  Canada  foi-  trial;  and  also  to  try  and 
give  judgment  in  civil  suits  where  the  amount  in  dis- 


thcre  wtTc  any  disputes,  lie  settleil  tlu^m  ail)itrarily.  .Fust  wliat  lie  said  was 
tliclaw.'  Cnnr/on/  nJlis.t.,  MS.,  10.  '  He -was  a  disoijiliiiariaii,  strict  and  stem 
to  tlios(^  nn<ler  liiiii.  He  had  a  great  many  Indians  and  kanakas.  \yh<atcver 
lie  told  tlieni  to  do  they  had  to  do.  He  was  often  very  violent  witii  them.' 
lincon'^  Mrr.  /.!/<■  <h\,  MS.,  20. 


'm 


HXliUSll   AXI>  A.MKRICANS. 


49 


h    this 

MHont, 

iereiit 

office 

weired 

I  ])U11- 

1-rinu's 
fv  and 
In  dis- 

laiil  was 
lid  stern 
Ihatever 
them.' 


pute  did  not  exceed  two  hundred  pounds;  and  in  ea.-o 
of  non-payment,  t<>  inijuison  the  debtor  at  their  own 
forts,  or  in  the  jails  of  Canada. 

J)unn  relates  tiiat  in  the  discussions  at  Fort  A'an- 
eouver  the  hbera!  party  had  an  advantage,  even  in 
Ids  estimation,  wlien  the  ne,<;;k'ct  of  tlie  home  gov- 
trmncnt,  and  of  tlie  Britisli  and  Foreign  ALissionary 
Socit'ty,  touching  tlie  conversion  and  civiliziition  of 
tlie  natives,  was  brought  u}).  The  })atriots  were 
fitrced  to  admit  that  this  state  of  affairs  was  highly 
censurable,  and  that  since  England  had  so  grossly 
neglL'cte<l  the  natives,  tiny  couki  make  no  proper 
objection  to  American  missionaries.  Even  should 
they  prove  to  be  as  l)a(l  as  other  Americans  in  the 
country,  contact  with  the  J^ritish  residents  would 
render  them  more  gentlemanly,  t(»lerant,  and  honest. 

Sunday  was  observed  both  in  the  matter  of  reli- 
gious services  and  suspension  of  labor;  but  tlu'  latter 
}>art  of  the  tlay  was  allowed  for  anmsements.  After 
the  first  American  missionaries  came  to  Oregon,  the 
doctor  (juestioned  whether  it  was  right  to  be  without 
a  cha])lain  at  Fort  Vancouver,  or  dignified  for  so  great 
a  conn)any  to  pay  so  little  regard  to  religious  forms. 
The  American  ministers  mij»ht  not  be  to  his  taste, 
but  some  there  should  be  who  were.  These  Ameri- 
cans, uncouth  })erliaps  in  dress  and  bearing,  had  set 
themselves  to  teach  not  only  the  children  of  the  Cana- 
dians, but  those  within  the  fort,  his  children,  and  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  uentlemen  hiiih  in  the  com- 
pany  s  service. 

Should  he  not  have  to  aeknowledge  that  they  had 
been  missionari(^s  to  him?  Such  an  admission  ndght 
never  ])ass  liis  li})s;  but  in  many  ways  he  must  ac- 
knowledge his  approbation  of  the  work,  and  his  heart 
was  full  of  fi.endliness  toward  them,  which  alas  I  they 
did  not  always  requite  ,with  kindness.  They  could 
not  be  so  liberal  toward  him  as  he  had  been  with 
them.  He  followed  their  lead  whenever  he  saw  good 
in  it,  even  when  he  was  doubtful  of  its  being  the  best 

Hist.  Ok.,  Vol..  I.    4 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


V 


/ 


O 


%^t^ 


:A 


C/a 


■Zc 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


"  112    „„,2  2 


2.0 


JA  III  1.6 


iiC 


Photograph! 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


4^ 


iV 


iV 


\ 


:\ 


^ 


is        r.^ 


O"^ 


4> 


%^ 


'<?.'■ 


) 


%1 


f*^,- 


\    r. 


80 


LIFE  AT  iOUT  VANCOUVEll. 


oi"  tlie  safest  course,  because  he  could  not  refuse  to 
ciiicourao'e  the  ris^ht. 

As  early  as  183G  the  lever  was  applied  to  the  foun- 
dations of  the  old  society  that  was  destined  to  over- 
turn it.  The  boasted  civilization  of  this  English  com- 
pany, aristocratic  and  cultured,  could  not  stand  before 
the  face  of  one  white  woman.  The  Nereid,  coming 
from  England  an<l  the  Sandwich  Islands,  brought  a 
chaplain  to  Fort  Vancouver — a  direct  result,  it  may 
reasonal)ly  be  inferred,  of  the  American  Mission.  The 
name  of  this  new  officer  on  the  governor's  staff  was 
Rev.  Herbert  Beaver,  an  a[)proj)riate  name  for  tlie 
service,  and  one  whicli  the  junior"  clerks  undoubtedly 
repeated  among  themselves  with  the  highest  satisfac- 
tion. Mr  Beaver  had  been  chaplain  of  a  regiment  at 
Santa  Lucia,  in  tlie  West  Indies.  He  was  of  the  fox- 
hunting type  of  Englisli  clergymen,  and  had  been 
nmch  diverted  l)y  the  manners  of  his  fellow-passenger 
from  Honolulu,  Mr  Lee,  whom  he  was  constantly  in 
the  habit  of  quizzing.  From  the  glimpse  Dunn  gives 
of  the  sentiment  o''  '  lielor's  Hall,  his  gil)es  at  his 
Methodist  1)rothei  ast  have  provoked  responsive 
mirtli.  But  the  imnates  of  the  fort,  grave,  dignified, 
disciplined,  and  accustomed  to  respect,  did  not  always 
escape  the  reverend  gentleman's  sallies  of  wit ;  nor,  as 
it  proved,  his  strictures  on  their  innnoral  and  uncivil- 
ized condition. 

Gray,  who  saw  him  at  Fort  Vancouver,  descril)es 
him  as  ratlier  a  small  ])ors()n,  with  a  light  complexion 
and  feminine  voice,  who  made  pretensions  to  oratory, 
entirely  unsui)ported  by  the  facts.  Also,  his  ideas  of 
clerical  dignitv  were  such  tliat  he  felt  himself  defiled 
by  .association  with  the  gentlemen  at  Fort  A'ancouver. 
McLoughlin  was  uncivil,  tlu>  clerks  l)oors,  the  women 
savaaes.  Here  was  a  finis  beginning  of  Enolish  mis- 
sionarv  work!  And  yet  the  feudal  lords  could  not 
deny  it.  Theie  was  ^[rs  Jane  Beaviu",  who  had  accom- 
panied h<'r  husl)and.     They  might  kick  the  chaplain, 


MKIHTY   MRS  BEAVER. 


51 


Scribes 

lloxioii 

jatorv, 

leas  of 

lefiled 

buver. 

roiiieii 

|i  inis- 

(1  not 

^com- 

Iplaiii, 


but  the  chaplain's  wife  had  a  way  with  lier,  recognized 
in  all  Christian  coninmnities,  of  calling  such  manner 
of  living  vile.  These  lords  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Coni- 
panj'  were  compelled  to  chew  the  reflective  cud,  and 
tt)  stifle  their  warmth  at  clerical  interference,  wliile 
they  slowly  made  up  their  minds  to  take  the  only 
alternative  left  them,  if  they  would  associate  with 
olergvmen  and  clergymen's  wives.  It  was  not  enough 
for  the  Beavers  that  the  governor,  the  chief  factor, 
chief  traders,  and  clerks  attended  the  Sunday  service 
and  oV)served  decorum.  There  was  an  abominati<>n 
within  the  walls  of  the  foi-t  that  Christianity  could 
not  tolerate. 

Had  Beaver's  objections  to  the  domestic  relations 
of  Foi"t  Vancouver  been  his  sole  ground  of  criticism, 
his  natural  fli|)pancy  and  professional  arrogance  might 
have  been  tolerated.  But  he  found  many  things  that 
were  wronir  in  the  practices  of  the  Hudson's  Bav 
Comj)any,  and  so  reported  to  the  Aborigines  Pro- 
tection Society  at  London,  to  which  he  complained 
that  his  attempts  to  introduce  civilization  and  Chris- 
tianity among  one  or  more  of  the  neighboring  tribes 
had  not  succeeded,  because  his  ettbrts  had  not  been 
seconded  by  the  company.  The  ti'uth  was,  that 
Beaver  was  quite  too  nice  for  the  task  of  civilizing 
Indians  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Vancouver.  He  was 
dissatisfled  with  the  plain  quarters  assigned  him,  the 
parsonage  being  only  a  cottage  built  of  rough  lum- 
ber, uncarpeted  except  witli  Indian  mats,  which  Mrs 
Beaver  prcmounced  filthy,  and  unfurnisheti  witli  any 
of  the  elegancies  of  an  Englisli  parsonage.  He  despised 
and  disliked  the  natives,  and  ablK)red  the  [tractice  ot 
the  jrentlemen  at  Fort  A^ancouver  of  coliabitino-  witli 
them. 

Roberts  .says  that  Beavei'  kept  a  good  tai)le,  al- 
though his  salary  was  only  £l'00  a  year;  imt  every- 
thhig  was  furnished  him  except  clothes.  He  was  kind 
enough  to  invite  the  young  clerk  to  diimer  frequently, 
but  Roberts  thinks  the  risk   im])osed  ujion  his  smd  in 


52 


UFE  AT   FORT   VANCOUVER. 


making  him  sponsor-general  to  a  motley  crowd  of  the 
vilest  of  the  vile,  whom  the  chaplain  insisted  on  hap 
tizing  in  his  character  of  missionary,  more  than  offset 
the  dinners. 

While  Beaver  haptized  reluctant  heathen,  white 
red,  and  mixed,  in  the  intervals  of  his  hunting  and  other 
anmsements,  Mrs  Jane  Beaver  held  herself  scornfully 
aloof  from  the  wickedness  of  private  life  at  Fort  Van 
couver.  When  she  had  been  present  about  six  weeks, 
there  arrived  from  across  the  continent  two  other 
white  women,  wives  of  missionaries  also,  who  re- 
mained as  guests  of  the  C(mipany  from  SepteMiber  to 
November,  and  who  soon  made  themselves  acquainted 
with  its  social  life,  not  in  the  manner  of  Mrs  Beaver, 
but  in  a  humble,  kindly  way,  which  won  for  them  the 
deference  of  every  gentleman  from  the  governor  dowai. 

Finally,  in  January  1837,  Mr  Beaver  had  the  satis- 
faction of  celebrating  the  church  of  Enohuid  mar- 
riage-service  at  the  nuptials  of  James  Douglas  and 
Nelia  Connolly.  McLoughlin  too  thoroughly  despised 
Beaver  to  submit  to  remarriage  at  his  hand,  but  to 
quiet  the  scandal  w'hich  the  chaplain  so  loved  to 
scatter  in  Europe;,  he  had  the  civil  rite  performed 
by  Douglas  in  his  capacity  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
Whereupcm,  in  the  nostrils  of  Mrs  Beaver  the  social 
atmos})here  of  Fort  Vancouver  became  somewhat 
purified  of  its  aboriginal  stench,  though  to  the  pure- 
minded  and  chivalrous  gentlemen  of  the  fort  the 
Beavers  were  far  more  obnoxious  than  the  aboriginals. 

Beaver  returned  to  England  in  1838,  having  been 
an  imnate  of  the  fort  a  3'ear  and  a  half  His  depart- 
ure was  hastened  by  an  unusual  outburst  of  the 
doctor's  disgust.  It  was  the  chaplain's  duty  to  for- 
ward a  written  report  to  the  London  council,  which 
he  was  required  to  place  in  McLoughlin's  hands  be- 
fore sending.  On  reading  one  of  these  reports,  the 
contents  so  incensed  the  doctor  that  he  demandi'd  an 
explanation  on  meeting  the  waiter  in  the  fort  yard. 
The   reverend  gentlemen   re})lied :   "Sir,  if  you  wish 


AN  IMPUDENT  CLERCJVMAN. 


5;j 


to  know  wliy  a  cow's  tail  ^roxvs  downward,  I  cannot 
tell  you;  I  can  only  cite  the  fact." 

Up  went  the  gcvenior's  cane  of  its  own  volition 

2w  dt'"  ^t^"tf ^ ''"''  ^^^^^^^  "^  '^  1-^  ^-d  "- 

in  n  .V' r  '''"''i  ^^'"^^'  "I'"'^  *^'^'  siioulders  of  the 
iinpudont  diynie.  Beaver  shouted  to  his  wife  for  his 
pistols  long-barrelled  flintlocks;  but  on  retlec  ion  c  , 
<-lud.u^  he  would  not  kill  the  d<,ctor  just  then,  nZ 
day  there  was  an  auction  of  the  effects  of  Captain 
Hone,  drowned  m  the  Columbia;  and  while  the 
P->plo    were   gathered    there,    McLoughlin     W    t  c 

for    ho  nuhgnity  I  laid  upon  you  yestLay  »  ^-'sf? 
I     dl  not  accept  your  apology,"  exclaimed  the  cha   ' 

F;;rt!  A^n::ter>'""^""^  ""'  "^  ^"^-  ^^-Pi--  to 

Journal:  Om-laml Monthh,  viii      Tl  .  "I  ([>«  ^och/  MoiaitaiM  ;  Palmer'., 

«  a.  related  by  an  eycSl^s  '   '"'  ^'^''''''''  -^^^'Lougiaiu  and  Beat4r 


CHAPTER   III. 


settlement  of  oregon. 
j8:w-18:m. 

Thk  Flathead.s  at  St  Loris — They  Ask  for  Missionariks — Intkrkst 
Kaisek  AMON(i  Relihious  People — The  C'hurihes  Roused — A(;tion 
OF  THE  Methodist  Board — Ja.son  and  Daniel  Lee  Chosen  Missiona- 
ries— Wyeth  (.'onsulted— Jockney  Oveuland  from  Independence — 
PREAi'iiiN(i  at  Fort  Hall— Arrival  at  P'okt  VAXiorvKR— Visit  to 

THE     WlLLAMETlE     VaLLEY  —  MISSION      SlTE     ( 'H08EN  —  REASONS      FOR 

Abandomn(j  the  Flathead  Plan — The  French  Canadians — Campe- 

MENT   DU   SaHLE — HaLL   J.    KeLLEV— fSo.MKTHINi!    ABOUT  THE  Men  Who 

Came  with    Lewis   and  Clarke,  the  Astor   Expeditions,  Wyeth, 
Kelley,  and  Ewino  Young. 

About  the  year  1832  four  native  chiefs  from  the 
rcLjion  round  the  head  waters  of  the  Columbia  ap- 
peared at  St  liouis  asking  for  Mr  Clarke,  of  the 
Lewis  and  Clarke  expedition,  then  resident  Indian 
agent  at  that  place.  Their  fathers  had  told  them  of 
his  visit  to  their  nation.  From  various  sources,  from 
the  praise  of  pious  travellers  and  the  oaths  of  impious 
trappers,  they  had  learned  of  the  white  man's  God, 
and  the  V)ook  which  he  had  given.  And  now,  would 
the  great  white  chief  grant  tlieir  prayer  and  send 
religious  men  to  point  their  people  the  way  to  heaven? 
It  was  promisetl  them  accoi'ding  to  tlieir  request. 
Soon  after  two  of  them  sickened  and  died;  t)f  the 
other  two,  one  met  death  during  his  return,  and  the 
other  reached  his  people  and  reported.^ 

'Such  ia  the  story,  Miniplitietl  from  iiiauy  ('onriicting  statements,  and  pro- 
i<ciite<l  in  the  form  of  reason  and  probability.  There  is  no  doul)t  in  my  ininil 
as  to  the  truth  of  the  matter  in  tlie  main,  though  it  has  V)een  denied  by 
8on\e.  As  to  the  date  and  general  incidents.  Shea,  C<Hh.  Mitin.,  4t)7 — see  also 
White,  in  Ortijon  Sj^ectator,  Nov.  1'2,  1840 — states  tliat  since   1820  the  Flat- 

loi) 


A   CALL  UPON  CHRlf<TENl>OM.  55 

This  incident,  lioralded  tlirouglitlio  pres.s,  elaborated 
in  the  pulpit,  and  wioui^ht  into  divine  and  spiritual 
foniis  by  fervid  reli^nonists.  wiio  saw  in  it  the  finger 
of  God  pointing  westward,  awakened  general  interest 
in  that  direction.  Moved  l)y  ins})iration,  they  saitl, 
and  in  obedience  to  the  order  of  a  council  of  chiefs, 
these  messengers  liad  come  from  beyond  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  travelling  thousands  of  miles,  and  under- 
going many  hardships  and  dangers;  and  in  the  accom 
plishment  of  this  sacred  work  they  had  yielded  U}> 
their  lives.  Among  others  the  Missiona.y  Board  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  was  importuned  to 
establish  forthwith  a  mission   among  the  Flatheads. 


the 
ap- 

the 

idian 
u  ot 
roni 

Itious 
;od, 

lould 
icnd 
on? 

Iiest. 
the 
the 


pre  ■ 
linintl 
].l    l.y 

also 
iFlat- 


licada  and  Nez  Percys  ha<l  l)eeii  Christian  at  heart,  tlie  result  of  instnictioiis 
in  the  Catholic  faith  by  certain  educateil  Iroquois  who  found  their  way  to 
theni.  The  Flathea<l  chiefs  were  in  the  habit  of  asseuihling  every  year  at  tiie 
Bitter  Root  River,  whence  in  1831  a  deputation  of  five  chiefs  was  sent  to  St 
Louis  to  obtain  priests.  None  of  the  five  reached  their  destination,  and  others 
Were  sent;  but  the  bishop  had  no  priests  to  spare.  John  \V.  York  of  Cor- 
vallis,  in  a  private  conununication  dated  Aiiril  'J5,  1870,  to  J.  C^uinn  Thorn- 
ton, which  is  enibodiecl  in  T/innitnn  n  Hi.if.  (Jr.,  MS.,  makes  the  nund)er  five, 
and  tlie  daieof  their  arrival  at  .St  Louis  Sept.  17,  IS.SO.  All  other  authorities 
place  ti<e  i.undjer  at  four,  and  the  date  at  al)out  ISIW  or  1831.  Evans,  ///."/. 
'h:,  MS.,  209,  and  Atkinson,  Spalding,  and  others,  make  the  date  18;W.  The 
messengers  were  geuenUly  called  Flatheads:  though  some  say  Nez  Percys; 
and  Smith,  in  the  Bos/on  JZ/Vs/ohk/v/  Herald,  A_.g.  1840,  intimates  that  they 
were  Spoki'.iios,  and  thiit  six  started,  two  turning  back.  Thornton,  Or.  and  CaL. 
ii.  21,  states  that  '  two  natives  were  permitted  to  pass  in  company  with  a  party 
of  Capt.  Sublette's  trapper.s,  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Indian  agency 
of  the  late  Major  Pilcher,  and  thence  to  St  Louis.'  Pilclier  himself  asserts,  if 
we  may  believe  Kelley,  Scttlc/ni-ntu  of  Oriijoii,  03,  that  'four  thoughtless  and 
sottish  Indians  accompanied  Capt.  Sublette's  party  of  hunters  to  his,  Pilcher  s, 
agency.  They  seemed  to  have  no  particular  object  in  travelling.  Sul)lette 
refused  to  let  them  proceed  farther  in  his  company,  unless  they  would  there 
obtain  a  passport,  showing  a  good  reiusou  for  a,  visit  into  the  States.  M  r  Pilcher 
furnished  the  Indians  with  a  reason  and  excuse  for  their  visit  to  St  Louis. 
\Vhatsoever  tlie  trutli  of  all  this,  the  Catholics  claim  to  have  been  the  first 
teachers  of  the  natives  of  that  region.  .Tohn  W.  York,  himself  a  Methodist 
elder,  asserts  in  the  letter  just  quoted  that  he  was  summoned,  in  company 
with  two  brother  Methodists,  McAlli.sterand  Edmunilson,  to  an  interview  with 
Clarke  in  relation  to  the  Indian  delegation  just  then  arrived.  York,  whose 
stiitemeiit  I  take  with  .some  degree  of  allowance,  says  that  on  that  occasion 
Clarke  assured  him  'that  lie  wsis  a  Roman  Catholic,  but  that  the  Methodist 
travelling  preachers  were  the  most  indefatigable  laborers,  and  made  the  great- 
est sacritices  of  any  men  in  the  world.'  He  further  remarked  that  Catholic 
l)riests  could  teach  the  mysteries  of  religion,  but  Methodist  ministers  tiuight 
practical  piety  and  husbandry,  and  the  two  unitc^il  would  be  the  best  arrange- 
iiient  he  could  think  of.  '  From  ( 'larke's  house  we  went  to  the  conference  nnim 
anil  rej)orted  the  interview.  With  closed  doors  the  conference  accepted  the 
generals  proposition,  and  resolved,  if  jiossible,  to  send  a  missionary  to  Oregon. 
As  to  the  fate  of  their  messengers  some  say  that  all  <lied,  two  at  St  Louis  and 
the  others  on  their  wav  back. 


60 


SETTLEMENT  OF  OREciON. 


The  voice  of  Wilbur  Fisk  was  heard  rousino-  the 
churches.^  And  to  no  one  more  than  to  Hull  J.  Kellev, 
the  Oreiifoii  enthusiast  and  the  religious  fanatic,  di<l 
this  curiosity  of  the  simple  savages  a[)pcar  as  tlic 
immediate  work  of  tlu;  .\lmighty,  and  the  incident 
greatly  aided  his  eti'orts.  His  schemes  nmltiplied;  his 
pen  worked  with  new  vigor;  he  urged  the  preachers 
of  the  Word  not  to  cc^nfine  their  efforts  to  the  moun- 
tains, hut  to  descend  the  broad  Kiver  of  the  W^est  to 
the  Canaan  there  awaitinijf  them,  and  unite  earthlv 
empire  with  heavenly  enlightenment.'' 

In  answer  to  the  call  appeared  before  tV,  3  Metho- 
dist board  two  men,  sometime  from  Stanstead,  Can- 
ada, first  Jason  Lee,  and  afterward  his  n*  pliew,  Daniel 
Lee,  offering  themselves  as  laborer's  in  this  western 
field,  and  were  accepted.  They  were  formed  of  good 
material  for  pioneer  missionary  work ;  the  former 
had  been  engaged  in  similar  labors  in  the  British 
provinces,  and  he  presented  striking  characteristics, 
carryiiig  them  on  the  surface;  qualities  pronounced, 
wliich  made  the  presence  of  the  possessoi'  felt  in  any 
society  in  which  he  lia})pened  to  be  placed.  He  was 
now,  in  183.'5,  made  member  of  the  Methodist  con- 
ference, and  onlaiued  deacon,  and  latei-,  elder. 

At  the  time  of  his  appointment  to  a  position 
destined  to  be  more  conspicuous  in  Oregon's  history 
than  at  that  time  he  could  have  surmised,  Jason  Lee 
was  about  thirt}  3'ears  of  age,  tall,  and  powerfully 
built,  slightly  stooping,  and  rather  slow  and  awkward 


'■' So  declared  the  missionaries  themselves.  See  Lm  ntid  Frost's  Ten  Yenrs 
in  Or.,  109-l.S;  niii'--i'  Orfi/oii,  Jfixt.,  !).  A  highly  wrought  account  appeared 
in  March  183.'J,  in  the  Xeir  York  C/iristiivi  Adrocate  <iml  Journal,  then  the 
leading  organ  of  the  Methodists. 

^Indeed,  if  Mr  Thornton,  Or.  owl  Col.,  ii.  21,  is  correct,  'i^  early  as  the 
year  1831,  the  Methodist  Board  of  Missions  had  l)een  iniluced  hy  Mr  Kellev 
to  detennine  upon  sending  Messi's  Spahlin^  and  Wilson  as  iinsfjimaries  to  the 
Indians  of  Oregon,  but  the  expedition  which  tliey  proposed  ti  accompany 
having  l>eeu  Ijroken  up,  they  changed  their  destination,  and  wen :  to  Liberia. ' 
And  Kelley  himself  says;  '  In  the  year  1832,  I  pulilished  several  articles  in 
the  Zion'n  Hernli/'—wc  affidavit  of  tlie  editor,  \V.  B.  Brown,  Jan,  .30,  1843— 
'  calling  for  missionaries  to  accompany  the  expedition,  and  two  years  after, 
.lason  aud  Daniel  Lee  wei'e  sent  to  commence  missiouai-y  labors  on  t..b  Wal- 
laniet. ' 


JASON  AX1>  1>ANIEL  LEE. 


in  his  iiiovonu'iits;  of  ligiit  roiiiplt'xiou,  thin  Hps 
closely  shut,  prominent  nose,  and  rather  massive  jaws; 
eyes  of  superlative  spiritualistic  blue,  hi»?h,  retreatino- 
forehead,  carrying-  mind  withhi ;  soniewliat  lono-  hair, 
pushed  l)ack,  and  yivin^"  to  the  not  too  stern  but 
positively  niaiked  features  a  siiohtly  puritanical  as- 
pect; and  withal  a  stomach  like  tliat  of  an  ostrich, 
which  would  digest  anything.  In  attainments  there 
was  the  broad  open  pasture  of  possiliilities  rather 
than  a  well-cultivated  tield  of  orchard,  grain,  and  vine 
land.  He  believed  in  the  tenets  of  his  church;  in- 
deed, whatever  may  become  of  him,  liowsoevei'  he 
may  behave  under  those  varied  and  untried  conch- 
tions  which  providence  or  fortune  hold  in  store,  we 
may  be  sure  that  at  this  beginning,  though  nt)t  devoid 
of  worldly  aml)ition,  he  was  sincere  and  sound  to 
the  core.  Strong  in  his  possession  of  himself,  there 
was  nothino-  intrusive  in  his  nature.  Though  talkinij 
was  a  part  of  his  })rofession,  his  skill  was  exhibited  as 
much  in  what  he  left  unsaid  as  in  his  most  studied 
utterances.  Frank  and  atfable  in  his  intercourse  with 
men,  he  inspired  confidence  in  those  with  whom  he 
had  dealings,  and  was  a  general  favorite.  If  his  in- 
tellect was  not  as  broad  and  bright  as  Burke's,  there 
was  at  least  'lo  danger  of  the  heart  hardenino;  throuixh 
the  head,  as  with  Robespierre  and  St  Just.  Un- 
questionably he  was  a  little  outside  of  the  ordinary 
minister  of  the  period.  Some  would  have  said  he 
lacked  refinement;  others  that  his  l)rusque  straight- 
forwardness was  but  simple  honesty,  unalloyed  with 
clerical  cant,  and  strip[)ed  of  university  gown  and 
sectarian  straitlace.  We  shall  find  him  later  delighting 
in  his  manhood;  and  while  he  would  not  so  darkly  sin 
as  to  quibble  over  his  creed,  forest  freedom  proved  a 
relief  from  the  prison  walls  of  prescribed  forms. 

The  nephew,  JJaniel,  was  quite  a  different  charac- 
ter, less  missionary  or  man  com})lete  than  su})plement 
to  the  uncle.  Like  Boswell  beside  Johnson,  measured 
beside  his  colleague,  the  form  and  character  of  Daniel 


M 


ISKTTLEMENT  OF  OKE(iON. 


assume  laij^'er  {noportioiih  than  thoy  are  really  entitled 
to ;  he  was  in  truth  a  desiccated  Dominie  Sampson,  that 
later  stood  as  a  Imtt  before  the  wits  of  Fort  Vancouver ; 
a  thin,  bony  form,  surmounted  by  thin,  bony  features 
Itcaininu^  in  hapjty,  <r(),)d-natured  unconsciousiiess  of 
his  lack  of  knowledi^'e,  particuhirly  of  knowledge 
of  the  thin<^s  of  this  world.  He  was  a  pious  Pierrot, 
a  man  in  stature,  but  a  child  in  mind  and  maimers. 
Yet  this  |)ersonage  had  his  admirers,  to  whom  the 
faults  of  mind  and  body  beside  the  more  finished  forms 
(»f  the  ungodly  were  but  the  graces  of  awkwardness; 
just  as  the  constrained  motions  of  the  hero,  who 
having  lost  a  limb  in  battle  now  hobbles  on  crutches, 
apjtear  to  the  worshippers  of  war  the  poetry  of  motion 
as  compared  with  the  amblings  of  the  eHeminate  city 
top. 

Together  at  this  outset  they  were  well  enough 
mated,  though  when  they  talked  religion  in  company 
their  discourse  was  as  interesting  and  instructive  as 
would  be  the  witnessing  of  an  interview  between 
Father  Tom  and  the  Po])e.  Often  sensitiveness  is 
the  enemy  of  success;  bravery  in  brass  wins  where 
])olish  fails.  Not  that  Jason  lacks  bravery;  for  as 
courage  was  needed  it  came  to  him  with  high  resolve 
and  all  attendant  sacrifice,  over  wliich  there  was  no 
thick  covering  of  ass's  hide.  But  hi  both,  tensely 
strung,  were  expectation,  will,  and  conscience ;  and 
there  were  thousands  who  of  each  with  Cicero  would 
say,  "Homo  sine  fuco  et  fallaciis." 

A  missionary  meeting  was  held  in  New  York  the 
10th  of  October,  1883,  to  arrange  for  the  early  de- 
j»arture  of  the  volunteers;  and  six  days  after,  the  sum 
of  three  thousand  dollars  for  an  outfit  was  voted  by 
the  boartl.  It  was  then  further  decided  that  two 
laymen  should  be  selected  to  attend  and  assist  the 
missionaries ;  and  the  latter  were  to  begin  their  work 
at  once  by  travelling  and  raising  funds,  preaching  the 
crusade  as  far  south  as  Washington,  then  working 


^ 


THE    iliUKE  ASSISTANTS. 


80 


and 
rould 


the 
dc- 

SUUl 

klby 
two 
the 

Ivork 
the 

Iking 


wt'st  t<^  join  some  oonijmny  of  fur-tradors  for  the 
Flathead  country  the  t'ollovvino;  sjninj;. 

Frequent  and  fervid  nieetini^s  were  tliut*  lield  in 
every  quarter,  and  on  tlie  '20t\\  of  Novenilier  there 
was  a  farewell  j^atherini^  at  the  Forwyth-street  ehureh, 
New  York,  Bishop  Heddin»;  presiding.  Though 
Methodist  in  attendance  and  tone,  it  is  well  to  note 
here,  as  sli(»wing  the  general  feeling,  tliat  the  meeting 
was  addressed  by  Doctor  McAuley  of  tiie  Presby- 
terian church,  and  by  others  <»f  ditlerent  denomina- 
tions. 

At  this  juncture,  and  before  the  missionaries  had 
left  New  York,  tidings  were  received  of  the  arrival 
at  Boston  of  Xathaniel  J.  Wyeth  from  his  first  at- 
tempt to  establish  a  trading  post  on  the  lower  Colum- 
bia/ With  him  were  two  Indian  boys  from  beyond 
tlie  mountains,  to  whom  now  attached  more  than 
oiilinary  interest  by  reason  of  the  leaven  working  in 
the  comnmnity.  By  orders  of  the  board  Jason  Leo 
at  once  visited  Wyeth  and  obtained  information  con- 
cerning western  parts,  })articularly  in  regard  to  fields 
for  missionary  enterprise.  Lee's  attention  was  thus 
directed  to  the  natives  of  the  Lower  Columbia,  as  well 
as  to  those  of  rhe  upper  country;  and  since  the 
Columbia  Kiver  Com))any,  as  Wyeth  and  his  asso- 
ciates styled  themselves,  was  about  sending  a  vessel 
round  Cape  Horn,  Wyeth  himself  proceeding  across 
the  mountains  in  the  spring  to  meet  it,  opportunity 
was  thus  offered  the  missionary  men,  not  only  to  for- 
ward their  supplies  by  water,  but  to  secure  the  neces- 
sary escort  for  their  ])roposed  overland  journey. 

The  two  laymen  finally  chosen  to  accompany  the 
Lees  were  C}tu>-'  Shepanl  of  Lynn,  Massachusetts, 
thirty-five  years  of  age,  and  Philip  L.  Edwar-ds,  a 
Kentuckian  bv  birth,  latelv  of  Richmond,  Missouri. 
Courtney  M.  Walker,  also  of  the  place  last  mentioned, 
was  engaged  for  a  year,  for  pecuniary  consitleration,  to 

*  For  full  .iccoiints  of  \\'yetli'a  first  tuul  secoml  expeilitions  aiul  efforts,  see 
Jlist.  Xort/ivriil  Coiixf,  this  series. 


7m 


(K) 


SETTI.KMENT  OF  OKECON. 


assist  in  estahlishinsr  the  mission.  Edwards  was  a 
3'()un«^  man,  not  yet  tweiity-tl nee,  of  rather  more  than 
ordinary  attainments,  and  a  lover  of"  order  and  refine- 
ment. His  constitution  was  tU'heato,  his  temperament 
nervous,  ami  Jiis  (hsposition  amiable.  He  loved  ••■ood 
comjiany,  and  enjoyeti  the  hadierous,  buthis<(ood  sense 
prevented  him  from  boct)ming  an  example  of  it,  like 
J)aniel  Lee.  A  frontier  man,  hv  knew  how  to  confoiin 
to  the  crudities  of  pioneer  life,  foi-  which  by  na^ui'e  he 
was  not  very  well  adapted.  Whili'  possessed  of  a  high 
moral  sense,  he  was  not  religiously  inclined,  nor  did 
he  ever  consider  himself  in  that  .-*ense  a  member  ot 
the  mission.  Cyrus  Shepard,  on  the  other  hand,  was 
devoted  tt)  religion  and  a  missionary  at  heart.  Hi' 
was  a  little  older  than  the  elder  Lee,  tall,  and  fine 
looking,  yet  of  a  sci-ofulous  tendency  and  feeble  health. 
The  other  member  of  the  mission  party,  Walker,  was 
.still  less  than  Edwards  a  missionary,  being  business 
agent.  Like  Edwards,  he  was  young,  of  good  ante- 
cedents, but  of  greater  physical  powers;  lie  was  the 
only  one  of  the  j)arty  who  became  a  permanent  settle'" 
in  the  country. ' 

Leaving  New  York  early  in  March  1 8;U,  Jason 
Lee  proceeded  we  \  lecturing  by  the  way.  Daniel 
followed  him  on  the  19th,  and  was  joined  by  Shepard 
at  Pittsburg.  As  they  approached  8t  Louis  Shepard 
hastened  forward,  took  charge  of  the  mountain  outfit, 
and  proceeded  by  boat  up  the  river  to  Independence, 
the  rendezvous.  The  Lees  made  the  journey  from 
St  Louis  on  horseback,  meetinof  Edwards  and  Walker 
at  Independence.  Wyeth  was  there  before  them, 
and  l)efore  setting  out  they  were  joined  by  Sublette. 
There  were  present  also  two  scientists,  Townseml 
and  Nuttall. 

The  exj)edition,  as  it  filed  westward  the  28th  of 
April,  consisted  of  three  distinct  parties,  numbering  in 

•'Townsoml  sjieaks  of  thciii  as  '  throe  younger  men,  of  respectable  standing 
in  society,  who  have  arrayed  themselves  under  the  missionary  banner  chiefly 
for  the  gi-atitieation  of  seeing  a  new  country,  and  participating  in  straagu 
adventures." 


ON  THE  WAY. 


61 


<ill  seventy  men,  with  two  liundred  and  fil'ty  horses. 
First  were  Wyoth  and  iSuhlette.  with  their  rea|>e(cive 
retiiiners,  and  in  tlie  rear  the  missionaries,  with  their 
horses  and  horned  cattle.  ProeeecHn*^:  slowly  they 
erossed  the  Kansas  River,  then  l>y  the  forks  of  the 
Platte  and  tlu'  I.aramie,  past  Independi-nco  Hoek, 
arrivinur  at  (ireen  River  and  the  rendezvous  at  the 
end  <»f  two  nuinths. 

On  the  way  the  elder  Lee  c<mdurted  liimsclf  so 
as  to  command  the  rt'speet  of  i^^  reli<,Mous  and  irre- 
li*,Mous.  Till'  eharaetei  of  the  ma  i  infolded  in  beauty 
and  fragrance  under  the  stimulaHi  ^  prairie  sun.  No 
discipline  of  lecture-room,  \  iiera^  mini'- nation,  or 
other  experience  could  have  ,^een  so  v.luahle  a  prep- 
aration for  the  duties  awaitiriuj  1 ''n  at  ])is  destina- 
tion us  the  ruile  routine  of  th  .;  )Verlan(l  days.  It 
seemed  to  him  as  if  his  theolo<jfi(;al  sea  had  suddenly 
hecimie  boundless,  and  he  mi^^ht  sail  unquestioned 
whithersoever  the  winds  should  carry  him.  lb  was 
delightful,  this  cutting  loose  from  conventioiialisms, 
for  even  Methodist  preachers  are  n)en.  Not  that 
there  was  present  any  inclination  toward  a  relaxation 
of  principles,  as  is  the  case  with  so  many  on  leaving 
home  antl  all  its  healthful  restraints;  on  the  contrary, 
he  felt  himself  more  than  ever  tiie  chosen  of  (^od, 
as  he  was  thus  brought  nearer  him  in  nature,  wlieie 
he  was  sustained  and  guarded  by  day,  and  at  night 
infolded  in  his  starry  covering.  Fires,  both  physical 
and  mental,  blazed  brightly,  and  he  was  not  one 
whit  behind  the  most  efficient  of  this  company  in 
willingness,  ability,  and  courage."  Nor  were  his  asso- 
ciates broad-collared,  long-haired,  })uritanical  jirayer- 
mongers,  but  wide-awake,  hearty,  and  sympathetic 
men,  bent  on  saving  souls  and  having  a  good  time. 

An  incident  characteristic  of  the  man  Avas  told  of 


*  '  Looks  as  though  lio  were  well  oaloiilat.-il  to  hutfct  difficulties  in  a  wild 
country.'  The  horses  stampeile  an. I  some  one  must  go  for  them.  '  This  party 
w;is  licaileil  hy  Mr  Lee,  our  missionary,  wlio  with  his  usual  prou^ptitude  vol- 
unteered his  services.'  Toicnscitd's  Xnr.,  24,  37. 


I     !    i 


62 


SETTLEMENT  OF  OKEOON. 


Jasoii  Lee  by  eye-witnesses:  Noticing  on  one  occa- 
sion that  a  cow  belonging  to  his  herd  was  sutiering 
from  the  burden  she  carried,  he  stopped  to  niill<  lier, 
and  in  so  doing  tell  behind  the  company.  The  cry  of 
'  Indians  I '  was  raised.  "  Mr  Lee  1  Mr  Lee  I  They  will 
be  on  you  I "  his  men  shouted.  Jason  turned  his  eyes  in 
the  direction  of  the  rising  dust  which  marked  the  ap- 
proach of  the  savages,  then  slowly  said,  "  Unless  the 
Lord  will  it  otherwise  this  cow  moves  not  until  her 
load  is  liii'htened,"  and  continued  his  milkinyf  till  the 
arrival  of  the  band,  which  proved  to  be  friendly  Xez 
Perces  instead  of  terrible  Hlackfoot.  So  all  throuuli 
the  journey,  which  was  pleasant  and  profitabU',  men- 
tallv,  to  tlu'  missitnuvries,  Mr  Lee  stood  ever  as  readv 
to  minister  to  the  comfort  of  his  dumb  beasts,  and 
to  the  bodilv  necessities  of  his  men,  as  to  hold  foith 
in  abstract  s})iritual  'propositions,  though  he  did  nt)t 
fail  to  preach  as  occasion  offered. 

For  exami>le,  service  was  held  at  Fort  Hall  on 
Sunday,  the  27th  of  Julv,  which  was  not  onlv  at- 
tended  bv  Wyeth's  men,  but  bv  the  fur-hunters  of 
the  vicinitt',  and  notablv  bv  a  body  of  Hudson's 
Bay  Comi)any  people,  half-brei'tls  and  Indians  under 
Th(mias  McKav,  who,  owing  to  the  Sunday  training 
at  the  forts,  were  exceptionally  di'votional.  it  was 
a  grand  and  solemn  sight,  these  rough  and  reckless 
children  of  the  forest,  gathered  from  widely  remoti' 
(juarters,  with  varied  tongues  and  customs,  here  in 
the  heart  (A'  this  mighty  wilderni'ss,  the  eternal  hills 
their  temple-walls,  and  for  roof  the  sky,  stantling, 
kneeling,  with  heads  uiwovered,  their  souls  bowed 
in  adoration  before  their  one  creator  and  ijovernor. 
What  these  same  devout  worship[)ers  were  doing  an 
liour  afterward,  dritdving.  tratticking,  swi'arlng,  ami 
stabbing,  it  is  needless  to  detail.  Man  is  oft  an 
irrational  animal,  and  we  are  least  of  all  ti>  look  for 
reason  in  religion. 

The  following  Wednesday  the  missionaries  con- 
tinued their  westward  way,  driving  with  them  their 


LOL'ATIN»T   TUE    MISSION. 


03 


% 


cattle,  which  must  needs  havi-  time  and  travel  leisurely, 
while  Wyeth  remained  to  complete  the  fort  which  he 
was  huUdinLC,  that  is  to  sav,  Fort  Hall.  With  the  Lees 
were  now'  Stuart,  an  English  captam  travelhnj;-  m 
the  Kocky  Mountains,  and  ^[cKay,  who  sent  some 
Indians  forward  with  tluin  to  Walla  Walla,  where 
they  were  a^ain  joined  hy  Wyeth.  Leaving  there 
the  cattle,  they  were  transported  hy  harge  to  tlu; 
Dalles,  where  they  took  canoes,  most  of  which  were 
demolished  at  the  Cascades.  The  greattu'  })ortion  of 
their  etfects  were  hy  this  time  lost;  and  in  a  be- 
draggled condition,  in  advance  of  the  others,  Jason 
Lee  presented  himself  at  Fort  Vancouver.  When 
the  remainder  of  his  party  arrivetl,  the  IGth  of  Sej)- 
tember,  he  stood  at  the  landing  beside  McLoughlin 
to  receive  them. 


ilall    on 

nly  at- 

ters  of 

ludson's 

under 

aining 

It  was 

H'kless 

emote 

ere  in 

1  hills 

|nding, 

bowiMl 

lernoi'. 

|ng  an 

and 

\\'t   an 

il:   for 

con- 
their 


The  brig  JlFay  Dacre,  Wyeth's  vessel,  on  which 
were  the  tools  and  goods  of  the  missionaries,  had  for- 
tunatelv  arrived  and  was  Ivino',  as  before  mentioned, 
at  Wapato  Island.  The  innnediate  consideration  was 
to  locate  a  mission.  Jason  and  Daniel  Lee  had  strictly 
observed  the  uppei'  country  as  they  passed  through  it, 
and  had  conversed  freely  with  its  inhabitants.  Mean- 
while, among  other  ))laces,  they  had  hi-ard  nmch  of  the 
valley  of  the  Willamette,  and  entertainer!  a  stronu' 
desire  to  behold  it  before  establishing  themselves. 
Therefore,  after  a  brief  rest,  leaving  the  three  lay- 
men at  Fort  Vancouver,  they  j)rocee<led  thither,  A[c- 
ijoughlin  kindly  furnishing  them  horses,  j)rovisions, 
and  men  to  accompany  them.  The  route  taken  was 
the  one  then  common  to  trappers,  by  canoe  to  Thomas 
Ml  Kay's  farm,  situatiMJ  a  little  way  up  a  small  creek 
that  fell  into  the  ]V[ultn.tmah,  and  from  this  place 
vvitii  horses,  passing  ovei-  a  high  ridge,  several  miles 
in  extent,  to  the  Tualatin  Plains,  through  a  series 
of  gently  rolling  prairies,  divided  by  groves  of  tir 
and  oak.  Beyond  the  plains  was  found  what  the\' 
describe  as  a  delightful   hilly  tract,  scversd  mih's  in 


64 


SETTLEMEMT  OF  OREiiON. 


extent,  thinly  wooded  at  intervals,  otherwise  open  and 
covered  with  grass.  From  these  hills  they  descended 
V)y  a  gentle  grade  into  the  Chehaleni  Valley,  that 
stretches  away  east  to  the  Willamette.  On  reaching 
the  river  at  this  place  they  swam  their  horses,  and 
crossed  to  the  east  side,  where  settlement  had  been 
V)egun.  Along  the  river  they  found  about  a  dozen 
families,  mostly  French  Canadians,  who  had  been 
hunters  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
or  free  trappers,  and  had  very  lately  left  that  occupa- 
tion for  farming,  so  as  to  obtain  surer  support  and 
greater  security  for  themselves  and  families.  They 
seemed  prosperous  and  hap})y,  and  ga\(>  the  mission- 
aries a  polite  and  generous  welcome.  One  night  Joseph 
Gervais,  a  leading  [)ersonage  thereabout,  set  up  their 
tent  in  his  garden,  among  melons  and  cucumbers. 
It  reminded  them  of  the  passage  in  holy  writ,  "a 
lodge  in  a  garden  of  cucumi)ers."^ 

It  was  all  ({uite  diflerent  from  what  those  might 
be  led  to  expect  who  undertake  to  carry  the  gospel 
to  an  unknown  wiklerness,  among  unknown  savage 
tribes.  The  fascinations  of  the  place  were  too  strong 
to  be  resisted;  so  without  more  delay,  about  two 
miles  above  the  farm  of  (xervais,  on  the  east  side 
of  the  river,  sixty  miles  from  its  mouth,  they  chose 
their  location,  upon  a  broad  sweep  of  low  alluvial  plain, 
whose  rich  grassy  meadows,  bordered  by  oak,  fir, 
cotton-wood,  white  maple,  and  white  ash,  lay  invit- 
ingly ready  for  tlie  plough."^ 

lii'turning  to  Fort  A^ancouver,  the  Lees  })roceeded 
to  remove  their  men  and  eflects  to  the  site  chosen. 
Again  they  found  McLoughlin  readv  to  tender  them 
every  assistance.  A  boat  and  crew  were  })laced  at 
their  (lis])osal  to  transport  the  mission  goods  from 
the  M((i/  Jhirrc.  Horses  were  given  in  exchange  for 
others  that  liad  been  left  at  Fort  Walla  Walla.     Seven 


'  This  liy  the  missionaries  themselves.  L<  c  luid  Frost,  Tin  Vi  "/w  hi  Or. ,  124. 
*"  liiiiiiel  Lee  is  verj'  entiiusiiistie  in  his  Jescriiition  of  tlie  Willamette  A  al- 
ley tlimuglirmt,  althougli  lie  calls  Kelley's  idea  thereof  extravagant. 


:1 


HEAVENLY  AN1>  KAKTHLY  EMl'IRE. 


65 


'n  and 

ended 

,  that 

iching 

M 

s,  and 

'"^^1 

been 

dozen 

been 

^^9 

iipany, 

'-^8 

ccupa- 

rt  and 

They 

lission- 

Joseph 

p  their 

mibers. 

Tit,  "a 

might 

■La 

gospel 

savage 

■1 

strong 

it    two 

Lt    side 

1  cliose 

' 

1  plain, 

Ik,  fir, 

1  invit- 

fcceded 

.| 

Bhosen. 

1  them 

£i 

moid  at 

H  from 

1 

Id'i'  for 

^ 

^Wl 

■Seven 

' 

m>,:,  124. 

1 

^Htte'Val- 

oxen  were  loaned  with  which  to  haul  timber  for  build- 
ing, and  eight  cows  with  their  calves  were  furnishetl, 
and  one  bull,  in  ])lace  of  the  two  cows  that  had  been 
driven  from  tlie  Missouri  to  the  Columbia  lliver  and 
left  in  the  U])per  countrv. 

The  labor  atU-nding  the  driving  of  the  cattle  and 
of  transporting  the  goods,  which  required  carriage 
round  the  vails  and  reloading  in  the  canoi'S,  was  con- 
siderable, and  occuined  several  days;  but  by  the  (ith 
of  October  stock  and  eflects  were  safely  placed  on 
the  bank  of  the  Willamette,  ready  for  eonsecration 
and  use. 

Tlie  causes  governing  the  selection  of  a  site  are 
obvious.  Jason  Lee  was  a,  man  ;  although  a  servant  of 
the  Lord,  he  was  already  the  master  of  men.  How 
far  the  thought  of  empire  had  hitherto  mingled  with 
Ins  missionary  })lans  prol)ably  he  himself  could  scarcely 
tell.  He  could  n(»t  but  see  that  human  }»ossibilities 
were  broader,  mightier,  in  the  fertile  valley  of  the 
Willamette,  open  through  its  Columbia  avenue  to  the 
sea,  than  the  inaccessible  so-called  Flatliead  country. 
Were  lie  altogether  missionary,  and  not  man,  he  might 
have  felt  that,  though  tlie  possibilities  for  man  were 
here  greater,  with  God  all  things  are  possible,  and 
so  have  remained  in  the  rock-bound  region  of  mid- 
continent.  But  1)ein<j  full  of  human  ambition  as  well 
as  of  human  sympathy,  it  was  not  difficult  to  make 
the  interests  of  God  indentical  with  his  own." 


"Diinit'l  Ta'o  says  tliat  in  tlie  occasion  wliich  originated  the  iilea  of  the 
I'"hitlieail  mission  tiie  chiini  of  the  Flatliuada  to  tlie  lir.st  niis.sionary  etforts  liaii 
hecu  overrated,  and  that  Huhse(|Uent  iiu|niries  had  furnished  reasons  for  he- 
lieviiig  they  wouhl  not  be  justitied  in  attempting  to  ojien  tlieir  mission  work 
among  that  tribe.  These  reiisons  were,  the  didiculties  of  obtaining  food, 
and  of  tiansporting  building  material  and  imiilements  a  distance  of  tiOO 
miles;  the  small  number  of  the  I'latheads,  whose  perjictual  wars  «itii  the 
Hlackfoot  Indians  jirevented  tiu'ir  inerea.se;  tin;  fact  that  tlie  latter  wi^-e 
a,s  much  tlie  enemies  of  white  men  as  of  the  neigid)oriiig  tribes,  and  would 
cherish  besides  additional  hostility  toward  any  who  should  become  allied 
with  them,  either  white  or  red;  and  the  desire  the  missionaries  had  for  a 
larger  tielil  of  usefulness  than  that  of!'  red  by  a  sinj^h'  tribe.  They  took  into 
account,  he  said,  the  wants  of  the  whole  eouidry,  jirest'iit  and  ]pros|ieetiv»!,  and 
honed  to  meet  those  wants  in  the  progress  of  their  work.  They  chose  the 
W'dlamette  station  as  a  starting-point  and  centre  of  a  wide  field  of  proposed 
Hist.  Ok.,  Vol..  1.    ."> 


66 


«ETTLE.MENT  OF  UKEGON. 


The  incipient  attempts  of  the  French  Canadians  in 
the  valley  of  the  Willamette  can  scarcely  he  called 
the  hegimiing  of  Oregon  settlement,  although  they 
did  so  l)egin  and  effect  permanent  work.  The  object 
of  such  a  movement  must  1)e  considered,  no  less  than 
the  result;  the  object,  and  the  action  taken  toward 
its  ciMisummation.  The  organization  of  a  common- 
wealth, or  the  establishing  of  empire,  was  not  among 
the  purposes  of  the  fur  company's  servants;  they 
desired  simply  retirement,  with  ease  and  plenty.     And 


lienevolcnt  action,  wliere  unlimited  supjilioa  could  lie  jirnduuoil  as  required: 
lieuce  they  here  Htruek  the  first  blow  for  the  Oregon  niissionsf,  and  here  began 
tlie  arduous  toil  of  elevating  the  heathen.  This  will  do  very  well  for  Daniel, 
though  his  reasoning  is  not  all  of  the  soundest.  White.  Tin  Yi'iirs  in  Or., 
125,  says  that  '  Lees  object  seemed  principally  to  introduce  a  better  state  of 
things  among  the  white  settlers.  ..  He  had  originally  been  sent  out  to  labor 
among  the  Flathead  Indians,  and  passing  througli  the  country,  leaving  tli'-in 
far  to  the  right,  went  on  to  the  Willamette,  intending  to  .sj)end  tiiere  a  winter 
before  proceeding  to  his  destination.  He  found  tlie  udld  erpiable  eliuuite, 
and  society,  tiiough  small,  of  wliites,  more  congenial  to  his  habits  than  any- 
thing he  could  expect  in  the  section  to  which  he  had  been  sent.  Thinking 
that  he  discovered  signs  of  the  colony  becoming  an  extensive  and  valuable 
field  of  u.sefulne8s,  and  that,  for  various  reasons,  the  Flatheads  had  less  claim 
upon  missionary  efforts  than  had  been  supposed,  he  determined  to  assume  the 
responsibility  and  commence  a  mission  on  the  Willamette.'  It  is  but  fair 
to  state  in  this  connection  that  at  the  time  this  paragraph  was  written  and 
printed  White  and  .lanson  Lee  were  not  on  the  best  of  terms.  (Jray,  7//V. 
Or.,  liu,  finds  a  reason  in  the  selfish  report  of  the  Hudscm's  Bay  Company, 
which  led  them  'to  believe  that  the  Flathead  tribe,  who  had  sent  their  mes- 
sengers for  teachers,  were  not  only  a  small,  but  a  very  distant  tribe,  and  vei'v 
disadvantiigeously  situated  for  the  establishment  i.nd  support  fif  a  missionary,' 
and  which  induced  them  to  turn  their  attention  to  the  lower  Columbia. 
Tliis  is  only  jtartially  true.  McLoughlin  did  advise  the  Lees  to  settle  in 
the  Willamette  Valley,  Init  not  for  the  reiusou  named.  I  shall  have  occa- 
sion to  refer  again  to  McLoughliu"s  views  upon  this  subject  in  a  subse(juent 
chapter. 

The  fact  uuist  be  taken  into  taecount  tiiut  Daniel  Lee  wrote  after  nine 
years  of  Oregon  life.  It  is  easy  to  see  that  when  he  talks  of  tlie  wants  of 
the  whole  country,  present  and  prospective,  lie  nmst  have  had  more  than  two 
or  three  weeks'  exi)erience  of  it;  anil  it  must  have  been  better  known  to  him 
than  it  could  have  l)eeu  by  a  voyage  down  tlio  Columbia  and  a  ride  of  00 
miles  afterward  through  a  wilderness.  It  can  hardly  be  doubted  that  when 
•lason  Lee  came  to  see,  as  he  did  in  his  journey  across  the  continent,  how 
much  less  interesting  a  being  was  the  real  Indian  than  the  one  pictured  upon 
the  warm  imagination  of  the  missionary  society,  his  intuitions  came  into 
jday,  and  his  fund  of  good  sense  and  I'eason  nuuie  it  apparent  to  him  that 
the  task  he  had  undertaken  wa.i  of  too  lai'ge  proportions  for  even  his  strengtii 
to  accomplish.  He  was  ou  the  ground,  however,  on  Oregon  territory,  and 
he  would  do  the  be.st  he  could  to  fulfil  tiie  intentions  of  those  who  liad  sent 
him,  without  entirely  sacrificing  himself  and  his  associates.  Tiiere  were 
Indians  enough,  not  to  mention  half-breeds  and  wiiite  men,  in  tlie  Willamette 
Valley,  who  needed  the  teachings  oi'  the  gospel;  and  here  he  would  remain, 
within  reach  of  civilized  society  and  the  protection  of  the  friendly  fort. 


HATJ-   J.    KELLEY. 


67 


by  ivason  of  continued  debt  and  close  intercourse, 
they  were  abnost  as  niucli  serf's  of  the  lords  para- 
mount at  Foi't  Vancouver  when  in  the  Valley  Wil- 
lamette as  when  on  the  River  Columi)ia."' 

On  the  other  hand,  anionu,  those  who  laid  the  foun- 
dations of  Orei^oii's  present  institutions,  of  Oregon's 
})reserit  society  and  prosperity,  I  should  mention  first 
of  all  t'.ie  Uoston  school-master,  the  enthusiast,  the 
schemer.  Hall  J.  Kelley,  though  he  never  was  a 
settler  in  the  country,  though  he  remained  there  but 
a  short  time,  under  inaus})icious  circumstances,  and 
dei)arted  without  making  any  apparent  mark.  It  was 
iie  who,  more  than  any  other,  by  gathenng  information 
since  1815  and  spreading  it  before  the  peojile,  kept 
alive  an  intelligent  interest  in  Oregon;  it  was  he  who 
originated  schemes  of  emigration,  beginning  Avith  one 
from  St  Jjouis  in  1828,  which,  though  it  failed  and  led 


Ifter  iiiiu' 
wants  ot 
Ithau  two 
In  to  him 
Vie  of  GO 
Jiat  when 
lent,  how 
led  upon 
liino  into 
liini  that 
jstrengtli 

loryi  a'>'l 
IkuI  si'nt 
I're  wero 
llhunett"' 

I  remain, 

ft. 


"  AcconUng  to  a  statement  of  McT^oughlin,  the  hegiiining  of  the  Frencli 
settlement  liappened  in  this  wise:  Etienne  Liieier,  wliose  time  had  expired 
in  1828,  a«ke(l  MeLougldin  if  he  helieved  the  Willamette  Valley  would  eve." 
he  oecupied  hy  settlers,  to  which  the  latter  replied  that  wherever  wheat  grev. 
there  would  he  a  farming  eomniunity.  T^icier  tlieii  asked  what  assistanci' 
woulil  lie  given  him  should  he  settle  as  a  farmer.  The  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany were  hound  under  heavy  penalties  not  to  discharge  their  servants  in  tlie 
Indian  country,  Imt  to  return  tiiem  to  the  place  where  they  were  engaged. 
Jiut  McLoughlin  otlered  a  plan  and  rides  for  settlement  to  Lucier  which  wen^ 
accepted  anil  afterward  liecame  general.  First,  to  avoid  tlie  penalty,  the  men 
must  remain  on  tiie  company's  l)ooks  as  servants,  hut  they  might  work  for 
themselves,  ami  no  st^'vice  wonlil  he  reipiired  of  them.  Second,  they  must 
all  settle  togeciier,  and  not  scatter  about  amongst  the  Indians,  with  wiioin 
their  half-hreed  cliildren  would  he  taught  hy  tlieir  mothers  to  sympathize, 
making  tiiem  dangerous  neighbors;  while  hy  keejiiiig  their  Indian  wives 
among  themst-lves  e.\clusiv(dy,  these  women  would  serve  as  hostages  for  tint 
good  conduc"^  of  their  relatives  iu  the  interior.  Third,  eacli  settler  must  have 
fifty  pounds  sterling  due  l:im,  to  supply  himself  with  clotiiing  and  imple- 
ments, which  rule  was  designed  to  make  them  saving  and  industrious,  and  hy 
making  their  farms  cost  them  something,  attach  them  to  tiieir  homes.  Fourth, 
seed  for  sowing  anil  wlieat  to  fee<l  tlieir  families  would  lie  loaned  them  for 
the  first  year,  anil  two  cows  each  for  an  indefinite  period.  These  were  tlu' 
terms  which  secured  oidy  the  hetter  class  of  Canadians  as  settlers,  and  kept 
the  idle  and  dissolute  from  hecoming  incorporated  with  them.  The  American 
trappers,  having  no  credit  on  the  company's  hooks,  were  nevertheless  fussisted 
iu  the  same  way  and  to  tlie  same  extent,  as  the  l)est  means  of  making  of  them 
good  citizens  instead  of  roving  fireln-ands  among  the  Indians.  At  the  end  ot 
the  first  three  years  all  the  settlers,  French  and  American,  were  out  of  deht. 
This  interesting  account  wa.s  only  recently  discovered  among  the  privati: 
pap^Ts  of  I>r  McLoughlin,  ami  liy  consent  of  Mrs  Harvey,  his  daughter,  was 
printed  among  the  archives  of  the  Oregon  Pioneer  Association,  under  the 
title  of  Copi/ of  a  Document,  in  <h\  Pioneer  Asuociatioii  Tntn-f.  ISSi),  p.  .")0. 


% 


y 


I  ! 

II  h 


;:       «a 

I  :  if 


68 


SETTLKMENT   OF   OUECON. 


to  another  futilo  attcin})t  by  sea  in  I  H32,  was  tlie  father 
of  several  exix'ditions,  notahlv  tliat  of  Wveth ,"  and 
was  the  innnediate  cause  of  the  settk'nient  of  many 
prominent  [)ioneers;  it  was  lie,  tliis  fanatic,  wlio  stimu- 
lated senators  to  speak  for  Oregon  on  the  floor  of 
congress,  and  even  shaped  the  presidential  policy. 
[  am  not  prepared  to  give  Mr  Kelley  all  he  claims, 
hut  I  am  ])repared  to  give  him  his  due.  With  regard 
to  the  missionary  brothers  Lee,  wlio  arrived  in 
the  country  l)efore  him,  he  maintains  that  they  too 
received  their  first  knowledge  of  Oregon  through 
him,  and  that  he  was  the  first  person  to  advocate  the 
christianizing  of  the  natives.  That  he  did  impress  upon 
the  new  connnonwealth  some  portion  of  his  ideas,  that 
he  did  influence  its  destinies,  there  is  no  question, 
thoutfh  we  have  on  means  of  weiuhinu,'  that  influence 
with  any  degree  of-exactness.  Regarding  settlement  his 
writings  contain  some  practical  suggestions;  indeed, 
without  clear  discrimination  between  desiuii  and  neces- 
sity,  and  read  by  the  light  of  subsequent  events,  some 
of  them  miglit  be  pronounced  prophetic.'"  For  a  sketch 

"  '  This  novel  expeditinn  was  not,  liowovcr,  the  original  or  s|)ontano()us 
motion  of  Mr  Nathanii'l  J.  Wyotii,  nor  Wius  it  entirt'ly  owing  to  tlie  piiblicii- 
tions  of  Lewis  and  ( larke,  or  Mackenzie.  .  .Tliey  were  ronsed  to  it  by  the 
writings  of  Mr  Hall  J.  Kelley.'  Wi/i'/Ji'.t  Orojoii,  3. 

'•'Tako,  for  example,  what  he  says  jvhont  the  designs,  dnties,  and  proba- 
hilities  of  settlement  in  his  unrealized  scheme,  entitled,  A  (Iviicnil  Cirnddr  to 
oil  I'lTKOim  oj'  (loful  Cliiinirtfr  irlio  irinli,  to  mii/niffl  to  tlie  Orajon  Tcrritori/, 
I iiilirnriiii/  some  Arrouiit  of  the  C/innictir  und  Ailrdiititiji'.s  of'  the  ('oniitri/:  The 
IfUjIit  niid  the  Meni)/'  mi)/  Oyerntioii.'^  Iii/  ir/iich  it  /.s'  'o  he  xittlcil : — mid  idl  iii'r<:i- 
siiri/  direftioiiK  for  hcroiiihuj  mi  luiihjrmit.  H.\i,r,  J.  Kki.lky,  (ivnentl  Aijoil. 
By  Order  of  the  A  nierirmi  iSorhti/  for  Enron ritijhiii  the  Settlement  of  the  Orei/oii 
Territorij.  Iiixtilutiil  in  liofton,  A.  I).  ISJ'J.  It  is  a  plan  of  '  Oregon  settle- 
ment, to  he  commenced  in  the  spring  of  18.S2,  on  the  delightfnl  and  fertile 
l)anks  of  the  Colunihia  River.'  Among  the  tir.st  results  of  in(]uiry  is  a 
'  clear  conviction  that  the  time  is  near  at  iiaiid,  and  advancing  in  the  ordinary 
course  of  Providence,  when  the  Oregon  country  shall  lie  occupied  liy  an  en- 
lightened people,  skilled  in  the  various  improvements  of  science  and  art.  A 
people,  thus  enlightened  and  skilled,  and  enjoying  the  advantages  of  a  climate, 
soil,  and  markets  as  good  in  their  kind  as  the  earth  affords;  ami  other  natural 
means,  which  mostly  contribute  to  the  comforts  and  convenience  of  life; 
(iliergized  ami  blessed  by  the  niilil  and  vital  principles  of  the  American 
repunlic,  and  the  sacred  ordinances  of  the  C'hristaiii  religion  ' — must  l)e  pros- 
perous and  happy.  '  'J'lie  settlement,  carrying  on  a  trade  witli  the  islan<ls  of 
the  Pacific  ami  with  the  people  about  the  shores  of  that  ocean  comn\ensnrate 
with  its  wants,  nmst  advance  in  prosperity  and  2)ower  unexampled  in  the 
history  of  nations.     From  the  plentitnde  of  its  own  rcBOUrccs,  it  will  soon  be 


^ 


I'KorosEi)  cniKs. 


69 


oftlie  lift'  of  this  remarkable  man,  with  an  account  of 
iiis  visit  to  Oregon  in  18;}4,  and  an  analysis  of  his 
cliaracter,  I  nmst  refer  th^  reader  to  my  History  of 
the  North  ii<est  Coast,  where  also  may  be  found  an  ac- 
count of  Wyeth's  expeditions,  and  of  those  persons 
arriving  in  the  Oregon  territory  prior  to  the  opening 

eiiiililol  to  rfustiiiu  its  own  oporations,  aii<l  will  hasten  on  to  its)  own  majesty 
to  a  prmiil  rank  (Ml  the  eartli.'  T!ion  lie  goes  on  at  length  to  apeak  of  what 
should  he  (lone  to  seeiire  these  results.  '  ^leasu^es  will  he  adopted  for  huildiug 
oaOray'a  Bay  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  r'ver  eominereial  towns... This  bay 
oliens  into  tlie  northern  hank  of  the  Coluinhia,  ahout  eleven  miles  from  its 
nioutli,'  he  says.  Five  miles  8(iuare  of  territory  at  this  place  '  will  he  LJd  out 
into  the  necessary  configuration  and  divisions  for  a  seaport  town.'  Streets  of 
convenient  width  will  run  from  the  water,  bisecting  other  streets  at  right 
angles.  At  distances  of  two  sfjuares  is  to  be  an  area  of  ten  acres  for  parade 
or  pleasure  ground,  which  is  forever  to  remain  open  and  unoccupied  witii 
hiiitdings.     The  centre  of  the  main  street  or  thoroughfare,  of  the  width  of 


Kkllky's  1'lan  ok  ax  Oregon  I'ity. 


100  feet,  is  to  be  (levoted  to  the  purpose  of  a  public  market.  The  valley  of 
tlie  Multnomah  is  to  be  chierty  occupied  for  commercial,  agricultural,  and 
manufacturing  iperations.  The  metropolis  of  tiie  country  is  designed  to  ])e 
a',  the  falls.  Portions  of  the  outlands  adjoining  the  towns  will  be  put  into 
lots,  40  by  1()0  rods,  or  40  acres  each;  making  the  number  of  their  (livisions 
e(iual  to  the  whole  nund>er  of  emigrants  over  fourteen  years  of  age,  not  in- 
cluding married  women.  Next  to  these  will  be  other  lots  of  KiO  acres  each, 
making  up  the  complement  of  200  acres  to  each  emigrant.  Roads  as  far  as 
practicable  are  tc)  be  laid  out  in  right  lines,  intersecting  each  other  at  right 
angles.  It  is  desirable  that  all  topographical  surveys  anil  divisions  of  farming 
lands  be  made  i>y  the  method  which  two  years  ago  was  suggested  to  con- 
gress, and  wliicli  was  examined,  approved  of,  and  recommended  by  General 
Hernard,  then  at  thi'  liead  of  the  corps  of  civil  engineers. 

For  purposes  of  relii'ion,  a  fund  was  to  be  set  apart  for  proselytism,  and 
missionaries  were  urge(l  to  end)ark  in  the  work  of  general  conversion.  These 
and  many  other  things  relating  to  the  proposed  adventure  were  printed  in 
pamphlet  form,  and  the  newspaper  pres.s  throughout  the  country  solicited  to 


70 


.SKTTLEMKNT  OF  OKKliON. 


(late  of  this  volume,  wliose  iiaino^  arc  not  lierein  given. 
Tliere  was  one  in  particuhir  among  Kelley's  com- 
panions, Ewing  Young,  wlio  remained,  and  of  wlionj 
I  shall  have  much  to  say.  As  previously  shown, 
Wyeth's  ])urpose  was  not  settlement,  but  tratlic;  his 
occupation  at  Waj)at<>  Island  was  fishing  and  trade  in 
furs  with  the  natives.  As  this  did  not  suit  the  gen- 
tlemen of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  who  were 
strong  in  the  land  and  desired  the  continuance  of 
their  monopoly,  but  who  were  without  the  political 
right  to  drive  out  the  people  of  the  United  States, 
while  entertaining  them  hospitably,  as  a  rule,  at  Fort 
A'^ancouvcr,  they  so  circumscribed  and  defeated  their 
busines.*-  efforts  in  this  quarter  that  Wyetli  among 
others  waso  finally  forced  to  sell  to  them  and  retire 
from  the  field.  With  the  subsequent  affairs  of  this 
history  the  expeditions  heretofore  given  have  little 
to  do,  excej)t  in  connection  with  those  of  their  numbei" 
who  remained  to  settle. 

As  their  terms  of  contract  expired,  the  Hudson's 
Hiiy  Company  began  to  retire  its  servants,  giving 
them  choice  lands  not  too  far  removed  from  its 
benign  rule.  This  was  the  origin  of  tlie  French  Cana- 
dian settlements  in  the  beautiful  Vallev  Willamette, 


>.'ive  the  contents  further  circulation  throuf,'li  their  columns,  to  the  i>roinoti()i) 
of  individual  happiness  and  the  prosperity  of  the  country. 

The  settlers  were  to  carry  with  them  their  own  government,  as  it  should 
lie  formidated  for  them  by  congress.  Special  attention  shoidd  be  paid  to 
schools,  morals,  and  religion.  No  drones  or  a  icious  persons  should  lut 
accepted  hy  tlie  society,  and  all  proposing  to  emigrate  must  bring  cortiticates 
of  good  character.  The  society  would  supply  most  of  the  expenses  of  emi- 
gration, and  on  arrival  the  emigrant  was  to  receive  town  lots  and  land  worth 
from  §2,000  to  .S10,(MK).  The  person  proposing  to  emigrate  must  deposit 
twenty  dollars  with  the  society,  and  swear  obedience  to  all  just  regulations, 
wliich  at  first  were  to  he  militery.  The  route  slundil  be  fron"  St  Louis  up 
the  Platte,  through  Soutli  Pass,  and  down  the  Columbia,  and  the  expedition 
sliould  take  its  departure  the  last  of  March.  Tlie  funds  of  tlie  society  were 
to  consist  of  %;'20(),(K)0,  subscribed  stock,  divided  into  sliarcs  of  ^\W),  each 
share  entitling  the  holder  to  KiO  acres  of  land,  besides  deposit  money  ami 
such  donations  as  shoiUd  be  obtained  from  jiublic-sinrited  men  and  the  gov- 
ernor. 

Ten  years  after  Kelley  had  left  Oregon,  hoping  yet  to  return  and  realize 
liis  dreams  of  establisliing  ui)on  the  shores  of  the  Pacilio  a  virgin  state  which 
slmuld  grow  into  an  empire  in  the  progress  of  time  and  events,  most  of  the 
formative  ideas  set  fortii  in  his  circular  were  actuall  being  carried  out  by 
emigrants  from  the  United  States. 


J-KENCH  rRAIKlE. 


71 


And  there  were  those  continuing  in  the  service  of 
Uie  company  who  <fa.\i'  tlieir  names  to  localities — 
instance  Cox,  the  Eunueus  of  Fort  Vancouver,  and 
Sauve,  who  kept  the  dairies  on  Wapato  Island,  after- 
ward Sauve  Island.^' 


FkKNCII    I'ltAlKIK. 

French  Prairie,  the  ti-act  where  the  servants  of  the 
fur  company  began  their  planting  in  the  AVillamette 

''The  curioMs  elements  out  of  whicli  new  countries  are  colonized,  and  tlie 
varied  character  of  the  recipients  of  the  Hudson's  Hay  ('onii)any's  protection, 
are  well  illustrated  hy  this  same  swineherd,  wiiose  name  is  given  to  I'ox 
I'lain,  two  miles  below  Fort  Vancouver,  wiiere  among  tlie  oaks  tliat  skirt  the 
("olumhia  he  lived  witli  his  herd.  Cox  was  a  native  of  the  Hawaiian  Islands, 
and   had    witnessed   the    death    of   Cajitain   Cook.     He    afterward    went   to 


72 


SETTLEMENT  OF  UKEliON. 


Valley,  oxtendt'd  from  tho  inreat  westward  bend  of  that 
river  south  to  IjUc  l^a  Hiclie  ahout  tweiitv-tive  miles. 
[t  had  the  Willamette  to  the  west  and  Puddinjj;- 
liiver  "  on  the  east.  Between  it  and  the  Willamett(i 
was  a  belt  of  low  wooded  land.  It  was  beautified 
l)y  proves  of  fir  and  oak  at  frequent  intervals,  and 
watered  by  nuinentus  .small  streams.  East  of  Pud- 
dino'  River  rose  the  foothills  of  the  Cascade  Ranf.^e, 
and  towerini;'  beyond  and  over  them  the  shaggy 
heights  of  those  grand  mountains,  overtopped  hero 
and  there  by  a  snowy  jicak. 

The  entrance  to  this  lovely  region  from  the  north 
was,  as  already  in+imated,  op[)osite  the  n»outh  of  the 
Chehalem,  a  smah  stream  flowing  into  the  Willamette 
from  the  west,  and  famous  for  the  charming  features 
of  its  little  valley. ^'^ 

The  landing  at  the  crossing  of  the  Willamette  on 
the  east  side  was  known  as  Cauipement  du  Sable, 
being  a  sandy  bluff  and  an  encampment  at  the  point 
of  arrival   or   departure  for    French    Prairie.     Two 

England  with  the  island  king,  and  as  a  guard  presented  arms  to  Oeorge  III., 
and  was  rather  lionized  in  London.  He  came  at  last  to  he  the  swineherd  of 
tlie  chiefs  at  P'ort  Vancouver,  where  he  lived  and  died  amongst  his  oaks. 
Am/crKOii'n  J/i/if.  A'orf/iireKt  Count,  MS.,  8!)-lK).  An  lilnglishman  named  Felix 
Hathaway,  save<l  from  the  wreck  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Comj)any'8  vessel 
W'lUiiim  Olid  Ann  in  1828,  l)ecanie  ,a  resident  of  Oregon.  Another  sailor 
who  came  to  Oregon  in  18'2t)  was  James  M.  Bates.  He  is  claimed  l)y 
some  to  he  the  first  American  settler  in  Oregon,  as  he  remained  in  the 
country  and  cultivated  a  piece  of  land  on  Scappoose  Bay,  an  estuary  of  the 
( 'olumhia,  south  of  and  helow  Sauv(5  Island.  >le  was  still  living  in  Oregon 
in  1872. 

'*  The  nomenclature  of  the  various  posts  whose  historj'  is  presented  in 
tliese  volumes  will  lie  given  in  their  natural  order  as  the  work  progresses. 
The  name  Willamette  and  its  orthography  are  discussed  in  the  History  of  the 
Northwest,  Coant,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred.  Pudding  River  receiveil  its 
name  from  the  circumstance  of  a  trapping  party  which  had  become  bewil- 
deretl  and  out  of  food;  there  they  ate  a  pudding  made  from  the  hlood  of  a 
mule  which  they  killed.  W/iitv's  Ten  Yenrg  in  Or.,  70.  Lac  I^a  Biche,  or 
I  )eer  Lake,  took  its  name  from  the  abundance  of  game  in  its  v  icinity  in  the 
period  of  tlie  early  settlement  of  French  Prairie. 

'■■Chehalem  is  an  Imlian  name,  whose  signilicatiou  is  not  clear.  Parrish, 
ill  his  Ori'i/on  Aiurdotcx,  MS.,  15,  attempts  to  sIkiw  thiat  the  prefix  rhf  which 
occurs  so  frequently  in  the  Indian  dialect  meant  town  or  'ville.'and  cites 
C/ieineketa,  C/icnoii'di/,  ChenmhiU,  an<l  other  names.  He  fails  to  make  evident 
tiie  analogy,  as  these  were  not  names  of  villages,  l)ut  rather  of  valleys  or 
localities.  Cheamhill,  now  corrupted  into  Yamhill,  aignifies  a  beautiful  view 
of  a  range  of  grassy  hills  near  the  ford  of  the  Yamhill  River.  Deady'ti  Hint. 
Or.,  MS.,  7C;    Victor's  Or.,  195 


;  i! 


,, 


i  ! 


KAKI.IKST   SllTTLKIlS    IN    OKKliOX. 


>^" 


miles   above    this    })(»int  Mas    Chnmpoeg,'"    tlu;    Hist 
settlement. 

Amono'  those  wlio  were  living:;  on  French  Pi'uirie 
at  the  time  of"  the  ai'rival  of  tlie  Lees  were  sonit- 
who  had  eome  with  the  Astor  exjx'ditions,  some 
who  hinted  at  havint^  been  left  behind  by  l^ewis 
and  Clarke;  and  to  tliese  were  later  joined  the  rem- 
nants of  the  expeditions  of  Wyetii  and  Kelley. 


[rge  III., 
lehenl  of 
liij  oaks, 
led  Felix 
[a  vessel 
!r  sailor 
Imed  by 
ill  the 
of  tlie 
Oregon 

;(l  in 
Igresses. 
I//  of  thf 
lived  its 
bewil- 
|od  of  a 
bhe,  or 
in  the 

^arrish, 
J  which 
ll  cites 
Ivident 
]ey8  or 
'  view 
Hht. 


I  will  give  hero  the  names  of  some  of  those  who  first  settled  there,  and 
such  information  concerning  them  as  I  have  been  al>le  to  obtain.  Some  of 
them  we  sliall  frequently  meet  in  the  course  of  this  history,  according  an  they 
play  their  several  parts  in  the  colonization  of  Oregon.  It  has  been  claimed 
by  or  for  Francis  Rivet  and  Philip  Degie  that  they  were  with  Lewi.s  and 
Clarke.  Roberts,  in  liis  litroUeiiionx,  MS.,  states  that  Rivet  was  a  c<mtiden- 
tial  servant  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  for  40  years,  living  most  of  the 
time  at  Fort  Colville.  Degie  was  born  in  Sorel,  Canada,  in  173!t,  and  died  in 
Oregon,  February  27,  IS47,  at  the  remarkable  age  of  108  years.  Rivet  died 
September  15,  1852,  aged  05.  Omjoii  Citij  S}url(Hoi;  July  29,  1851 ;  Snu  frnii- 
rixro  I/eriilil,  August  14,  1851;  Plarer  Tiiiirs  <t)ul  Tran.icripf,  Nov.  30,  1851; 
Sun  FniiiciMco  Alto,  Aug.  14,  1851.  Their  claim  becomes  somewhat  insecure, 
though  not  -lositively  invalid,  as  we  turn  to  the  Lewk  ami  Vlarken  Trnveln,  i. 
178,  written  in  April  1805,  when  the  expedition  was  making  its  final  start 
from  the  Mandan  village,  and  read  :  'Tiie  party  now  consisted  of  tliirty-two 
persons.  Besides  ourselves  were  sergeants  .Tohn  Ordway,  Nathaniel  I'ryor, 
and  Patrick  Gass  ;  the  privates  were  William  Bratton,  John  Colter,  John 
Collins,  Peter  Cru/atte,  Robert  Frazier,  Reuben  Fields,  Joseph  Fields,  (ieorge 
(iibson,  Silas  Goodrich,  Hugh  Hall,  Thomas  P.  Howard,  Baptiste  Lapage, 
Francis  Liibiche,  Hugh  McNeal,  John  Potts,  John  Shields,  ( Jcorge  .Shannon, 
John  B.  Thompson,  William  Werner,  Alexander  Willard,  Richard  Windsor, 
Joseph  Whitehouse,  Peter  Wiser,  and  Captain  Clarke's  black  servant,  York. 
The  two  interpreters  were  George  Drcwyer  and  Toussaint  Chaboneau.  The 
wife  of  Chaboneau  also  accompanied  us,  with  her  young  child,  and  we  hope 
may  be  useful  as  an  interpreter  among  the  Snake  Indians.  She  was  herself 
one  of  that  tribe,  but  had  been  taken  in  war  by  the  Minnetarees,  by  whom 
she  was  sold  as  a  slave  to  Chaboneau,  who  brought  her  up  and  afterward 
married  her.  One  of  the  Mandans  likewise  embarked  with  us,  in  order  to  go 
to  tlie  Snake  Indians  and  obtain  a  peace  with  them  for  his  countrymen.'  In 
an  old  man  at  Fort  Colville,  Parker,  Joiirual,  202,  saw  one  of  Lewis  and 
Clarke's  men. 

"Lee  and  Frost  spell  this  word  C/iiimpory,  and  say  that  it  is  ide.itic  '  p" 
to  location  with  Campement  du  Sable.  Chauii)oeg,  is  said  to  be  an  L  a 
word,  though  it  might  have  come  from  the  French  rhitni]H'(iu.v,  or  plains,  with- 
out as  mucn  change  as  many  names  have  iiude.g(mc. 


74 


SETTLEMENT  OF  OKECiON. 


|l 


I 


lAm'iM  Piohetto  left  ('iiiiada  in  ISI",  with  ii  C()iii|iaiiy  of  'J.'»  trappern,  ami 
wiiitoreil  (III  tilt'  |iliiiiiN,  liwiiig  m'vcn  of  tliu  iiiiiiilifr,  and  arriving  at  Axtoria 
in  1818.  i'icliutto  rciainctl  (vlxmt  in  C'ulifornia  anil  Oregon  for  twelvu  yuarH 
in  the  Hervice  of  the  MikIhoii'm  Ifciy  ('oiii]iaiiy.  In  ]H'A'>  he  nettled  on  a  farm 
ill  tin:  \S  iiiaiiiette  Valley,  where  lie  reHiiled  for  over  40  yeai'M.  He  died 
Noveinher  20,  187*),  ageil  78  yearn.  I'oillnml  Sfnmlitrtl,  Deceinher  '2'2,  187G; 
StiO'iH  WiHomiltc  Fiiniiti;  Dee.  '2'2,  lH7(i  ;  Suli'in  S/nfiMmiiii,  Dec.  '2'2,  187(i. 
Other  Canadians  whiLse  naine.s  apiiear  aiiiong  the  early  Hettlern  an:  Franein 
l^uemiel,  who  died  in  1844,  aged  ()">  yearn  ;  Loiiin  Shaugarette,  who  died  in 
183.">;  lienideM  Payette,  Hilake,  Koudeau,  PournafJ'e,  ("hanil>'"laiii,  and  jiroliahly 
others.  Andre  La  Chapello  wan  jirolialily  of  I'iehetteV,  iiirty.  He  was  iiorn 
in  Montreal,  August  14,  1781,  and  left  Canada  for  Oregtiii  in  1817,  to  join  the 
nerviee  of  tlie  Northwest  Company.  In  181!)  he  was  ordered  to  take  a  partj' 
up  the  Coluinliia  as  far  as  lioat  Fiiieampmeiit,  or  the  '  liig  liend  '  of  that  river, 
ill  latitude  nearly  .VJ"  north,  to  meet  the  expresa  from  Canachi.  That  year  Wiw 
noted  for  a  great  Hood  on  the  Coliimliia,  and  eneampmeiit  eould  lie  made  in 
few  places.  There  was  ten  feet  of  watt^r  over  tiie  prairie  where  the  ttiwii  <if 
Vancouver  now  stiuids.  When  hea<l(|uarters  were  removed  from  Astoria  to 
Vancouver,  La  Chapelle  went  to  Fort  Vanc<iuver  to  reside,  and  remained  in 
the  eonipany's  service  as  a  '  leader '  until  1841,  when  he  retired  and  settled 
■with  the  other  Canadians  in  the  Willamette  Valley.  For  40  years  he  lived 
on  his  farm  at  Champoeg,  and  died  .luiie  11,  1881,  having  attained  to  within 
two  months  of  100  years.  I'ortliiiul  (h'rtjoiiioii,  .luiie  '21,  1881;  Sun  Fntiiwro 
C/iroiiklc,  .luiie  'M,  1881,  Francis  Dupre,  another  of  the  French  settlers  in  the 
Willamette  \'alley.  died  in  18r)8  at  the  age  of  W)  years.  These  quiet,  ohedient, 
simple-hearted  people.  Arcadians  all,  were  remarkalde  for  their  longevity.  All 
had  Indian  or  half-lireed  wives,  and  numerous  children.  Louis  Pichette  had 
'Jl  ofl'spring.  1  tind  mentioned  the  name  of  Andrew  Duhois,  and  his  wife 
Margaret,  who  were  living  on  French  I'rairie  in  1840,  and  had  probably  been 
ill  Oregon  several  years.  Siiiri/t'i-'.s  licyt.  of  Ciu^cx,  ii.  4.Sr). 

With  the  overland  Astor  expedition  under  Hunt  came,  with  others,  Joseph 
( iervais,  always  prominent  in  the  French  Canadian  settlement.  After  serving 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  acting  for  ten  yi^'irs  as  an  independent  trap- 
per, he  took  a  farm  on  the  jirairie.  Another  noted  man  was  Michel  Lii  Fraiii- 
boise,  the  leader  of  the  southern  annual  trapping  parties  to  California,  who. 
was  so  attentive  to  Kelley  when  sick.  He  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Willamett'  .  Another  was  Louis  I.iii  lioiite,  who  settled  on  the  west  side  of  the 
river  in  18  '{,  in  what  is  now  Yamhill.  Etieiine  Lucier,  also  of  Hunt's  party, 
remained  '  serve  the  British  Company,  and  afterward  settled  in  the  Willa- 
mette Val.  where  in  the  autumn  of  1829  he  took  a  farm  on  the  Willamette 
where  Eiist  ortland  now  stands.  He  afterward  removed  to  French  Prairie. 
Lucier,  acco  i'lg  to  McLoughlin,  was  the  first  settler.  La  Bonte  died  in 
I8(i0,  aged  8(  ears.  Lucier  died  in  18.")^,  and  (lervais  in  18()1,  the  age  of  the 
latter  being  ^  years.  AVilliaiii  Cannon,  a  Virginian,  and  a  sohlier  from  Fort 
Mackinaw,  s  .tied  on  the  west  side  of  the  Willamette  River,  opposite  the 
falls,  and  lived  to  the  age  of  00  years,  dying  in  18r)4.  Still  another  of  the 
arrivals  of  1812  was  one  Montoure,  who  is  always  mentioned  by  his  surname. 
He  selected  for  ;■.  farm  that  rich  jirairie  where  Samuel  Brown  subseiiuently 


\VVKTMS    MKX. 


l!i 


ha<l  n:i  rxtcnHivc  fiirniing  ontablichmcnt,  nnil  whtTo  tlio  town  of  fJorvaia  now 
Ntaiuln.  Montoun^  koM  liii*  iiuiirovoiiu'iits  to  ^'icrrc  I)('i>ui>i,  wlio  romainnl 
mi  thr  fariii  till  IH.'iO,  wlicii  it  wan  Mold  tn  Mr  Hmwn.  Simim  rimnomUiHu  in 
Willi  by  Dunn,  in  his  On-i/nii  Ti-rrifoi\i/,  '2'M\,  M'itli  aiuitlit'i'  Ciinailiaii,  Kancaiilt, 
to  liuvc  l)ceii  the  tipNt  Frciu-hiiiaii  to  nettlf  in  tlic  Will.iiuutto  Valley,  liy 
which  111'  limy  have  meant  French  I'rairiu.  I'lunmnileau  had  mitvoiI  as  cock- 
Hwain  todeneral  ('«««  in  an  expeilitioii  to  the  northwcMt  territory,  iuul  was 
a  very  Mkilfiil  and  relialde  lioatnian  and  woodsman,  and  served  several  Ameri- 
lans  in  the  Oregon  territory,  among  others  Lieutenant  Wilkes,  in  IS4I.  U.  S. 
K.i:  AV.,  iv.  X^S.  Among  the  reniniints  of  jinnt's  jiarty  in  Oregon  were 
Madame  Dorioii  and  her  son;  the  woman  was  still  living  in  the  ^\'illamette 
X'alley  in  ISiV). 

.lohu  B.  W'yetii,  Onynii,  51,  names  ten  m(ui  who  in  ISH'J  continued  their 
|(iiirn''y  with  his  '.....ther  to  the  Colnmhia:  (J.  Sargent,  W.  Hreck,  S.  Hurditt, 
('.  'I'ihlietu,  (J.  TntmhnU,  .1.  Woodman  Smith,  John  Hall,  Whittier,  St  Hair, 
and  Alihot.  As  a  matter  of  iiwt,  there  were  eleven,  the  other  i)rol)alily  liiMUg 
Solomon  }\.  Smith,  who  came  to  Ori^gon  in  that  year.  Holu'rt  Camphell  of 
St  LouiH,  originally  of  the  nnmher,  does  not  apimar  to  have  reaehed  western 
Oregon.  Alilmt,  who  remained  to  trap  on  Salmon  Kiver,  was,  with  one  of  his 
companions,  killed  l>y  the  lianuack  Indians.  Toiriiti'in/'.i  A'";'.,  '_'■_'.'».  (!ray  adds 
two  names,  for  which  I  lind  no  authority— Moore  ami  (ireely — the  former 
killed  hy  Indians,  the  latter  not  accounted  for.  He  makes  no  mention  of  .lohu 
Kail,  reputed  the  tirst  American  farmer  in  the  Willamette^  N'alley.  iSargent 
died  in  IS.Sli,  of  dissipation.  According  to  <iray,  ///.•</.  (h:,  I'.M,  Whittier 
was  given  a  passage  to  the  Sandwich  Islan<ls  hy  the  Hudson's  Bay  ( 'onipany, 
and  'rrumhuU  killed  himself  hy  overeating  at  Fort  A'ancouv(>r. 

On  the  Ist  of  .lanuary,  KS.'W,  .lohu  Hall  was  installed  as  teacher  «>f  the 
tialf-hn^ed  children  at  Fort  Vaiicouv.'r.  From  spring  till  autumn  he  engaged 
in  farming  with  Calvin  'rit>liets  in  the  XN'illamette  N'alley.  As  no  .Nmerican 
sc^ttlcrs  arrived,  and  disliking  the  controlling  power  of  the  ]lud.son's  Hiiy 
Company,  he  emharked  on  a  whaling  vessel  for  South  America.  Ultimately 
he  settled  at  Craud  K;ij>ids,  Michigan.  Mr  Tilihets  remained  in  Oregon,  and 
is  one  of  the  founders  of  American  settlement  in  the  Willamette  Valley.  He 
removed  to  Clatsop,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Columliia  liiver.  Mr  Solomon  H. 
Smith  succeeded  Mr  Ball  as  jieihigogut)  from  tlie  1st  of  March,  remained  long 
enough  to  fall  ill  love  with  the  Indian  wife  of  the  liaker,  ran  away  Mith  her 
and  her  chihlreii,  and  estahlished  a  .school  at  the  house  of  .Foseph  (iervais. 
RdwH.-i'  l(iroU<'cfioii<,  MS.,  'M\;  Porthtuil  J/irnld,  March  1(),  IST'J;  Orcijoii. 
Sjiictaior.  Nov.  1,  1849.  After  the  missioiiai'ies  arrived  ami  l)ej;an  preaching. 
Smith  111  t  with  a  change  of  heart,  according  to  ])aniel  Lie,  though  he  never 
returned  the  baker's  wife.  Lee  uml  FroMf'x  Ti'ii  YenrM  in  Or.,  2(>!).  He  proved 
a  good  citi/eii  of  Oregon,  finally  settling  among  his  w  ife's  relatives  at  <  'latsoji, 
where  he  liecaiiie  a  thriving  farmer,  and  dieil  at  an  advanced  age.  ]n  liis 
worldly  afl'airs  his  Clatsop  wife,  to  whom  he  was  formally  marrieil,  was  of 
material  lieuelit  to  him.  Toliiiir's  Piiijot  Sumii/,  MS.,  '_'.  Of  those  who  iicconi- 
jiaiiied  Wyeth  in  KSIU,  aliout  twenty  reai'heel  th(^  lower  Columlpia;  hut  few  of 
their  names  have  been  jireserved.  We  know  of  .lames  H.  O'Neil,  'riiomas 
•letferson  Hnbl)ard.  Uicli.iid  McCrary,  Paul  Uicliardson,  Sauslmry,  Thornburg, 


i    1 


i 

X 

4  I 


76 


SETTI.EMKNT  OF  ORK«;0?>. 


and  CouHney  M.  Walker.  Thoruburg  was  killed  l)y  Hubbard  in  a  quarrel 
about  an  Indian  woman  in  1835.  Thoruburg  being  tlie  assailant,  Hubbard  wa.s 
allowed  to  go  free.  TownKi'iid\i  iViir.,  2*23^.  Hubbard  continued  to  reside  in 
Oregon,  unmolested  if  not  very  respectable,  settling  on  a  farm  two  or 
three  miles  north  of  Lafayette.  He  was  active  in  the  affairs  of  the  early 
American  settlement.  When  the  gold  discovery  in  California  drew  nearly 
the  whole  adult  male  population  from  Oregon,  he  built  a  boat  at  Oregon  City, 
loaded  it  with  Hour,  and  in  it  safely  sailed  to  San  Francisco,  where  he  sold 
both  cargo  and  vessel.  He  also  Imilt  a  saw-mill  in  the  Willamette  Valley, 
and  was  one  of  tlie  first  to  export  cattle  to  t'alifoniia.  In  1857  he  re- 
moved to  eastern  Oregon,  and  died  at  the  Umatilla  reservation  April  24, 
1877,  aged  78  years.  Onyoii  City  Euteiyrixe,  May  3,  1877;  Portland  Standard, 
May  4,  1877.  Richard  Mct'rary,  meeting  with  unpleasant  adventures  as  a 
trapper  among  the  Blackfoot  Indians,  abandoned  fur-hunting,  took  a  Ne/ 
Perc6  wife,  .and  settled  on  a  farm  five  miles  below  the  mouth  of  tlie  Willa- 
mette.  JJinin'  Hist.  Or.,  i32-;}. 

O'Neil  settled  in  Polk  County,  where  he  died  in  September  1874,  aged  74 
years.  Salem  Rerord,  Sept.  IG,  1874;  Sali'in  ]t'illaincttr  Farmer,  Sept.  18,  1874. 
Paul  Richardson  did  not  remain  in  Oregon,  having  accompanied  the  Wyetii 
expedition  only  as  guide.  He  was  a  man  o£  note  in  his  way.  Born  in  Ver- 
mont about  tlie  year  1793,  he  removed  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married, 
but  unhappily,  and  abandoned  his  «  ifo  to  seek  forgetfulness  in  the  wilderness 
beyond  tlie  Missouri,  where  he  became  a  solitary  and  fearless  explorer.  In 
1828,  according  to  Ids  own  account,  he  reached  tlie  head  waters  of  Fraser 
River.  He  crossed  the  continent  a  number  of  times  and  had  countless  ad- 
ventures, which  he  sehlom  related.  He  died  in  California  in  1857,  poor  and 
alone,  as  he  had  lived,  l/ai/c/i'  Col.  Cul.  A'oten,  ii.  292.  Besides  these  few 
Americans  whose  antecedents  are  to  some  extent  known,  the  names  of  J. 
Ednninds  and  Charles  Roe  appear  in  the  writings  of  the  Methodist  mission- 
aries of  that  date;  they  probably  belonged  to  Wyeth's  last  expedition.  These, 
so  far  as  known,  were  the  only  persons  in  the  country  in  the  autumn  of  1834 
not  connected  witli  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  See,  further,  Portland 
Oreyoniun,  March  9  and  1(5,  1872;  May  4,  1872;  duly  8,  187();  If.  //.  h'w.i, 
in  Oregon  Stutennuin,  June  20,  1879;  Trans.  Or.  Pioneer  Asso.,  1875,  5G; 
McLouijhlins  Private  Payers,  MS.,  passim;  /ilanchet'n  Cat/i.  Church  in  Or., 
7-8;  S.  F.  Alta  California,  April  22,  1853;  Portland  Herald,  Mareii  5,  1872; 
Salem  Statesnuin,  June  20,  1879;  S.  F.  Bulletin,  July  25,  1877. 

The  party  accompanying  Kelley  and  Young,  on  arriving  at  the  Columbia 
River,  consisted  of  the  following  persoiis:  John  McCarty,  Webley  Jolin 
Hauxhurst,  Joseph  (Jale,  Jolin  Howard,  Lawrence  Carmichael,  Branny  wine, 
Kilborn,  and  (leorge  Winslow  (colored).  Grafs  Hint.  Or.,  191.  This  number 
corresponds  witii  McLouglilin's  acctiuiit,  and  is  probably  correct  as  to  names, 
though  Daniel  Lee  thouglit  there  were  'about  a  dozen,'  and  gives  the  name  of 
Elislia  Ezekiel,  found  only  in  one  other  place,  namely,  in  if.  S.  (for.  Doe.,  ,id 
Sess.,  J.'ith  Conij.,  11.  lleyt..  No.  101.  Ezekiel  was  employed  at  the  mission, 
whicli  explains  the  omission  from  the  count  at  Fort  Vancouver.  Let  Ezekiel 
have  praise  for  something;  he  made  the  first  cart-wheel  in  the  Willamette 
A'alley.     See   Let   and  Frost's   Ten  Y^ars  in  Or.,  129.     Joseph  Gale  was  a  man 


li 


ft 


HAUXHUKST,   WINSLOW,  AND    M(  KAV. 


77 


1  a  quarrel 
libilld  wa.s 

0  reside  in 
111   two  or 

tlie  early 
rew  nearly 
•egon  City, 
ure  he  sold 
tte  Valley, 
Si")"  lie  re- 
April  '24, 
!  Stiimiard, 
itures  as  a 
,o(»k  a  Ne/ 
the  Willa- 

74,  agetl  74 
t.  18,  1874. 
the  Wyetli 
jrn  in  Ver- 
iie  married. 

1  wilderness 
plorer.  In 
s  of  Kraser 
untless  ad- 
poor  and 

these  few 
lines  of  .1. 

inission- 
)n.  These, 
nil  of  18H4 

Porllaiii/ 

11.  Ki'vx, 
187;"),  50; 
7(  in   Or., 

5,  187--'; 


iif  education,  Imt  had  spent  many  yi^ars  in  the  mountains  with  the  fur  com- 
{■anies.  He  settlcMl  in  Oregon,  and  took  active  part  in  atl'airs  until  the  Amer- 
ican element  acquired  ascendency.  He  farmed,  M-ent  to  California  iis  miister 
of  the  first  vessel  Ituilt  in  Oregon  hy  American  settlers,  mined  in  California, 
returned  to  Oreg  m,  and  subsequently  settled  c;uit  of  the  Cascade  Mountains, 
first  in  the  Walla  Walla  Valley,  and  afterward  i  i  Eagle  Creek  Valley,  on  the 
eastern  confines  of  the  state  of  Oregon,  where  he  died  December  '2.3,  1881, 
aged  !l'2  years.  Fond  of  exploring,  he  joined  several  expeditions  in  searcli  of 
new  mines  during  the  excitement  of  18{'>'2-7,  hut  finally  engaged  in  fanning. 
.•\  few  months  before  his  death  he  sold  .**2,0()0  worth  of  produce  raised  on  six- 
teen acres  of  ground  on  Kagle  Creek.  Through  all  his  life  in  Oregon  he 
enjoyed  the  respect  of  his  neighbors. 

Hauxhurst,  a  native  of  Long  Island,  also  stood  well  in  the  territory, 
especially  with  the  missionaries,  by  whom  he  was  converted  in  18.17.  He 
bnilt  the  first  grist-mill  in  the  Willamette  Valley.  McCarty  and  Carmichacl 
were  stroiiglj'  opposed  to  the  Hu<lson"s  Bay  Company.  None  of  the  others 
appear  to  have  been  conspicuous  in  any  direction,  except  <  teorge  Winslow,  the 
negro,  who  took  iin  Indian  wife  and  settled  with  'ler  in  a  c.d)in  on  Clackamas 
I'rairic,  six  miles  below  Oregon  City,  and  raised  a  family  of  bl.:ck  red-skins. 
<  icorge  assumed  to  be  a  doctor,  and  complained  to  subsecjuent  emigrants  to 
Oregon  that  the  advent  of  Doctor  Barclay  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  had 
•bust  out'  his  business.  He  also  sometimes  rtpudiated  his  antecedents,  and 
related  how  he  came  to  Oregon  in  1811  as  cook  to  .lohn  .Tacob  Astii"  Modx 
/'io)wer  Tirih^'ii,  MS.,  13-16.  Truth  was  never  a  con.spieuous  ingredient  of 
liis  character,  and  in  his  large  stories  he  sometimes  seemed  almost  to  forget 
liis  name;  as  ten  years  after  his  arrival  in  Oregon  I  find  a  negro  calling  himself 
Wiiislow  Anderson  liviiig  near  Oregon  City,  and  having  some  trouble  with  the 
Indians,  .lean  Bfiptiste  Deportes  McKay  came  with  Astor's  company,  and 
settled  at  Cliampoeg  in  1831. 


Columbia 

ley    Jt)hn 

ntiywiiie, 

number 

|to  names, 

name  of 

l)oi\,  Sd 

mission, 

Kzekiel 

tUamette 

Ls  a  man 


CHAPTER   IV. 


METHODIST    OCCUPATION 

18:M-18S8. 

Kkmovai,  ok  EvKErrs — FKNciNd,  Biilding,  and  Plantino — The  Sorrow- 
kit,  Work  ok  Co.nvkrsion  —  Missionahv  Failtrks  -  -  Danikl  I<ek 
Visits  thk   Islands — Arrival  ok   Kkllev   am)   Young — Fkiueroa's 

LeITKR-     KsTRANOEMENT    OK    EwiN(i    YoiMl       Al'lAlK    O^        '■    InC'OMINi; 

Party  «v  thk  Natives  ok  Ko(!i  e  River    The  Aki  \ik  ok  the  Dis- 
tillery— AkKIVAI.   OV    a   (JOVEliNMENT   AliENT. 

Wk  left  the  missionaries  with  their  ett'eets  upon  the 
landing  at  Freneli  Prairie.  The  labor  of  removal  tt> 
the  spot  selected  had  given  the  well-trained  muscles  of 
Daniel  Lee  and  Edwarils  an)})le  exercise.  Lee  relates 
how  thev  missed  the  trail  in  i>oing  to  the  farm  of 
Thomas  McKay  for  horses,  soon  after  landing,  ami 
floundered  through  quagmires  and  wet  tide-land  grass, 
and  how  tliey  were  welcomed,  <  ii  finally  reaching 
their  destinati«)n,  by  Monsieur  La  l^onte,  whose  son 
Louis  assisted  in  drivinu  the  animals.  Takini>'  the 
fur-traders'  path  over  the  mountains  that  border  the 
Coknnbia  and  lower  Willamette,  tlu'ough  the  Tuala- 
tin' plains,  and  the  valley  of  the  Chehalem,  they  met 
at  Campement  du  Sable  the  canoe  party  with  the  goods, 
and  together  thev  soon  concluded  their  iournev. 

The  little  company  who  here  [)itched  their  tent, 
during  these  last  davs  of  the  ()rej>"on  sununer,  found 
before  them  much  to  be  done.  All  around  prairie, 
river,  and  sky;  mountain,  beast,  and  man  stood  inno- 
cent of  contact  with  human  intelligence.  Their  busi- 
ness now  was  to  apply  this  mind-culture  of  theirs  to 

'  That  is  to  sav,  'lazy  man,'  from  its  sluggish  iiKivt'iiicnts.  Afoni  Piomvr 
Timi:s  MS,,  22. 

(78) 


SHKLTEK   AND  FOUD. 


79 


Sorrow- 

<IK1,  l-KK 
KiCEROA's 
I N  COM  IN  O 
THK    UlS- 


wn  tlie 
oval  to 
sc'k'«  of 
1  relates 
mil  of 
and 
j>'rass, 


8' 


aeliin*>' 
)se  son 
lo-  the 
[er  tlie 
riAiala- 
■y  met 
Li'oods, 

tent, 

Ifoiiiul 

raii'ie, 

inno- 

busi- 

lirs  to 

I  Piomrr 


reelainiiiig  for  eivilized  man  tliis  wilderness,  and  to 
wage  war  ui)on  primeval  nature.  And  ))y  so-called 
]nnnl)le  ways  this  mighty  achievement  nmst  be  begun. 
There  was  the  grindstone  to  be  hung,  and  tools  had  to 
be  sharpened  ;  before  proceeding  to  build  for  themselves 
a  habitation,  rails  nmst  be  split  to  make  an  enclosure 
for  the  half-wild  oxen,  and  yokes  and  ox-bows  must 
be  made.  The  task  of  vokinjif  and  drivin"-  the  re- 
fract(jry  brutes  was  one  to  try  the  patience,  courage, 
and  ingenuity  of  the  missionaries,  whose  united  efforts 
could  scarcely  reduce  them  to  submission.  The  cows, 
too,  lately  driven  off  the  pastures,  were  intractable, 
and  had  to  be  tied  by  the  head,  and  liobbled,  before 
they  could  be  milked.  "Men  never  worked  harder 
and  performed  less,"  says  Daniel  Lee.  The  trees 
being  felled,  cut  into  the  })roper  lengths,  and  squared,' 
a  buildinii'  twenty  feet  by  thirty  was  in  the  course  of 
erection  when  the  first  autumn  storm  of  rain  and  wind 
came  on,  drenching  some  of  the  goods,  to  which  a 
tent  proved  only  a  partial  protection.  By  the  1st  of 
Xovember  they  had  a  roof  over  their  heads,  and  a 
puncheon  floor  beneath  their  feet,  while  a  bright  fire 
blazed  under  a  chimney  constructed  of  sticks  and  clay. 
The  doors  of  this  primitive  mansion  were  hewn  out 
of  til'  logs,  and  hung  on  wooden  hinges;  a  })artition 
(Hvided  the  house  int(j  two  apartments,  and  four 
small  windows,  whose  sashes  were  whittled  out  with 
a  pocket-knife  by  Jason  Lee,  admitted  the  dull  light 
of  a  cloudy  winter.  Little  by  little  tables,  stools, 
and  chairs  were  in  like  manner  added.  Of  bedsteads 
there  is  no  mention  in  the  writings  of  the  only  one 
of  their  number  who  has  left  any  record.  A  blanket 
and  a  plank  served  for  a  coucli.  As  to  the  food  of 
tlie  family,  it  was  as  simple  as  their  lodgings.  They 
had  shi])[)ed  nothing  from  Boston  excej)t  some  salt 
pork,  which  was  boiled  with  l)arley  or  pease  j)urcliased 

^The  ln'oadaxe  whicli  lieweil  thoso  log.s  in  ikiw  kept  as  carefully  as   was 


the  liow  of  Ulysses.     It  came 


(1  ( 'ape   Horn   in  Wyetii's  .ship,  ami  was 


xhihited  at  the  meeting  of  the  Pioneer  Association  near  Salem  in  1878.   P<ir- 
r.^h'nOr.  Amctlotc'*,  MS.,  1». 


80 


M KTHODIST  OCCUPATION. 


ot'tlie  Frencli  settlers.  Unleavened  lu'ead  made  fr(»ni 
Hour  broiiji^lit  from  Fort  Vancouviir,  and  a  little  milk, 
to  which  was  sometimes  added  a  haunch  of  venison 
obtained  from  the  natives,  comi»leted  their  list  of  eat- 
ables. 

To  Cyrus  Shepard,  unable  to  endure  the  hardships, 
McLoUi^hlin  oave  charofe  of  the  school  at  Fort  Van- 
couver,  previously  taught  by  Solomon  H.  Smith,  wh(» 
had  taken  up  his  residence  with  Joseph  Gervais,  and 
whose  children,  among  others,  he  instructed.^  Shepard 
rejoined  the  mission  probably  soon  after  tlie  house  w^as 
made  comfortable,  about  which  time  C.  M.  Walker, 
having  fulfilled  his  engagement  with  the  Lees,  entered 
the  service  of  Wyeth  as  clerk. 

Then  came  tlu^  labor  of  beginning  a  farm ;  and  the 
winter  being  mild,  a  field  of  thirt}^  acres  was  })loughed 
and  enclosed  by  a  rail-fence,  and  in  the  spring  wjis 
{)lanted  and  sown  in  wheat,  corn,  oats,  and  garden 
vegetables.  For  the  security  of  the  prospective  cro})s 
a  barn  was  erected  thirty  by  forty  feet,  of  logs  cut  by 
the  Lees  and  Edwards,  assisted  by  Rora,  a  Hawaiian, 
and  a  Calapooya  l)oy  called  John,  the  Canadians 
of  the  vicinity  helping  to  lay  up  the  logs.  Later, 
two  of  the  men  who  came  with  Kellev  and  Youny: 
were  hired  to  saw  logs  into  planks  and  boards  for 
flooring  and  doors,  the  barn  being  in  some  respects 
an  improvement  on  the  house.  Shingles  were  sjilit 
from  four-foot  sections  of  fir  logs,  and  were  kept  in 
place  by  heavy  poles,  the  buts  of  the  second  course 
resting  against  the  pole  on  the  first,  and  so  forth.  In 
this  manner  a  o-ood  roof  was  obtained  without  nails.^ 


M. 


Such  were  tlieir  secular  pursuits.  But  it  must  not 
be  forgotten  that  missionaries  had  other  labors  to  per- 

'  Smith  Wfi8  from  X.  H.,  and  fairly  educated.  He  was  a  large,  well-formed 
man,  with  a  nuMy  comploxioii  and  clear  gray  eye,  intelligent  and  pleasing 
in  conversation.  See  aiiiJendix,  eliaji.  iii.,  tliis  volun>e. 

*  Tliis  method  of  making  a  roof  was  not  original  with  tlu^  missionaries,  but 
eoniniou  to  the  frontier  of  Missouri  and  the  settlements  of  Oregon.  Tlie 
sliingles  were  called  '  elaiihoards,' and  were  often  used  for  siding  a  cahin, 
heiiig  put  on  iierpcndicnlarly. 


FUTILE  ATTEMPTS  AT  (ON VERSION 


81 


\  oung 

* 

(Is   for 

ii 

ispects 
^   split 
ept  in 

iff 

■i 

'ourse 
1.      In 

ails.^ 

■:-P. 

4 

st  not 

)  \}VV- 

■formt'il 

)lea8iiig 

ic8,  but 

I.     The 

cfibiii, 

form.  The  first  sonuoii  in  tliis  (juarter  was  delivered 
])y  Jasoii  Lee  on  Sunday,  the  28tli  of  September, 
before  a  mixed  congregation  of  officers  an<l  servants 
of  the  fur  company  at  Fort  Vancouver.  On  the  l4tli 
of  ])ocember  religious  services  were  again  held  at  tlie 
same  ])lace,  when  Lee  baptized  four-  adults  and  seven- 
teen children,  and  received  from  the  gentlemen  of  the 
fort  a  contribution  to  the  Mission  of  twenty  dollars."* 
And  now  on  every  Sunday  since  their  arrival  at  the 
station,  a  meeting  of  the  settlers  was  held  at  (xer- 
vais'  house,  and  a  sermon  preached  on  the  duties  of 
godliness  and  sobriety,  an  occasional  meeting  being 
a])pointed  for  the  Champoeg  settlement.  A  sabbath- 
school  also  was  soon  begun  at  Gervais  for  the  benefit 
of  tlie  children  in  that  neighborhood.  But  these 
hebdomadal  eft'orts  could  hardly  be  regarded  as  reg- 
ular missionarv  work.  Three  native  children  onlv 
were  received  at  the  Mission  house  the  first  winter, 
namely,  two  or})hans,  John,  already  mentioned,  his 
sister  Jjucy,  who  was  called  Hedding  after  the  Metlio 
dist  bishoj)  of  that  name,  and  another  lad,  all  Cala- 
pooyas.  John,  being  a  healthy  boy,  was  required  to 
fell  trees  and  perform  other  outdoor*  labt)r-.  This  was 
directly  o[)posetl  to  the  aboriginal  idea  of  dignity,  and 
contrary  to  taste  and  habit;  so  Jolm  soon  returned  to 
his  former"  ways,  leaving  sick  and  scrofulous  Lucy  to 
be  cared  for  and  converted  by  the  men-missionaries, 

Alas  for  the  wily  wickedness  of  the  savage  heart ! 
Xo  sooner  did  genial  s})ring  i)egin  to  warm  his  blood 
than  the  other  lordly  young  aboriginal,  who  had  come 
hither  naked  and  star'ving  in  the  cold  wet  winter 
for  comfoi"!:  and  consolation,  jx-r^emptorily  declined  all 
labor,  whether  of  the  hand  or  mind,  and  marched 
away  to  his  ])urple-glowing  mountains, 

Certain  Umjxpias  in  j)lanting-time  left  a  boy  with 
the  missionaries,  to  be  taught  far'ming  and  religion; 
but  in  the  midsummer  the  latl  died  of  consumption. 


which 


1  circumstance  Mines  says  came   near  bringmg 

'  HineK'  (h-i'ijon  Hist.,  \'^. 

lUst.   OH.,    Vol..    I.     Ci 


Uill 


i 


' 


i,'h 


>  'H 

I 

1 

1 

.1 

■  i 

1 

Li 

8'i  METHODIST  OCCUPATION. 

destruction  on  Daniel  Lee  and  Cyrus  Sliepard;"  but 
this  Lee  denies.  The  Kilkiniooks  hrouulit  a  lad  of 
their  tribe  to  the  .^fission  for  instruction,  who  would 
neither  work  nor  learn  to  read  ;  all  day  long  he  would 
sit  on  the  bank  of  the  Willamette  ijazinj;  tearfully 
toward  the  coast,  where  he  was  born,  exhibiting  all 
the  anguish  of  an  exile;  hence  on  the  first  visit  of  his 
people  he  was  permitted  to  depart.  In  the  midst  of 
tlie  harvest  the  effect  of  noxious  exhalations  from  the 
freshly  ploughed  earth,  which  had  for  a  long  time  been 
poisoning  their  blood  while  unsubstantial  diet  thinned 
it,  became  distressingly  manifest  in  fierce  attacks  of 
intermittent  fever,  each  member  of  the  Mission  family 
l)eing  in  turn  i)rostrated.  Fortunately  the  disease 
yielded  to  medicine  and  all  recovered. 

About  the  begimiing  of  Sej^tember  Louis  Shanga- 
ratte,  of  the  French  settlement,  sud'lenly  died  from 
the  bursting  of  a  blood-vessel,  leavmg  three  half- 
breed  orphans  and  five  Indian  slaves  without  a  home. 
McLoughlin,  zealous  for  the  Mission  and  the  children, 
desired  Jason  Lee  to  take  charge  of  this  family,  and  of 
whatever  property  Shangaratte  might  have  left  them. 
The  })roi)osition  was  accepted  on  condition  that  the 
slaves  be  emancipated.  These  eight  persons  proved 
a  burden  on  tlie  establishment,  which  was  partially 
relieved  by  the  elopement  of  two  of  the  natives.' 
Soon  three  of  the  others,  including  one  of  Shanga- 
ratte's  children,  died  of  syphilis,  a  disease  by  which 

^ Hincfi'  On'ijon  J/iMori/,  14.  Soon  'after  his  death  his  brother  came  to 
tlie  Mission,  ilcteriniiied  to  seek  revenge  for  the  death  of  Kenoteesh,  by  taking 
the  life  of  Daniel  Lee  and  Cyrus  Sliepard.  He  remained  overniglit,  and  was 
prevented  from  aeeomplishing  his  design  only  by  the  interi)osition  of  an  Indian 
who  accompanied  him.  Bent  npon  glutting  hia  vengeance  on  somebody, 
lie  crossed  tlus  rivei',  and  fell  upon  a  band  of  unarmed  Indians,  and  savagely 
nnirdered  several  of  tliem.'  Leo  affirms  ot  the  lad's  deatli  tliat  '  a  messenger 
had  been  sent  to  notify  his  relations  of  his  danger,  that  they  might  come  and 
•see  him  before  his  death,  and  that  they  might  have  no  occa«i(m  for  jealousy 
in  ease  of  liis  decease.  However,  some  days  Ijeforc  they  came  he  was  deacl. 
They  gathered  around  his  grave,  and  remained  some  time  wailing  aloud;  but 
tliey  appeared  to  be  satisfied  tliat  everytliing  ha<l  Ijuen  done  well  on  our  part 
on  Ills  behalf;  and  after  a  friendly  parting,  tliey  retui-ned  again  to  their  own 
country.'  Lee  ciiil  Front's  Or.,  I'M. 

'  Daniel  Lee  liimself  says  it  was  a  relief  '  in  a  case  where  there  was  no  little 
to  Iiope.'  La'  II  11(1  Frost's  Or.,  1311. 


DIS(.!OUUA(  J  KM  KN  1 S. 


83 


more  than  luilt'  the  native  chilthvn  in  the  Wihanictte 
and  ( 'olunihia  valleys  were  infeetetl.  A  fourth  lingered 
in  a  serofiilous  condition  for  two  years,  anil  then  died, 
leaving  hut  two  of  these  Mission  wards  remaining. 
Durino-  the  autumn  the  Calapooyas  hrou<(ht  a  y<)uni>- 
child,  the  daUL,diter  of  a  chief  who  was  dying  of  con- 
sunij)tion,  to  he  cared  for  by  the  missionaries,  hut  she 
soon  followed  her  father  to  the  grave.  Of  the  four- 
teen children  received  the  first  year,  five  died  heforr 
winter  and  five  i-an  away;  of  the  remaining  four  two 
dit'd  during  the  next  two  years,  leaving  two  for  secular 
and  sacred  ministrations.^  This  was  hrave  work  in- 
deed for  champions  of  the  cross.  To  the  poor  mission- 
aries, about  this  time,  the  place  seemed  as  profitless 
as  that  of  dentist  to  King  Stanislaus,  obtained  by 
L'Eclure  the  day  U})on  which  the  king  lost  his  last 
tooth ;  and  Jason  anil  Daniel  talked  about  it,  and  won- 
dered if  hitherto  heaven's  light  had  come  to  them 
I'olored  as  through  a  painted  window,  for  it  was  as 
clearly  apparent  to  them  now,  as  the  mark  of  the 
avalanche  on  the  mountain  side,  that  their  efibrts 
were  a  failure.  And  later  Daniel  Lee  was  called  U])on 
to  satisfy  pul)lic  iniiuiry  by  giving  the  reasons  which 
caused  his  uncle  to  abandon  the  Flatheads  and  settle 
among  Canadians  and  half-breeds." 

*  During  tin;  wiutor  of  ISIJ't  a  singular  complaint  attackc<l  the  Indian 
cliililren.  The  tirst  symptom  was  a  violent  pain  in  the  ear,  which  rapidly 
spread  through  the  head,  the  pulse  heing  feeble  and  not  vjry  frecjuent. 
The  extremities  soon  became  cold,  and  a  general  torpor  spread  over  the  system. 
Unconsciousness  and  death  shortly  followed.   Piirkrr's  Jour.,  1G5. 

*  Sec  chap,  iii.,  this  volume.  In  the  Or.  Pioneer  Amoc.  Tnitin.,  1880,  is  given 
:i  paper  under  title  of  '  Copy  of  a  document, '  wherein  McLoughlin  speaks  plainly 
upon  this  subject.  He  admits  that  he  used  all  his  inHuence  to  induce  the  mis- 
sionaries to  settle  where  they  did,  giving  among  others  the  reasons  afterward 
furnished  by  Lee.  He  told  them  that  to  do  good  to  the  Indians  they  nmst 
station  themselves  where  the  Indians  could  be  colh^ctcd  about  an  agricidtural 
establishment,  taught  to  cultivate  the  ground  and  live  without  hunting,  v/hile 
receiving  religious  instruction.  He  assured  them  that  the  Willamette  afforded 
a  suitable  situation  for  this  purpose,  and  promised  thi'  same  aid  in  begin- 
ning farming  which  tho  Canadian  settlers  received,  all  of  wiiich  engage- 
•nents  were  generously  kejit.  In  giving  advice,  however  kindly  inten(h!d, 
the  great  fur  magnate  did  not  lose  sight  of  what  he  deemed  to  be  the  best 
interests  of  his  company.  He  could  not  know  how  missionaries  would  be 
received  among  the  warlike  tribes  of  eastern  Oregon.  ShoubV  there  be  hos- 
tility, war  would  follow;  the  company  must  punish  any  shedding  of  white 
man's  blood.     War  tended  to  diminution  of  profits.     By  i!ulucing  the  mis- 


84 


METHODIST  OCCUPATION. 


!  ■■ 


Besides  harvesting  a  plentiful  croj),'"  an  addition 
was  made  to  the  house  more  than  ecjual  in  size;  to 
the  oi'iginal  strueture,  and  fifteen  acres  of  land  ad- 
ditional were  ploughed  for  sowing,  the  labor  being 
[)erformed  by  the  Lees  and  Edwards,  She})ard  acting 
as  housekeeper  and  luirse.  With  his  own  liands  Jason 
Lee  salted  six  barrels  of  salmon,  then  the  chief  food 
of  the  country. 

By  the  time  this  was  accompli. Jied  tlie  Mission 
was  approaching  a  state  of  dissolution.  E(lw;»rus  had 
joined  the  Lees  in  the  first  instance  from  love  of  ad- 
venture, and  to  benefit  his  health,  which  being  accom- 
lished,  he  was  desirous  of  returning  home.  The  fur 
company's  vessel,  the  (lanymede,  Eales  connnander, 
was  about  to  sail  for  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  and 
Edwards  bade  ftirewell  to  the  Mission  su})erintendent. 
He  was  accompanied  to  Fort  Vancouxcr  by  the 
younger  Lee,  who  was  in  need  of  medical  advice  for 
a  disease  of  the  throat  which  threatened  consumption. 

But  on  arriving  at  Fort  VancouA(>r  Edwards'  plan 
of  returning  to  Missouri  was  changed  by  the  verdict 
of  McLoughlin  upon  the  case  of  Daniel  Lee,  who  he 

sionaries  to  establish  themselves  on  the  Willamette,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  for- 
mer servants  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  this  danger  would  he  avoidiMl, 
the  lives  of  the  missioi'aries  would  be  rendered  secure,  and  at  the  same  time 
those  tribes  most  fretjuently  brought  in  contiict  with  white  men,  and  least 
liable  to  resent  innovations  upon  their  customs,  or  t<i  yield  to  the  temp- 
tiitif)nH  of  their  savage  natures,  might  grailually  be  taught  foreign  arts 
and  a  foreign  religion.  It  could  not  be  expected  that  wnen  the  rules  of 
the  corporation  imposed  upon  the  manager  the  duty  of  sending  the  company's 
own  servants,  of  whatever  class,  out  of  the  country  as  soon  as  their  terms  of 
service  had  expired,  lest  peaceful  relations  with  the  natives  should  be  dis- 
turbed, the  head  of  the  company  should  encourage  wide-spread  settlement  by 
other  nationalities.  But  by  placing  the  missionaries  beside  the  Canadians, 
whose  names  on  the  company  s  books  gave  them  a  right  to  be  there,  the  un- 
pleasant necessity  vraa  avoided  of  objecting  to  any  choice  they  might  other- 
wise make,  and  the  ends  of  fiir- trading  and  niiooion  work  thus  became  happily 
adjusted.  But  Jason  Lee,  with  a  few  months'  experience,  such  as  has  been 
described,  began  to  entertain  serious  doubts  of  the  rapid  evangelization  of  tlie 
natives  of  western  Oregon.  This  I  gather  from  his  nephew  s  account;  but 
that  he  did  not  so  inform  the  board  of  the  missionary  society  in  New  York  is 
evident  from  succeeding  events. 

'*It  consisted  of  irio  bushels  of  wheat,  35  bushels  of  oats,  5G  bushels  of 
barley,  and  87  bushels  of  pease,  not  to  mention  potatoes  and  other  v  egetables. 
In  183(5,  5()0  bushels  of  wheat  were  raised  from  27  on  the  mission  farm,  200 
bushels  of  pease,  40  bushels  of  oats,  4A  bushels  of  corn,  3i  bushels  of  beans,  319 
bushels  of  potatoes,  and  plenty  of  other  vegetables. 


DANIEL  LKH    VISITS  THE  ISLANDS. 


,s.» 


said  should  ^o  inniicdiatcly  to  tlu'  Islands  for  his 
hoaltJi,  aiitl  to  whom  he  offered  free  ])assage  by  the 
(hniynii'dr.  To  leave  the  elder  Lee  with  only  the 
half-invalid  Shepard  was  to  leave  him  virtually  alone, 
which  Edwards  was  too  generous  to  do.  Overeome 
by  Lee's  persuasions,  he  went  back  to  the  Mission  dis- 
ajipointed,  and  Daniel  Lee  j)roceeded  to  the  Islands, 
(in  this  ship  was  Nuttall,  the  botanist,  who  had  spent 
a  year  in  studying  the  flora  of  the  Pacific  coast.  The 
previous  winter  both  Xuttall  and  Townsend  had 
visited  the  Hawaiian  grouj)  in  Wyetli's  ship,  the  May 
Darn'.  The  naturalists  were  now  sej)arating,  Towns- 
end  to  remain  another  year  in  Oregon,  and  his  friend 
to  go  to  California  by  way  of  the  Islands.  All  these 
people  travelled  freely  on  the  fur  company's  vessels 
without  charge." 

"Townsend  loft  Orogon  in  Novenibur  1831)  in  the  company's  bark  Coliiin- 
hilt.  Captain  Royal,  l\oun(l  to  England  liy  way  of  the  Islandt.  He  expresses 
regret  at  leaving  Vancouver.  'I  took  leave,' he  says,  'of  Dr  McLoughliu 
witli  feelings  akin  to  those  with  which  I  sliould  bid  adieu  to  an  affeutionatu 
parent;  anil  to  his  fervent  "(Jod  bless  you,  sir,  and  may  you  liavo  a  happy 
meeting  with  your  friends,"  I  could  only  reply  by  a  look  of  the  sincerest  grati- 
tude. Words  are  inadefjuate  to  express  my  deep  sense  of  the  obligations  I 
feel  under  to  this  truly  generous  and  excellent  man.'  X<ir.,  'iO.'l.  Townsend 
was  a  member  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelijhia.  The  idea 
of  joining  \Vyi'tl\'s  expedition  across  the  continent  being  suggested  to  him  by 
Nuttall,  who  Iwni  determined  to  do  so,  was  eagerly  seized  upon,  the  thouglit 
of  visiting  unexplored  regions  being  irresistible.  Townsend  seems  to  have 
been  very  industrious,  and  was  iiasisted  frefpiently  by  the  scholarly  gentle- 
men of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  He  gives  a  list  of  the  quadrupeds  and 
i)irds  of  the  Oregon  territory,  many  of  which  were  new  to  science.  Among 
the  former  are  the  dusky  wolf,  Vdiiii.^  iniliiliin:  two  species  of  hare,  Lcjiiis, 
'J'owii.^i'ikIH  and  Lrpun  aHem<:itn;  a  third  new  species  is  called  Nuttall's  little 
hare,  Lcjnin  Niiltollii.  Two  new  species  of  marmot,  SiH'rmap/iilita  Town- 
sfiidii,  and  a  small  pouched  marmot  not  named;  also  two  f>f  the  meadow- 
mouse  species,  A  n''rol(i  Totrnxcndii  and  A  rricold  Omjonii.  Several  new  species 
of  scjuirr"!  are  named;  downy  squirrel,  Sciiinin  Idnwjiiwuiin  and  Sriiiriix  Rich- 
(trdMuii;  little  ground-scjuirrel,  Tamins  mhinms  and  Taminn  TowtiKcmlii : 
and  Oregon  tiying-squirrel,  Pferonn/s  OrcijoiK'nxU.  Of  moles  there  is  iS'fdijjw 
Towiisemia,  given  as  new;  and  a  new  shrew-mouse  uudescribed;  besides  two 
species  of  bats,  Plerotiw  Towiiwiidii,  or  great-eared  bat,  and  a  small  bat  uu- 
described. Townsend's  list  of  birds  found  in  Oregon  is  long,  and  many  of  tiie 
species  were  new  to  naturalists.  Th::y  were  the  chestnut-l)acked  titnuiuse, 
/'(f/vw  rit/citcen-t;  brown-headed  titmouse,  Piirim  Minimus;  mountain  mock- 
ing-bird, Oiy/ieim  moiitiinux:  white-tailed  thrush,  not  deseribetl;  Townsend's 
thrush,  Ptilio()oni/s  Tou-iinetidii:  Morton's  water-ouzel,  Ciii<iux  Morlonii;  Co- 
lumbian water-ouzel,  Ciiidii/t  Toiriiseiidii:  Tolmie's  warbler,  Si/lria  Tolmei, 
named  in  compliment  to  Dr  Tolmie  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company;  hermit 
warbler,  Siflvia  oceidentnliH:  black-throated  gray  warbler,  Si/lma  niyreacenn; 
Audubon's  warbler,  SyMa  Amhdioiii;  Townsend's  warbler,  Sylvia  Townxendii; 
ash-headod    warbler,    not   described;    western   bluebird,    Sinlia  occidentntis; 


II 
II 


I 


!i   /■ 


86 


MKTHOI »1ST  (X  I'LTATIOX. 


J)aiU(!l  Leu  remained  iiwtxy  iieaily  a  year,  that  is 
to  say,  till  Au<^ust  1830,  when  he  returned  in  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company's  hark  Nfreid,  Captain  Royal, 
with  renewed  health,  and  contrihutions  to  the  (Oregon 
Mission  from  christianized  Hawaiians.  Among  his 
Aillow-passengers  were  tlu;  Reverend  Herhert  Beaver, 
newly  appointed  chaplain  of  the  fur  eomjjany,  and  his 
wife,  who  took  u})  their  residence  at  Fort  Vancouver, 
and  of  whom  mention  has  already  heeii  made. 

Meanwhile  the  winter  of  1835-0  had  passed  quietly 
at  the  Mission.  Edwards  liad  taught  a  small  school 
near  Champoeg.  The  following  sunnner  some  twenty- 
five  children  were  hrought  in  fi-om  the  settlers  of 
French  Prairie,  and  from  tlie  natives  on  either  side 
of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  increasing  tlui  mimber  of 
])ersons  at  the  Mission  to  thirty.  Though  in  a  lovely 
wilderness,  in  midsummer,  the  folly  of  breathing  foul  air 
was  permitted.  All  the  people  there  must  be  crowded 
into  one  small  house ;  all  of  them  were  unaccustomed  to 
such  confinement ;  many  of  them  were  diseased ;  many 
b(!came  ill  from  change  (^f  diet,  so  that  in  the  malarious 
atmosphere  there  came  an  epidemic  bearing  in  its  diag- 
nosis a  near  resemblance  to  diphtheria. ^^ 

browu  longspur,  Plectrcyphanes  TownsemW;  Oregon  snow-tinch,  Friiiffill" 
<>re.<jo)Uf;  green-tailed  lincli,  not  described;  black,  white-banded  woodpecker; 
and  black,  red-backed  woodpecker,  not  desiribed;  Harris'  woodpecker,  PicuK 
/farnsi;  Vaux's  chimney  swallow,  Cjiyifelux  Vanxi;  long-tailed  i)lack  pheas- 
ant, not  described.  Of  water-birds  there  were  added  to  the  catalogue  the 
white-legged  oyster-catcher,  Ild-.mntopiin  Jiachmani:  Rocky  Mountain  plover, 
Cluiradrius  nioiUanux;  Townsend's  sand-piper,  Friiica  Towruicndii:  violet- 
green  cormorant,  Phalneromrnx  ftiilciidi'u.i:  Townsend's  cormorant,  Phalncro- 
rorax  Townnemhi;  and  slender-billed  guillemot,  Uria  Towiimmlii.  Of  these 
birds  a  half-dozen  are  craditcd  to  AuiUibon,  who  WEis  exploring  in  the  region 
of  the  Kocky  Mountains;  and  one,  Townsend's  warbler,  to  Nuttall.  From 
Townsend  I  learn  all  that  I  have  to  tell  of  the  seientitic  lalwrs  of  Nuttiill. 
'  Throughout  the  whole  of  our  long  journey,'  he  says,  '  I  have  had  constantly 
to  admire  the  order  and  perfect  indefatigability  with  which  he  has  devoted 
himself  to  the  grand  object  of  his  tour.  No  difficulty,  no  danger,  no  fatigue 
lias  ever  daunted  him,  and  he  finds  his  rich  reward  in  the  addition  of  nearly 
a  thousand  new  species  of  American  plants.'  This  w;is  certainly  reward 
t^nough.  One  of  the  most  beautiful  trees  of  Oregon  bears  his  name,  Cornnn 
jVuttallii,  a  tall  ami  full  blossoming  dogwood,  equal  in  the  splendor  of  its  sil- 
very flowers  to  the  magnolia  of  the  gulf  states.  The  Oregon  alder,  A  Inmt 
Oregona,  a  handsome  tree,  and  Fmximua  Ore<jo)ia,  the  Oregon  ash,  were  first 
described  by  this  botanist. 

^''  Daniel  Lee  says  of  it:  '  Some  of  the  symptoms  were  alarming,  resembling 
the  croup  ' — membranous  croup  is  probably  meant,  us  in  both  diseases  a  mem- 


RESULTS. 


OT 


Besides  this,  there  were  frequent  eases  of  interinit- 
teiit  fever.  Soon  the  liouse  beeanie  a  li()s|)ital,  in 
wliicli  sixteen  children  were  lvin«f  ill  in  one  small  room. 
\()  })hysician  being  at  hand,  the  younger  J^ee  a})plied 
liis  i)oor  skill,  assisted  by  the  ever-patient  and  truly 
(luvoted  Shepard,  whose  i)art  in  the  Mission  labors  was 
most  trying.  Jason  Lee  himself  had  not  escaped  the 
})revailing  sickness.  It  is  not  always  the  virtuous 
that  the  oak  shrub  will  not  poison,  nor  the  fair  whom 
the  mosquitoes  refuse  to  bite.  He  was  at  Fort  Van- 
couver for  medical  aid  when  his  nephew  arrived. 
Lucy  Hedding,  the  Calapooya  girl,  was  also  there, 
though  past  relief,  for  she  died  on  the  5tli  of  October. 
Edwards  afterward  took  another  patient  to  Fort  Van- 
couver; and  in  November  Jason  Lee,  suffering  from 
his  third  attack,  o!ice  more  resorted  to  the  superior 
practice  of  Doctor  McLoughlin,  remaining  with  him 
five  weeks. 

The  fact  that  only  two  had  died  and  one  deserted 
greatly  encouraged  the  Mission  superintendent  this 
year.  The  sum  of  spiritual  benefits  received  as  an 
offset  to  the  physical  penalties  i)aid  for  religious  in- 
struction appears  to  have  been  this:  Joseph  P<>urnaffe, 
a  lialf-breed,  seventeen  vears  of  aije,  of  uentle  and 
obedient  temper,  gave  evidence  to  his  teachers  that 
tlieir  labors  were  not  lost,  by  dying  with  the  sanu; 
docility  that  he  had  shown  during  life.^'^  Probably 
tliere  never  was  formulated  a  creed  which  might  be 
adapted  to  the  purpose  with  less  friction  than  that  of 
the  Methodists.  Xo  expounding  of  dogmas  is  neces- 
.iiivy;  sufficient  is  the  simple  statement  that  sin  is 
present,  and  that  Christ's  blood  will  wash  it  away. 
To  the  Indian,  who  had  some  idea  of  atonement,  the 

brane  eitlier  forms  or  is  8loughe<l  oflF.  Ijce's  own  throat  was  affected  with  that 
sloughip^  off  wlieu  ho  went  to  tlie  Islands.  There  would  seem  to  l)e  evidence 
tl'!it  1.1U8  character  of  throat  disease  is  tlue  to  malaria,  or  miasmatic  condi- 
tions of  the  atmosphere;  and  it  is  a  fact  tliat  the  scourge  of  iliphtheria  ia 
even  now  more  dreaded,  because  more  fatal,  than  any  other  in  tlie  rich  valley 
lands  of  Oregon,  and  calso  that  it  breaks  out  in  newly  ploughed  districts  where 
it  was  never  known  before,  an,  for  example,  where  pasture-lands  are  turned 
into  grain-fields. 

"Zee  and  Fronts'  Or.,  142;  Jfim.i'  <h:  JIUt.,  IS. 


II 


il 


88  MKTIIODIST  OCCLTATKJX. 

♦  locti'iiii'  n'<iiiir('s  hut  little  iliuidatioii.  Happy  indi-tMl 
is  tlio  pool',  sirkly,  (Ic^^nidcd  licino-  hero,  who  can  he 
l>rou<;ht  to  look  torwanl  to  rielios,  lioalth,  i)leasuros, 
and  a  <^l(»rious  cxisb^Mco  htjroaf'ter.  It  is  the  ideality 
of  relijijion,  the  p(H'tfy  of  I'vei'lastin*;'  life. 

iJut  thouj^h  the  Mission  seemixl  for  a  shoi-t  time  to 
promise  some  fruit,  the  expectation  was  lessened  by  a 
return  in  the  first  niontlis  of  I8;{7  of  the  former  dis- 
orders in  a  more  threateninj^  and  fatal  foi-m.  A  chief 
of  the  Cayjiscs,  h.'ivinjj^  nnnoved  in  the  autumn  with 
his  family  to  the  Wilhiniete  Valley  in  order  that  liis 
<hildren  may  attend  the  Mission  school,  lost  two 
of  tliem  in  (juick  succession,  and  a  third  became  ex- 
tremely ill.  In  his  alar-m  he  fled  to  Fort  Vancouver 
with  his  family,  hut  at  tiie  momt^nt  the  canoe  touched 
the  lantlinin'  the  child  ex])ired.  An  incident  like  this, 
togetlu'r  with  the  continued  sickness  of  the  inmates 
of  the  Mission,  })roduced  a  dread  of  the  place  in  tne 
minds  of  the  Indians,  and  their  i)arents  refused  the 
risk  of  earthly  loss  even  for  heavcudy  gain.  At  no 
time  were  there  more  than  thirty-five  or  forty  pupils 
in  attendance,  and  of  all  that  were  received  to  the 
close  of  IH.'iS,  one  third  died,  and  the  remainder  were 
sickly."  When  will  men  learn  that  in  the  affairs  of 
the  savages  the  benevolence  of  civilization  curdles  into 

^*  Nines'  Or.  J I  int.,  35.  These  details  are  gathered  from  the  writings  of 
tlio  missionaries  themselves;  but  I  fiiul  in  a  report  made  to  the  United  States 
government  by  its  agent,  MrSlaeiim,  a  more  flattering  account.  According 
to  this  report,  ina<le  it  must  be  assumed  from  informatfou  furnished  by  the 
lices,  there  were  within  fence  l"-'*  -ores  o:  land  in  the  winter  of  183(5.  The 
Mission  family  consisted  of  Sai'itl'a  ■  nd  23  Indian  and  haif-brcod  children, 
ten  of  whom  were  orphans.  Th*M'!  v  >  re,  besides,  22  Indians  and  8  half-breeds 
wlio  attended  the  day-school.  All  vi-ere  taught  to  speak  English,  and  several 
could  read.  The  larger  boyp  '.i-.i I  ed  on  the  farm  in  fine  weather,  earning,  at 
Ihe  lowest  pay  of  the  Hudsiii/a  Bay  Company,  their  board,  clothing,  and 
tuition.  The  school  and  family,  it  was. said,  could  be  increased,  but  the  mis- 
sionaries did  not  wish  to  add  to  their  number  until  they  had  further  assistance; 
a ;id  nothing  whatever  was  stated  showing  any  of  the  discouragements  under 
V  hich  they  labored.  Mr  Slacum's  report  was  much  like  other  similar  docu- 
Ments  furnished  the  government,  that  is,  nuide  to  suit  the  occasion.  Of  the 
f.iitlifulne.ss  and  zeal  of  the  Lees  and  their  assistants  up  to  the  period  of 
Slacum's  visit,  no  doubt  could  be  entertained.  We  have  McLoughlin's  testi- 
mony that  no  men  'could  exert  themselves  Uiore  zealously.'  Vopn  of  a  Docu- 
iiu'iit,  in  Tnui-s.  (>r.  /'loiin'r,  !88(),  iiO.  For  Slacum's  account,  see  X'.J/A  Com/. 
M  AyM-v.,  //o».«'  Ifcp/.  101. 


KKI.I.KY    ANI>   Y()rN(.. 


89 


a  cursi^,  ami  missionary  i-tlorts  aif  lik*-  a  Imist  jK-at- 
l)(>«r  sowiiii'"  its  Mack  mud  over  the  land  I 


Wliili'  tlui  missionaries  were  lailldiiiiL,'.  plovin'hin^', 
and  liarvestino',  teach  in*;-,  |)reacliin«;',  and  en(hiriiii;', 
and  hciconiing  somewliat  incorporated  with  the  French 
settlers,  a  new  element,  and  one  in  some  respects  less 
tractable,  introduced  itself  in  an  unexpected  manner. 
It  was  the  party  of  Hall  J.  Kelley  and  Ewinj,^  Voun*;-, 
which  arrived  in  the  Willaniettt;  Valley  late  in  Octo- 
ber IH.'M.  Soniethinj:''  has  been  said  of  Kelley  in  tin; 
History  of  the  Nortliiirnt  Coast,  but  his  appearance  in 
Oreuon  at  this  time  was  a  feature  in  the  earlv  history 
of  the  country  demandm;;;'  more  than  a  }>assin<;"  notice 
here. 

Kciiey's  object  was  to  found  an  American  settle- 
ment, and  assert  the  rights  of  the  United  States 
government  to  the  sovereignty  of  the  country.  Dis- 
appointed in  Ins  scheme  of  colonization,  he  set  out 
Avitii  a  few  persons  in  18.'];{  to  visit  Oregon,  travelling 
by  a  circuitous  I'oute  through  Mexico.  At  New  Or- 
leans he  se})arated  from  or  was  desertod  by  Ids  l)arty, 
and  proceeded  alone  to  Vera  Cruz.  He  was  robbed, 
and  suffered  many  hardships,  but  was  not  deterred 
from  prosecuting  his  design. 

Reaching  California,  he  fell  in  with  a  mimber  of 
American  adventurers,  chief  amonjjf  whom  was  Ewino- 
Young,  a  native  of  Knox  County,  Tennessee,  a  cabinet- 
maker by  trade,  a  man  of  fine  intelligence  and  nerve 
united  to  a  grand  jjhysique,  and  too  restless  and  fond 
of  new  experiences  to  remain  beside  a  turning-lathe 
all  his  life.  As  early  as  1828-9,  Voung  had  visited 
California  with  a  trapping  party,  hunting  on  Tulare 
Lake  and  San  Joaquin  River.'''  Returning  to  New- 
Mexico,  he  married  a  Taos  woman,  and  was  soon  l)ack 
in  California  witli  another  ])arty  of  trapj)ers,  which  in 
1831  broke  up  at  Los  Angeles,  leavhig  Young  to  fol- 
io ,v  his  bent  among  the  friars  and  native  Caiiiornians, 

^"Lox  Aiitji'lfs  Hist.,  18-19. 


90 


METHODIST  OCCUPATION. 


He  and  Kelley  first  met  at  San  Diego;  subse- 
quently at  Monterey  the  acquaintance  ripened.  On 
one  side  were  the  thrilling  tales  of  wild  life  which 
Young  loved  to  tell ;  on  the  other,  the  romantic  scheme 
of  colonizing  Oregon.  These  were  always  themes  of 
mutual  interest.  Kelley  recognized  in  Young  the  bold 
and  enterprising  spirit  he  needed  to  accompany  him 
to  the  yet  far  away  Columbia,  and  being  possessed  of 
superior  attainments  as  well  as  extraordinary  enthu- 
siasm, he  was  able  to  gain  him  over  to  his  plan  of 
laying  the  foundations  of  American  empire  beside  the 
River  of  the  West. 

The  party  which  left  California  for  the  north  in  the 
summer  of  1834  consisted  of  sixteen  men,  picked  up 
at  Monterey  and  San  Jose,  some  with  a  character  not 
of  the  best.  They  had  among  them  nearly  a  hundred 
horses  and  mules  designed  for  use  and  sale.  Several 
parted  from  the  expedition  before  it  reached  the 
northern  limits  of  California,  but  they  had  remained 
long  enough  to  stamp  upon  the  company  their  own 
thieving  reputation,  as  we  shall  presently  see. 

While  toiling  among  the  mountains  of  southern 
Oregon,  Kelley  was  stricken  with  fever,  which  ren- 
dered him  helpless,  from  which  condition  he  was 
rescued  by  JV'Iichel  La  Framboise,  who  nursed  him 
back  to  life,  while  continuing  his  way  to  Fort  Van- 
couver with  the  season's  return  of  ifurs.  The  only 
other  incident  of  the  journey  worth  mentioning  was 
a  difficulty  with  the  Irulians  on  Rogue  River,  a  rapid 
and  beautiful  stream  wliich  derived  its  name  from 
the  rascally  character  of  the  natives  in  its  vicinity.'* 

'*  '  It  was  sniiietimea  called  Kiiscal  Jliver  by  early  explorers.'  Williams'  S. 
11  .  Or.,  MS.,  2.  '  Hence  the  name  Leu  Coiptim  (the  Kojjue.s)  and  La  Itivib-e 
iiuv  Vcxjiiiiin  (the  Rogue  River),  given  to  the  country  oy  tlie  men  of  the 
l)rigade.'  Blanchct's  Vnth.  C/i.  m  Or.,  04.  Townsend  calls  them  the  Potdiueos, 
liut  says  that  they  are  ''ulled  the  'ra.scally  Indiana,'  from  their  uniformly  evil 
disposition,  and  liostility  to  white  people.  Nar.,  '228.  Tliis  is  the  true  oi  igin  of 
the  name,  though  sev(;ral  otiicr  tiieories  have  been  advanced.  In  EUicott's  Pii- 
ijct  SoKinl,  MS.,  '20,  he  makes  tlie  mistiikc  of  confounding  it  witii  liio  Saii  Jfoi/iic 
or  the  Columbia.  (Jrover,  in  J'lih.  Life,  MS.,  13-1.5,  18-1!),  mentions  a  map 
(if  French  origin  and  8ome  anticjuity,  whereon  the  Klanuith  and  Rogue  riv(T« 
are  united  and  calle<l  'Rouge  Clamet,' or  Red  Klamatli.     The  author  of  the 


REWARD  OF  FAVORS  BESTOWED. 


91 


subse- 
i.     On 

which 
scheme 
jmes  of 
he  bold 
ny  him 
!ssed  of 

enthu- 
plan  of 
lide  the 

1  in  the 
jked  up 
iter  not 
lundred 
Several 
led  the 
miained 
ir  own 

)uthern 
3h  ren- 
was 
jd  him 
Van- 
le  only 
hg  was 
rapid 
fron» 
unity.'" 


In  passing  through  the  valley  of  the  Willamette, 
Young's  party  paused  at  the  Mission  station,  one  of 
his  men  remaining  to  assist  the  Lees  in  construct- 
ing a  cart.  Daniel  Lee  says  some  of  them  had  been 
sailors,  some  hunters  in  the  mountains  and  in  southern 
Oregon,  and  "  one  Mr  Kelley  was  a  traveller,  a  New 
Englp.nd  man,  who  entertained  some  very  extravagant 
notions  in  regard  to  Oregon,  which  he  published  on 
liis  return,"  and  with  this  notice  he  dismisses  the 
j)arty  of  "  about  a  dozen  persons,"  " 

Proceeding  to  Fort  Vancouver,  a  somewhat  peculiar 
reception  awaited  them.  The  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany's schooner  Cadboro,  which  arrived  there  before 
them  from  the  bay  of  Monterey,  had  brought  a  com- 
munication from  Figueroa,  governor  of  California,  to 
Chief  Factor  McLoughlin,  denouncing  Young  and 
Kelley  as  horse-thieves,  and  cautioning  the  fur  com- 
pany to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  party,  as  they 
were  banditti,  and  dangerous  persons — -an  accusation 
all  the  more  significant  because  Young  had  between 
seventy  and  eighty  horses  in  his  possession. 

This  letter  of  Figueroa's  closed  the  gates  of  Fort 
^/ancouver  against  both  Young  and  Kelley,  though 
1)11  account  of  Kelley's  health,  the  fever  having  re- 
turned, he  was  given  a  hut  such  as  was  occupied  by 
the  servants  of  the  company  outside  the  fort,  with 
iui  attendant,  medical  aid,  and  all  necessary  comforts 
for  the  winter/"^  Tu  return  he  viijorouslv  plied  his 
pen,  settiiig  forth  the  abuses  pra(;tised  on  American 
citizens  by  ilic  i^ritish  company  in  Oregon. 

Meanwhile  Yountr  returned   to  French  Prairie  to 


tlliama'  S. 

\a  liivitre 
of   the 

Intaiiicos, 

>)nly  evil 
I  origin  of 
itt's  Ph- 
l(/.'  Rwpu' 
lis  a  map 
In;  rivers 
V  of  the 


map  could  hardly  liave  called  the  Rogue  River  red  had  he  ever  seen  it,  as  it 
is  (if  a  beautiful  blue  color.     Sou  also  Crnrn'n  Top.  Mem.,  X\. 

''  Kelley  resents  this  ignoring  of  himself  an<l  his  cffort.s  to  ostabli-sh  niis- 
.sious  in  Oregon,  which  was  a  part  of  his  plan,  and  says  that  Daniel  Lee  in  his 
lidoli,  and  Jason  Lee  in  his  lectures  delivered  subsecjuontly  in  the  east,  assigned 
untrue  causes  for  the  Oregon  mission,  'insinuating  that  they  themselves  were 
its  originators.'  See  Ktllcys  SelUemfiit  o/Ori'i/cn,  (>2-.'{. 

'*'  \Vliile  Kelley  in  liis  numerous  pamphlets  •!  in  plains  bitterly  of  the  indig- 
nities put  upon  him  at  Fort  Vancouver  by  reason  of  Fiijx--  ■  .ia."s  letter,  he  admits 
the  charity  of  McLoughlin  in  providing  fi;r  his  Mrnts,  and  acknowledges  tliat 
lie  was  prcsent'.'d  with  a  small  sum  of  money  .>n  leaving  for  tlie  Islands. 


92 


METHODIST  OCCUPATION. 


''l\ 


I 


I 


.     . 


find  himself  posted  bandit  and  liorst'-tliicf'.  Strangers 
were  cauti(>ned  to  receive  none  of  tlie  vagabond  i)artv 
into  their  houses.  Young  an  as  furious.  He  tore  down 
the  notices,  builed  maledictions  on  the  California  gov- 
ernor, and  warned  the  Canadians  against  accepting 
such  lies.  Though  the  haughty  temper  and  indignant 
denial  of  Youni>'  were  not  without  etfect  on  McLouijh- 
lin,  yet  official  information  to  an  official  could  not  be 
<]isregarded. 

On  one  occasion,  being  in  need  of  clothing,  Young 
sent  some  beaver-skins  to  Fort  Vancouver  witli  which 
to  })urchase  the  desired  articles.  McLoughlin  refusetl 
the  skins,  but  sent  the  goods,  with  some  food,  as  a 
present.  Thereupon  Young's  rage  broke  out  afrcsl  , 
and  he  retui'iied  every  article.  Then  he  went  to  Foi  <: 
Vancouver  and  poured  forth  his  displeasure  in  person, 
the  interview  ending  in  rather  strong  words  between 
tlie  autocrat  of  Oregon  and  the  Tennessee  cabinet- 
maker.'" The  former  modified  his  opinion  somewhat; 
and  when  the  Cadboro  returned  to  Monten^y  in  the 
s[)ring  of  18:^5  McLoughlin  inquired  of  Figueroa  the 
foundation  of  his  charges  against  Young  and  })arty. 
A  letter  also  went  fiom  Young  demandinu"  why  he 
had  been  so  maliuned.  But  as  no  answer  could  be 
expected  to  these  inquires  for  several  months,  aiiairs 
remained  in  ."ttatit  quo,  Young  meanwhile  locating 
himself  hi  the  Chehalem  Valley,  opposite  Champoeg, 
where  he  tended  his  mustangs,  and  traded  when  he 
had  aught  to  sell.  He  hau  some  dealings  with  C. 
M.  Walker,  late  of  the  Mission,  but  now  at  Fort  Wil- 
liam, as  agent  of  \\'\eth,  who  had  returned  to  Fort 
Hall.'-" 

'"  At  the  same  time  Kelley  says  that  Young  caHoil  on  him,  ami  threatenefl 
liis  life  for  having  persuaded  him  to  undertake  tlie  settlement  of  Oregon. 
Kellei/'.i  Coloiiiziifioii  qf'  Orvijon,  5-r. 

'■"C.  M.  Walker,  who  knew  Young  well  in  the  times  referred  to,  in  .fanu- 
ary  1881,  at  his  home  in  Tillanu)ok,  furnished  a  Skrfc/i  qf'  Eirimj  Youmj, 
from  whieh  I  have  drawn  some  of  these  facts.  See  .>i.  I'ioiiiir  Ansoc.  'J'raii-i. 
for  1880,  THk  8.  Walker  states  that  Young  was  the  first  settle.-  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Willamette  River.  He  callc  him  industrious  and  enterprising,  and 
a  man  of  great  determination.  See  fUso  White  n  Emiiirnfioii  to  (h\,  MS.,  3; 
Emiin'  Hint.  Or.,  MS,,  '205;   Iam  Aw/i'les  Co.  Hint.,  M. 


KELLE Y  ".S  ( DM  V I , AI NTS. 


93 


»g 


oa  the 
)artv. 
IV  ho 
ik'i  bo 
jittairs 
catinn 
ipoeg", 

Ml    lit' 

th  C. 
Wil- 
Fort 


bi  Janu- 

1  Youmi, 

Trans. 

|>c  west 

g.  and 

IS..  3: 


m 


There  is  no  doubt  that  by  forbidiUiiu"  the  Canadian 
farmers  to  trade  with  Y(ning,  and  liiniselt"  n!fiisin<j^  to 
sell  to  him,  McL(mghlin  exjieeted  to  drive  from  thr 
country  what  he  had  been  assured  was  a  band  of 
thieves,  and  so  save  troul)le  with  the  natives  and 
injury  to  the  settlers.  But  Youn*;^  and  Kelly  i>fave 
to  McLoufTjldin's  conduct  a  dift'eront  interpretation. 
Kelley  said  to  Yount^,  and  all  others  who  visited  him 
outside  the  fort,"'  that  it  was  opposition  to  American 
settlement  upon  political  and  ])ecuniary  i^rounds.  He 
so  placed  the  matter  before  Jason  Lee,  who,  he  says, 
often  clandestinely  left  the  fort  that  he  might  converse 
freely  with  liim  on  liis  plans;  but  Lee  had  oblij^ated 
himself  to  retard  immijj^ration  to  the  country  by  accept- 
injj^a  loan  from  McLoujijhlin  for  the  purpose  of  o])ening 
a  farm  which  should  be  a  su})ply  establishment  for 
other  missionary  stations  yet  to  be  erected."" 

'^' These  were  not  many.  Kelley  dwells  with  proud  sensitivnness  upon  hu 
own  countrymen'^  neglect  of  him.  That  Wyi'tii,  whose  name  wa.s  on  the 
catalogue  of  the  'American  Society  for  Encouraging  the  Settlement  of  th(! 
Oregon  Territory, '  foundeil  by  Kelley,  should  not  have  bestowed  sonu;  atten- 
tion upon  a  man  of  his  antecedents,  even  at  the  risk  of  opposing  himself  to 
MeLoughlin,  is  signiticant.  Keiley  also  icviles  Townsend  and  Nuttall,  who, 
he  says,  were  tlie  recipients  of  tlie  company's  civilities  anil  lilieral  hospitality, 
and  were  receiving  their  '  good  things,  while  he  was  only  receiving  their  '  evil 
things.'  'One  of  tlusm,'  he  says,  'had  resided  in  ('and)ridge,  Massaclinsetts, 
for  many  years,  witliin  a  mile  of  my  place  of  abode,  and  had  reail  my  books, 
seen  my  works,  and  learnt  mort!  or  less  about  the  spirit  which  moved  me. 
He  was  not  ignorant  of  the  fact  tliat  the  only  path  leading  to  the  country  of 
pretty  (lowers  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  had  been  opened  wholly  at  my 
"xpeuse,  and  his  journey  tliitlier  liad  been  made  easy  ami  [ileaaurable  tlirough 
my  means."  Cyrus  Shi'pard  was  tlie  only  person  from  tlie  fort  in  the  habit 
of  visiting  Kelley.   KcUiifx  Colonlzntion  o/ Orn/nn,  .")(>,  58. 

-^  Kt'lUii'ti  Scttkitu'iit  nf  Ori'ijon,  Si).  Wliile  Kelley  exhibits  nnu'li  excite- 
n.ent  an  '  jealousy  in  his  renuirks  on  .lason  and  Daniel  Lee,  we  nmst  admit 
t'..at  there  was  some  foundation  for  the  assertion  that  tlie  Lees  were  'opposed 
II  persons  coining  to  settle  '  in  tlie  Oregon  territory,  except  such  as  should 
liecoino  memliers  of  tlie  Mission,  ami  aid  in  its  purposes;  and  that  his  views 
were  identical  witli  those  of  MeLoughlin,  tliougli  their  motives  may  have  been 
ilifi'erent.  KcUcy  blames  tlu;  Lees  for  claiming  to  liave  b(>i;uii  tlie  seltlemetit 
of  Oregon  witliout  rcs]iect  to  his  previous  ctl'orts,  and  liis  Himultaneous  appear- 
ance in  tlie  cmiutry  with  a  party  of  settlers;  for  their  avoiding  him  wliih; 
there;  for  disparaging  remarks  conecniiiig  him  made  in  the  east,  which  he 
construed  to  be  an  etlort  to  deprive  liim  of  any  credit  as  .i  pioneer  of  coloniza- 
tion; aiul  for  the  small  noticiMif  him  in  I>ani<l  Let's  book,  where  lie  is  di.s- 
missed  with  three  lines.  'J'liis  work,  to  which  I  must  often  refer  ius  the  earliest 
authority  on  tliis  period  of  the  history  of  Oregon,  if  tile  inanuscri])ts  of 
.Mcf.oughlin  are  excepted,  is  unfortunately  divided  in  the  authorsjiip  witli  a 
Mr  Frost,  who  came  to  the  country  some  y(^ars  \\\ivr  tlian  liCe,  and  is  so 
arraiigjtl  that  without  an  intimate  knowleilge  of  the  subject  the  reader  is  at  a 


i  Rl 


^ 


94 


METHODIST  OC(;UPATION. 


Witli  a  !^,chenie  of  an  exclusi  ^  ely  MetluwJist  colony, 
a  sort  of  r  jligious  republic  in  his  own  mind  Jus<^n  Ltn; 
was  not  likely  to  listen  with  favor  to  the  plans  of  a 
man  who,  however  religious  in  his  own  sentiments, 
had  come  to  the  country  in  conn)any  with  horse- thieves 
and  banditti ;  and  Kelle>',  with  a  sore  heart  and  half- 
crazed  brain,  was  left  to  dwell  in  solitude  on  the  failure 
of  his  magnificent  scheme  of  an  ideal  American  settle- 
ment devoted  to  liberty,  virtue,  order,  education,  the 
enlightenment  of  the  savage  tribes  of  the  north-west, 
and  the  promotion  of  individual  happiness.-"'  So  little 
sympj^l^hy  and  so  nmch  blame  did  he  receive  from  those 
he  ha  "  in  wittingly  hi  vol  ved  in  his  misfortunes,  thr  „ 
lie  did  ;  aiture  during  his  stay  in  the  country  to 

visit  the  ,  lamette  Valley,  being  deterred  therefrom 
by  threats  of  vengeance.'*  In  the  spring,  accepting 
passage  on  the  company's  ship  Dryad,  Captain  Keplin, 
he  departed  from  tlu;  country  upon  which  his  grandest 
hopes  had  been  so  centred,  sailing  for  the  Hawaiian 
Islands. 

But  if  Kelley  was  forced  by  untoward  circumstances 
to  leave  the  country,  he  did  not  fail  solenuily  to  affirm 
in  a  comnmnication  to  McLoughlin,  that  while  he  was 
not  a  public  agent,  acting  by  authority  from  the  United 
States  government,  but  only  a  private  individual,  he 
was  yet  a  freeborn  son  of  American  independence, 
moved  by  the  spirit  of  liberty,  and  animated  with  the 
hope  of  being  useful  to  his  fellow-men. ^'^  That  those 
who  had  come  with  him  were  not  idle  or  profligate,  in 
such  degree  as  to  threaten  the  peace  of  the  community, 

loss  to  know  what  portion  of  it  to  attribute  to  either  writer.  It  ia  only  that 
j)art  of  the  book  which  relates  to  events  happening  previous  to  1840  that  we 
can  feel  sure  was  furnished  by  Lee,  unless  it  be  where  he  speaks  of  himself  by 
name.  Lee  writes  fairly,  and  with  less  of  the  usual  religious  cant  than  might 
be  expected  of  a  Methodist  missionary  of  nearly  Hfty  years  ago.  He  simply 
puts  down  events,  leaving  the  reader  to  make  his  own  comments.  His  truth- 
fulness, compared  with  other  authorities,  is  nearly  absolute.  Like  his  uncle,  he 
could  refrain  from  mentioning  a  subject;  but  ii  he  mentioned  it,  what  he  said 
was  likely  to  be  correct.  The  title  of  his  book  is  Ten  Yenm  in  f'nipn,  and  it  was 
publiskcil  in  1844  in  New  York.     It  is  quoted  in  this  work  as  uee  and  Frosl'n  Or, 

'^Kcllcy'n  General  Circtdar,  13-27. 

'■"  Kclky'8  Colonization  qf'Or.,  50. 

'^''  Kelleij's  Colonization  o/(h:,  37. 


SOMK  WHO   CAME   WITH    KNMXC    VOLNO. 


9S 


is  evident  from  the  rarity  of  offences.  They  were  in- 
deed useful  ill  tJieir  way."* 

One  of  Young's  men,  Webley  J.  Hauxhurst, 
erected  a  grist-mill  at  Chainpoeg  in  the  summer  of 
1834,  adding  greatly  to  the  convenience  and  comfort 
of  the  inhabitants  of  French  Prairie,  including  the 
missionaries,  who  had  previously  pounded  their  barley 
in  a  large  wooden  mortar,  and  ground  their  wheat  in 
a  small  cast-iron  mill  called  a  corn-cracker.  Haux- 
hurst, who  was  a  native  of  Long  Island,  subsequently 
joined  the  Methodist  church,  being  the  first  fruit  of 
missionary  work  among  the  settlers.  His  conversion 
took  f  ;^ce  in  January  1837,  and  he  was  ever  aft'T  a 
faithful  adherent  to  the  organization;  nor  were  there 
any  of  this  so-called  band  of  horse-thieves  who  seemed 
indisposed  to  earn  an  honest  living. 

Another  party  of  eight,  coming  in  the  summer  of 
1835  to  join  in  the  colonization  of  Oregon,'''"  on  reach- 
ing Rogue  River  were  attacked  by  the  savas;;eG,  and 
four  of  the  number  slain,  the  others  with  difficulty 


escaping 


2S 


2*  Mention  is  made,  in  chapter  iii.  of  this  volume,  of  the  killing  of  Thorn- 
l)urg  by  Hubbard  at  Fort  William.  But  these  were  Wyeth'a  )ncn.  Captain 
Lambert  and  Mr  Townsend  lield  an  inquest,  and  after  hearing  the  evidenof, 
returned  a  verdict  of  justifiable  homicide.  TownneniVs  Nar.,  224.  Gray,  in 
Hi'it.  Or.,  197,  tells  Hubbard's  story  as  liappening  several  years  later,  when 
there  waa  a  magistrate  in  the  country,  before  whom  he  M'as  tried.  No  such 
trial  ever  took  place.  Hubbard  was  given  a  certificate  by  the  coroner's  jury 
to  show  that  the  killing  was  in  self-defence  and  to  clear  him  in  case  of  arrest. 
Lee  contributes  tlie  fact  that  the  desire  for  strong  drink,  that  article  being 
obtainable  at  Fort  William,  led  to  the  stealing  of  a  pig,  and  tlio  selling  of  it 
for  liquor  wliich  the  thief  '  barburou^ly  compelled  the  owner  to  lU'ink;  and 
now,  poor  man,  he  has  no  pork  to  eat  in  harvest  I '  Leu  iiwl  Fro.Ht\t  Or.,  l-M. 

'^'  Toiriisend'-n  A'ar.,  "28. '  Cray  with  his  usual  inaccurracy  says  there  was 
no  arrival  of  settlers  in  1835. 

'^*  The  same  who  later  caused  the  bloody  wars  of  1833  and  18r>5-().  Kelley 
relates  that  while  he  aiul  Young  were  en  roiUc,  for  Oregcm,  some  of  those  men 
who  iiS'l  joined  and  left  them,  and  who  were  formerly  trappers  under  the 
famous  leader,  Joe  Walker,  of  tlio  American  fur  company  in  tiie  Rocky 
Mountains,  wantonly  slew  the  California  Indians  on  several  occasions  where 
they  hung  upon  their  rear,  and  tiiat  Young  approved  of  tiie  murders,  saying 
they  were  Slamned  villains,  and  ouglit  t<t  be  shot.'  But  no  mention  is  made 
of  any  encounter  with  the  natives  after  entering  tlie  Oregon  territory,  not 
even  on  Rogue  River,  a  probable  consequence  of  their  having  fallen  in  with 
the  Hudson  s  Bay  Company  trapping  party,  leturning  from  California  under 
Micliel  La  Framboise.  The  policy  pursuei'  by  the  Britisli  company  made 
the  prssence  of  one  of  their  parties  in  the  neighborhood  a  safeguard  to  all 
white  men  alike,  thougli  even  La  Framboise  Wiuj  sometimes  compelled  to  in- 


06 


M  ETHOl )LST  OCCUPATION. 


The  names  of  three  were  WiUiani  J.  Bailey,  George 
Gay,  and  John  Turner.  The  last-named,  with  his 
native  wife,  was  the  iirst  to  reaeh  the  Mission,  where 
he  landed  from  a  raft,  induced  by  the  welcome  sight 
of  cattle.  They  were  kindly  cared  for  by  the  mis- 
sionaries, while  all  waited  with  painful  anxiety  for  the 
appearance  of  any  others  who  miglit  have  escaped. 
After  the  ]ai)se  of  several  days  (xay  and  Bailey  were 
discovered  standing  on  the  hank  across  the  river  from 
the  Mission.  Perceiving  signs  of  civilization,  Bailey 
plunged  in  and  sti'uck  for  the  opposite  shore;  but  the 
current  being  strong,  and  the  swinnner  having  been 
badly  wounded  and  without  food,  save  roots,  for  fifteen 
days,  he  would  have  perished  had  not  his  companion 
saved  him.  While  the  two  were  battlhig  with  the 
watei',  a  canoe  was  sent  to  their  rescue.  Bailey  was 
afterward  jilaced  in  a  hospital  at  Foit  Vancouver. 
Th«:  founh  man  failed  to  discover  the  settlements, 
and  struggled  on  the  whole  distance  to  the  Multnomah 
River,  arriving  at  Fort  William  more  dead  than  alive.^ 


tlict  a  salutary  puiiislimeut  upon  the  Rogue  River  people,  as  Wilkes  was  tolil 
l)y  liiui.  'I  questioiieil  liim  relative  to  tlie  stories  respecting  tile  shooting  of 
Indians  on  tlie  route  to  ami  from  California,  and  he  tohl  me  they  had  no  Tiat- 
tles,  hut  said  it  was  necessary  to  keep  them  always  at  a  distance.  On  my 
repeating  the  niiestion,  whether  tlie  report  we  hail  heard  of  several  heing 
killed  during  tl^e  late  expedition  were  true,  he,  Freuehman-like,  shrugged  his 
shoulders,  and  answered:  "All,  Monsieur,  ils  sont  des  mauvais  gens;  il  faut  en 
prendre  garde  et  tirer  sur  cux  quelquefois. "  '  Witkcx'  ym:,  U.  S.  Kcplr.  Ex., 
v.  l.'.'J. 

-"•'  Townsend,  who  wiis  at  P'ort  A'ancouver  when  Bailey  arrived,  describes 
his  appearance  as  frightful,  iiud  his  sufferings  as  excruciating.  He  was  liter- 
ally co\-ored  with  wounds.  One  upon  the  lower  part  of  the  face  entered  the 
upper  lip  just  below  tlie  nose,  cutting  entirely  througli  both  the  upper  and 
the  lower  jaws  and  chin,  and  passing  deep  into  tlie  side  of  the  neck,  narrowly 
missing  the  jugular  vein.  Not  being  able,  in  his  extreme  anguish,  to  adjust 
the  parts,  but  only  to  bind  them  with  a  handkerchief,  in  healing  the  fiieo  was 
left  badly  distorted.  Xar.,  2'J9;  Lee  (iiid  Frost'. ■<  (Jr.,  \'A\~2.  Bailey  was  an 
Kiiglish  surgeon  of  good  parentage,  but  had  led  a  life  of  dissiputiou,  toT  break 
him  off  from  which  his  mother  removed  to  the  United  States.  Jjeaving  his  new 
home,  his  mother  and  .sisters,  he  shipped  as  a  common  .sailor,  coming  in  that 
capacity  to  California,  where  for  several  years  he  led  a  roving  life.  ()n  recov- 
ering from  his  wounds  he  joined  the  Willamette  settlement,  and  his  medical 
and  surgical  ac<iuirenients  coming  to  the  notice  of  the  missionaries,  he  was 
encouragetl  in  liis  practice.  He  thus  became  an  ^itUichi  of  the  Mission,  married 
an  estimable  lady  who  came  to»Oregon  as  a  tefieher — Miss  Margaret  Smith — 
settled  on  a  farm,  and  became  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  Oregon  colonial 
times.  See  W/iitr.i  Ten  Yeitr.i  in  Or.,  Ill-IT);  Wilke-HWur.,  U.  S.  Explr.  E.r., 
iv.  387.     Bailey  died  at  Champoeg,  February  5,  )87<),  ageil  about  70.  Snlem 


YOUNG'S  DISTILLERY  SCHEME. 


97 


Cieorge 
itli    hiis 

where 
e  siylit 
ic  mis- 
for  the 
scaped, 
jy  were 
er  from 

Bailey 
but  the 
ig  been 
r  fifteen 
iipanioii 
itli  the 
ley  was 
leouver. 
einents, 
tnoiiiah 
1  alive 


20 


.'8  was  tolil 
iliootiug  of 
liul  no  hat- 
On  my 
leral  being 
•nggeil  his 
il  faut  en 
'Jxplr.  Ej:, 


lltl! 


describes 

was  liter- 

reil  the 

ipper  and 

narrowly 

to  adjust 

fiieo  was 

y  was  an 

t<f  break 

g  liis  new 

■g  in  that 

)n  reeov- 

niedical 

|,  he  was 

married 

I  .Suutli — 

cohmial 

jIi:  Ej:, 

).  SnleM 


This  murderous  attack  upon  travellers  caused  no  small 
excitement  at  Fort  Vancouver.  An  expedition  was 
proposed  to  destroy  the  savages,  but  the  scheme  was 
not  undertaken,  and  it  was  left  for  American  settlers, 
miners,  and  United  States  troops  to  consummate  the 
destruction  of  this  tribe  at  a  later  date. 

If  John  McLoughlin  for  political  or  commercial 
reasons,  or  Jason  Lee  for  other  cause  had  thought  to 
discourage  the  settlement  of  the  Willamette  Valley 
by  independent  parties  from  California  or  elsewhere, 
they  must  ere  now  have  been  convinced  of  the  hope- 
lessness of  such  an  effort.  McLoughlin,  at  least,  was 
wise  enough  gracefully  to  accept  the  situation,  and 
extend  a  helping  hand — a  conciliatory  course  for  i 
time  imitated  by  Lee  with  good  results.  As  to  Ewinj ; 
Young,  though  Governor  Figueroa  in  due  time  re- 
turned a  letter  of  exculpation,  explaining  that  the  real 
thieves  had  attached  themselves  to  Young's  party, 
but  on  finding  themselves  suspected  had  deserted  it ; 
and  though  McLoughlin  was  willing  to  make  amends. 
Young  chose  to  remain  sullen  and  unyielding,  and 
employed  his  time  in  disseminating  those  anti-British 
niono})oly  sentiments  which  Kelley  had  so  strongly 
expressed  in  their  stormy  interviews  at  Fort  Van- 
couver. In  this  spirit,  and  rendered  desperate  by 
the  social  outlawry  to  which  he  was  subjected  on 
the  part  of  both  the  fur  company  and  the  Mission, 

Mercurij,  Feb.  11,  1876.  (xeorge  Cray  was  also  an  Englishman  who  left  home 
iu  1830  on  a  whaling  voyage  to  the  North  Pacitic.  In  1832  he  deserted  with  a 
whole  boat's  crew,  iii  a  California  harbor,  and  aft<;r  various  adventures  tleter- 
mined  to  join  Kelley  find  Young's  Oregon  sjettlement.  Ho  took  a  farm  in  the 
Willamette,  becoming  a  notable  personage  in  his  way,  or  as  Wilkes  calls  him, 
'  a  useful  member  of  society, '  but  not  at  all  an  ornanientiil  one.  For  a  lengthy 
description  of  the  man  and  his  manners,  see  Wilkes''  Nar.,  U.  S  E-rplr.  Ex., 
iv.  382.  John  Turner  was  with  Jcdcdiah  Snuth  when  attacked  by  the  Unip- 
quas.  At  that  time  Turner  had  defended  himself  with  a  firebrand  success- 
fully, and  on  this  occasion  he  resorted  to  the  same  means,  laying  about  liim 
!'':;  a  madman,  and  l)eing  a  large  ami  powerful  person,  with  equal  success. 
He  too  became  a  resident  of  the  Willamette  Valley,  though  living  in  seclusion 
at  some  distance  from  the  other  settlers.  WhUi''n  Ti'ii  Ycurx  in  Or.,  114.  The 
name  of  the  fourth  man  who  escaped  to  the  settlements  is  not  mentioned, 
though  his  arrival  at  Fort  William  is  recorded  in  Lee  and  Froit's  Or.,  132. 
Hist.  Ou.,  Vol.  I.    7 


98 


METHODIST  OCCUPATION. 


1 

1 

1 

* 

li' 

Young  resolved  to  erect  a  distillery  for  the  manu- 
facture of  ardent  spirits  at  his  settlement  on  the 
Chehalem. 

In  the  beginning  of  1836,  when  Wyeth  broke  up 
his  establishment  at  Fort  William,  Young  secured 
one  of  the  caldrons  used  in  pickling  salmon,  and  set 
about  the  accomplishment  of  his  purpose,  aided  by 
Lawrence  Carmichael,  another  of  the  aggrieved  colo- 
nizers. Now  this  was  a  well-aimed  blow,  and  it 
struck  both  fur  company  and  Mission  in  a  most  sensi- 
tive point,  their  commercial  as  well  as  moral  con- 
science. During  the  year  in  which  trade  was  carried 
on  at  Fort  William,  intoxicating  drink  was  sold  to  the 
natives  and  settlers,  in  consequence  of  which  some 
brawls  and  petty  offences  disturbed  the  good  order 
otherwise  maintained  in  the  country. 

On  hearing  of  the  design  of  Young  and  Carmichael, 
McLoughlin  showed  them  how  drink  would  ruin  the 
farming  interests,  and  destroy  the  colony  he  proposed 
to  plant,  and  offered  Young  pecuniary  aid,  and  agreed 
to  establish  him  in  some  honorable  enterprise.  The 
missionaries  took  alarm.  The  Oregon  Temperance 
Society  was  organized,  and  a  meeting  convened  to 
consider  the  steps  necessary  to  prevent  the  threatened 
evil.  The  conclusion  reached  was  that  Young  and  Car- 
michael should  be  addressed  by  letter,  and  requested 
to  abandon  their  enterprise.  And  for  the  following 
reasons:  the  prosperity  of  the  settlement,  temporal 
and  spiritual,  would  be  retarded,  and  the  already 
wretched  condition  of  the  natives  rendered  worse. 
Nor  did  they  fail  to  appeal  to  Young's  loyalty  to 
American  ideas,  reminding  him  that  selling  intoxi- 
cating drink  to  aborigines  was  contrary  to  law. 

To  those  who  can  discover  it,  there  is  an  avenue  to 
every  lieart.  Young  pompously  professed  allegiance 
to  the  United  States  government  as  the  best  and 
purest  the  sun  ever  shone  upon,  whose  citizens — 
among  whom  he  was  by  no  means  the  least — were 
the  rightful  owners  of  all  that  region,  though  on  what 


A  GOVERNMENT  AGENT. 


99 


ground  it  would  have  puzzled  him  to  tell.  And  how 
was  he  to  be  at  once  champion  and  law-breaker  ?  The 
missionaries  said  further:  "You  do  not  pretend  to 
justify  yourself;  you  plead  the  want  of  money.  We 
are  very  sure  you  will  not  find  it  profitable,  and  we 
will  reimburse  you  for  your  expenditures  thus  far." 

This  communication  was  signed  by  nine  Americans 
and  fifteen  Canadians,*'  who  subscribed  in  all  sixty 
dollars  toward  purchasing  the  obnoxious  distillery,  and 
promised  to  furnish  whatever  further  amount  was 
required.  Yet  another  influence,  to.  be  mentioned 
presently,  was  brought  to  curb  the  purposes  of  the 
obstreperous  Yankee. 

Young  arrogantly  rejected  the  advances  of  Mc- 
Loughlin,  and  refused  reimbursement  at  the  hand  of 
the  missionaries,  but  he  promised  to  abandon  his 
sclieme  for  the  present.''^  He  would  withhold  his  hand 
from  sowing  drunkenness  broadcast  over  the  land,  but 
he  could  not  deny  himself  the  pleasure  of  railing  at  the 
fur  company.  In  his  reply  to  the  temperance  society. 
Young  declared  that  McLoughlin's  tyrannizing  op- 
pression {\nd  disdain  were  "more  than  the  feelings  of 
any  American  citizen  could  support;"  and  declared 
that  the  innumerable  difficulties  placed  in  his  way  by 
the  company  under  McLoughlin's  authority  were  the 
occasion  of  his  being  driven  to  consider  so  objection- 
able a  means  of  obtaining  a  livelihood. 


On  arriving  at  Boston,  Kelley  hastened  to  publish 
a  pamphlet  setting  forth  in  strong  terms  the  fact  that 
the  American  settlers  in  Oregon  were  suffering  great 


'*  I  fines'  Oregon  Hist. ,  20.  This  author  seems  inclined  unfairly  to  ignore  the 
efiForts  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  the  matter.  The  fifteon^  I  renchmen 
were  still  on  the  books  of  the  fur  company,  and  Daniel  Lee  more  correctly 
affirms  that  'McLoughlin  seconded  the  cflforts  of  the  missionaries  and 
friends  of  temperance,  and  that  the  course  he  has  taken  in  regfird  to  spirit- 
uous liquors  has  done  much  to  preserve  tlie  general  ortler  and  harmony  of  the 
mixed  community  of  which  the  settlement  is  composed. '  Lee  and  Frost's  Or., 
140. 

"  Walker,  in  his  sketch  of  Ewing  Young,  in  Or.  Pioneer  A  s.toc.  Tram. ,  1 880, 
58,  says  tliat '  upon  this  appeal  and  ofifer  he  abandoned  the  distillery,  and  then 
was  planning  for  a  saw  and  grist  mill.' 


100 


METHODIST  OCCUPATION. 


hardships  througli  the  exclusiveness  of  the  Britisli  fur 
coiii[){iny,  which,  while  })retending  to  occupy  the  coun- 
try jointly  with  the  Americans,  maintained  a  policy 
which  practically  reduced  to  servitude  all  persons  in 
the  country.  It  did  not  hesitate  to  put  in  force  the 
most  cruel  and  arbitrary  measures  to  drive  away  such 
as  would  not  submit."*^  Thereupon  John  Forsyth, 
secretary  of  state,  by  direction  of  the  president,  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  William  A.  Slacum,  a  gentleman 
connected  with  the  United  States  naval  service,  in- 
structing him  to  proceed  to  the  Northwest  Coast  of 
Americii  and  to  the  River  Oregon,  by  such  means  as 
he  should  find  best,  and  there  ascertain  the  truth  of 
Kelley's  story.  He  was  to  visit  the  different  settle- 
ments on  the  "c(mst  of  the  United  States"  and  on  the 
banks  of  the  Oregon  River,  and  learn  the  relative 
numbers  of  white  men  and  Indians,  the  nativity  of 
the  latter,  the  jurisdiction  they  acknowledged,  the 
sentiments  entertained  by  all  in  respect  to  the  United 
States  and  the  powers  of  Great  Britain  and  Russia, 
and  to  collect  all  information,  political,  physical,  and 
geographical,  which  could  prove  useful  or  interesting 
to  the  government. 

Slacum  soon  entered  upon  his  duties,  proceeding 
to  Baja  California,  where,  being  unable  to  procure  pas- 
sage to  the  Colmiibia  River,  he  took  a  vessel  to  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  and  there  chartered  the  American 
brig  Loriot,  Captain  Bancroft,  in  which  he  sailed  for 
his  destination.  He  crossed  the  bar  of  the  Columbia 
December  22,  183G,  taking  shelter  from  a  high  wind 
in  Baker  Bay,  but  advancing  as  far  as  Fort  George 
the  following  day.  Here  he  was  politely  received  by 
James  Birnie,  the  gentleman  in  charge,  who  at  once 
despatched  an  express  to  Fort  Vancouver,  with  infor- 

^K'.'Uh  Couij.,  3d  SexK.,  If.  Jiept.  101,  60.  McLoughlin  says:  'He  pub- 
lished a  narrative  of  liis  voyage,  in  which,  instead  of  being  grateful  for  the 
kindness  shown  to  him,  he  abused  me,  and  falsely  sttated  that  I  h.d  been  so 
alarmed  with  the  dreatl  that  he  would  destroy  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's 
trade  that  I  had  kept  a  constant  watch  over  him,  and  which  was  publislied 
in  the  report  of  the  iJuited  States  congress.'  Private  Papers,  MS.,  2d  and  4tli 
series. 


THE  SPY   AT   FOUT  VANCOUVEll. 


101 


Illation  of  the  arrival  of  an  American  vessel  on  an 
unknown  errand.  The  same  express  carried  a  request 
from  Slacum  to  Finhiyson  of  the  latter  station,  to 
send  a  pilot  to  bring  the  Loriot  up  the  river,  which 
was   done      Slacum  was   also    invited   to  visit  Fort 


Vancouver.     Further,  Douglas, 


being 


on  an  errand 


to  Fort  (xeorge,  took  Slacum  in  his  ciiiioe  and  landed 
liim  at  Fort  Vancouver  the  2d  of  January,  18;i7. 

As  the  Jjjriot  had  no  cargo,  the  object  of  her  visit 
was  politely  asked.  In  terms  equally  courteous,  tlie 
fur  magnates  were  told  that  it  was  a  private  expedi- 
tion for  the  purpose  of  gaining  knowledge,  and  to 
meet  an  expedition  overland  from  the  United  States. 

But  McLoughlin  was  not  to  be  so  easily  deceived. 
He  plainly  saw  the  spy  in  the  private  gentleman 
travelling  for  information,^^  and  further,  that  the 
visitor  was  a  government  agent  of  tlie  United  States. 
All  he  saw  and  heard  would  in  due  time  be  reported 
to  his  government.  As  a  matter  of  course,  McLough- 
lin need  not  answer  impertinent  inquiries,  but  would 
it  not  be  better  for  the  fur  company  to  make  its  own 
statement  fully  and  freely  in  regard  to  all  matters  at 
issue,  and  so  have  them  placed  upon  the  record  ?  And 
this  was  done."''* 

Slacum  remained  several  days  at  Fort  Vancouver, 
departing  on  the  10th  of  January  for  the  Willamette 

^'  Mrfjouijhlin's  Private  Papers,  MS.,  2il  ser.  5. 

^*  Slacum's  report,  after  relating  briefly  the  incidents  of  his  journey  and 
r(!ception  at  Fort  Vancouver,  gives  an  abstract  of  the  history  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  from  the  date  of  its  charter,  with  the  extent  and  rules  of  trade 
of  the  company  in  Oregon,  a  description  of  Fort  Vancouver,  an  account  of  the 
American  vessels  that  hail  visited  the  Columbia  River  since  the  restoration  of 
Astoria  in  1818,  remarks  upon  Indian  slavery,  with  other  statistic-  ,  "orma- 
tiou  al)0ut  the  Indians,  an  elaborate  account  of  the  mission,  ami  i.  ))rief 
observations  upon  the  ])hysical  features  of  the  country.  In  addiii>  a  lo  Sla- 
cum's  report,  the  same  <tocument  contains  one  by  Kelley,  giving  a  brief  account 
of  his  expedition  to  California  and  Oregon,  with  many  valual)le  remarks  upon 
the  geography,  topograpliy,  ami  natural  history  of  those  countries,  em  ling 
with  an  account  of  the  profits  of  the  fur  company,  its  monopoly  of  trade,  ana 
arbitrary  rule  over  all  persons  in  the  country,  with  reminiscences  of  his  own 
unpleasant  experiences.  The  document  contains  other  memorials,  to  wliich  I 
shall  liave  occasion  to  refer  in  a  future  chapter.  Tlie  whoh;  co-.istitutes  the 
RejtoH  oj  the  Committee  on  Foreign  Ajfairx,  to  tchirh  was  referred  a  Mensinje 
from  tlie  President  of  the  United  States,  with  a  resolution  of  the  House,  in  rela- 
tion to  the  territory  of  the  United  Statcsheyond  the  Rocky  Mountains.  February 
!li,  1839. 


102 


METHODIST  OCCUPATION. 


.settlements,  in  a  canoe  furnished  by  McLoughlin,  with 
a  crew  and  every  comfortable  provision  for  the  jour- 
ney. At  Champoeg  he  was  met  by  Ja.son  Lee,  to  whom 
the  same  ever-courteous  autocrat  had  sent  an  express 
to  make  aimouncement  of  the  arrival  in  tlie  coun- 
try of  a  distinguished  stranger,  and  of  his  intended 
visit.  By  this  uid^ounded  lioerality  and  unremitting 
att^Mition  two  objects  were  gained:  a  favoral)le  im- 
pression of  the  i)crH(m'iiel  of  the  fur  company  was 
established,  and  a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  move- 
ments of  all  strangers  was  acquired.  By  politely 
assumiiig  that  every  individual  who  came  to  the 
country  was  dependent  on  Fort  Vancouver  for  the 
conveniences  of  living,  a  perfect  system  of  surveil- 
lance was  maintained  without  offence  being  given. 

In  company  with  Lee,  Slacum    called  on  all  the 
settlers  of  French  Prairie  at  their  homes,  after  which 
he  spent  a  few  days  at  the  Mission,  rendering  himse'^ 
thoroughly  conversant  with  the  affairs  of  the  A  me 
can  settlement. 

The  case  of  Ewing  Young  had  been  stated  to  Sla- 
cum at  Fort  Vancouver,  and  he  found  it  a  subject  of 
anxiety,  both  at  the  fort  and  the  Mission,  that  a  distil- 
lery was  to  be  put  in  operation  in  the  Willamette  Val- 
ley. At  the  fort  he  was  authorized  to  say  t/^  Young 
that  if  he  would  abandon  his  enterprise  of  making 
whiskey,  he  would  be  permitted  to  get  his  necessary 
supplies  from  Fort  Vancouver  on  the  same  terms  as 
other  men,^'  and  to  this  proposition  Slacum  counselled 
him  to  accede,  saying  that  in  his  opinion  his  point 
with  the  fur  company  was  gained  by  this  concession. 

Young,  however,  continued  obdurate.  Slacum  then 
proposed  to  furnish  him  a  loan  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  with  which  to  procure  for  himself  and 
Carmichael  a  supply  of  proper  clothing  from  Fort 
Vancouver,  to  be  purchased  in  Slacum's  name ;  and  to 
give  both  a  passage  to  California,  where  Young  desired 

^''24lh  Cowj.,  Sd  Sens.,  II.  Rept.  101,  38;  Sen.  Doc.  24, 1 830-7 ;  Kelky'n  Set- 
tlement of  Or.,  56. 


ilin,  with 
'he  jour- 
to  whom 
I  express 
le  coun- 
inteuded 
LiiTiitting 
ihle  im- 
iiiy  was 
Q  move- 
politely 
to   the 
for  the 
surveil- 
iven. 
all  the 
r  which 
himse'^ 
Ame 


DEPARTURE  OF  SLACUM.  job 

to  go,  heing  still  very  much  incensed  with  Governor 
!<  igucroa.  To  so  generous  an  offer  no  reasonable 
objection  could  be  made,  and  Young  promised  a  reply 
on  the  followmg  day.  It  was  while  entertaining  this 
proposal  that  he  sent  his  answer  to  the  appeal  of 
the  teniperance  society,  in  which  he  alluded  to  son  e 
favorable  circumstances  which  had  governed  him  in 
relmquishing    the   design    of   manufacturing   ardent 

Slacum  remained  but  a  short  time  in  Oregon,  taking 
his  departure  from  the  Willamette  on  the  23d  of  Jan- 
uary, and  his  final  leave  of  the  country  on  the  10th  of 
February.  The  further  results  of  his  mission  are  re- 
served for  another  chapter. 


to  Sla- 
bject  of 

I  distil- 
te  Val- 
Young 
iiaking 
iessary 
rms  as 
nselled 

i  point 
ession. 

II  then 
id  and 
If  and 

Fort 
and  to 
esired 

l^'n  Set' 


§ 


Iliit 


CHAPTER  V. 


COMING  OF  THE   PRESBYTERIANS 

1834-1836. 

American  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions — Parker  and 
Whitman  Sent  to  Choose  Mission  Sites — Whitman  Uetlrns  East  fok 
Teachers — Parker's  Adventures — His  Favorable  Opinion  of  the 
Indians — Their  Desire  for  Teachers  and  Religious  Observances — 
Parker  Selects  a  Site  at  Waiilatpu — Religious  Services  Estab- 
lished at  Fort  Vancouver — Parker  Returns  Home — Whitman  and 
Spalding  and  their  Wives — Their  Overland  Journey — Whitman's 
Wagon  Route — Stuart  and  Pilcher — The  Welcome  at  Fort  \'"an- 
couver — Return  of  Gray  fop.  More  Teacheks — Later  Missionaries, 
Walker,  Eels,  and  Smith. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  of  all  the  Protestant 
denominations  the  Methodists  alone  responded  to  the 
demand  of  the  Flatheads  for  teachers.  The  farewell 
meeting  of  the  church  in  Forsyth  street,  which 
blessed  the  departure  of  Jason  and  Daniel  Lee  for 
the  almost  unknown  wilds  of  Oregon,  was  attended 
by  pastors  of  other  religious  creeds,  notably  the  Pres- 
byterians, whose  sympathy  led  them  to  take  part  in 
the  addresses  on  this  occasion.^  But  the  Presbyterian 
church,  more  careful  and  conservative,  did  not  plunge 
into  an  unknown  country  and  work  as  did  their  Meth- 
odist brethren.  In  a  history  of  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  published  in 
1840,  appears  a  mention  that  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church  of  Ithaca,  New  York,  resolved  to  sustain  a 
mission  to  the  Indians  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
under  the  direction  of  the  board.  Rev.  Samuel 
Parker,  Rev.  John  Dunbar,  and  Samuel  Allis  were 


» Lee  and  Frost's  Or.,  112. 


(104) 


fl 


i 


PARKER  AND   WHITMAN. 


10& 


[etli- 
loard 
Id  in 
lined 
lin  a 
liins, 
liuel 
.^ere 


accordingly  appointed  to  explore  the  country  for  a 
mission  site.  They  left  Ithaca  in  May  1834,  arriving 
at  St  Louis  too  late  to  join  the  annual  caravan  of  tlie 
American  Fur  Company,  as  they  had  intended.  Parker 
returned  home,  while  Dunbar  and  Allis  remained  in 
the  region  of  the  Missouri,  and  in  the  autumn  joined 
a  band  of  the  Grande  Pawaiees  and  Pt  wnee  Loui)s, 
travelled  with  them,  and  endeavored  to  teach  them 
sacred  things.  In  the  following  spring  Parker  re- 
peated his  eflbrt,  and  this  time  with  success. 

The  Rev.  Sanmel  Parker  of  Ithaca  was  a  minister 
no  longer  young,  of  good  education  and  manners, 
rather  precise  in  address,  but  of  intelligence,  close 
observation,  and  sincere  devotion,  sho'vn  at  the  call  oi 
duty  in  leaving  the  comforts  of  home  and  polite  usage 
which  his  nicety  of  taste  and  habits  made  more  than 
usually  dear.  He  seems  to  have  impressed  people 
generally  as  a  specimen  of  the  studious,  sedentary 
preacher,  whose  solenmity  of  deportment  was  by  no 
means  as  acceptable  as  the  overflowing  spirits  of  the 
circuit-riders  with  Avhom  thev  were  more  familiar,  and 
which  to  common  n^inds  obscured  his  real  courage 
and  singleness  of  heart.  On  the  14th  of  March, 
1835,  Parker  left  his  pleasant  home  for  Oregon.  His 
route  was  from  Ithaca  to  Buftalo,  Pittsburg,  Wheel- 
ing, Cincinnati,  Louisville,  and  St  Louis,  staying  with 
pious  families  when  convenient,  distributing  tracts,  and 
holding  religious  services  in  the  ladies'  cabin  of  the 
steamers,  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  irreligious  passengers. 
He  reached  St  Louis  by  the  4th  of  April,  where  he 
found  awaiting  iiim  Marcus  Whitman,  M.  D.,  wlunn 
the  board  had  appointed  his  asst)ciate. 

Dr  Whitman  was  altogether  a  ditiereut  person, 
younger,  being  then  thirty-two  years  of  age,  out- 
spoken, with  easy  mani.'^rs  and  a  houlnnme  which 
recommended  him  to  western  men;  yet  prom])t,  ener- 
getic, determined,  and  helpful  as  he  was  brave;  nort 
careful  of  aj>pearances,  (|uick  to  take  upon  himselt 
the  work  for  which  others  were  too  weak,  scorning 


tf:f 


106 


COMING  OF  THE   PRESBYTERIANS. 


that  refinement  which  unfitted  him  for  any  necessary 
task,  and  ready  to  endure  the  severest  privations. 
His  appearance  was  an  index  to  the  vigor  of  his 
character,  a  spare,  sinewy  frame,  strong  features,  deep 
blue  eyes,  and  hair  already  iron-gray,  a  man  made  for 
responsibility,  for  overcoming  obstacles,  and  equally 
by  his  great  energy  and  kindness  fitted  to  be  the 
leader  of  a  new  mission.  He  was  from  Rushville, 
New  York,  and  had  reached  St  Louis  by  way  of 
central  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  several  days  in 
advance  of  Parker. 

As  it  was  not  possible  to  travel  through  the  Indian 
country,  even  with  a  guide,  except  in  parties  of 
considerable  size,  the  two  missionaries  must  seek  an 
escort.  Fontenelle,  a  trader  of  the  American  Fur 
Company,  was  preparing  to  set  out  for  the  Rocky 
Mountains  with  sixty  men  and  a  caravan  of  pack- 
animals  and  wagons  loaded  with  Indian  goods.  He 
courteously  offered  his  protection,  and  they  at  once 
took  steamer  for  Liberty,  Missouri,  the  frontier  town 
from  which  the  caravan  was  to  start.  Here,  as  they 
were  delayed  three  weeks  until  the  preparations  for 
the  long  march  was  completed,  Parker  occupied 
himself  in  visiting  a  small  Mormon  settlement  neai' 
by,  and  riding  to  Cantonment  Leavenworth,  "twenty 
miles  out  of  the  United  States,"  where  he  preached 
three  times  on  Sunday  to  the  garrison. 

On  the  15th  of  May  the  caravan  left  Liberty  for 
Council  Bluffs,  l^arker  making  note  that  this  was  his 
last  day's  lodging  with  a  civilizetl  family  f  )r  a  long 
time  to  come,  but  declaring  shortly  afterward  that  he 
preferred  sleeping  out  of  doors  to  lodging  in  untidy 
houses — an  opinion  most  well-bred  persons  will  sliare 
with  him.  His  fastidiousness  in  this  and  other  mat- 
ters, liowever,  was  tlie  je^t  of  his  less  refined  travel- 
ling companions.  It  was  not  until  the  22d  of  June 
that  the  final  start  was  made  from  the  trading  post 
of  Bellevvie,  oii  the  west  side  of  the  Missouri,  a  few 
nules  below   the   present  city  of  Omaha,  the   delay 


THE  JOURNEY. 


107 


giving  Parker  an  opportunity  of  visiting  Allis  and 
Dunbar,  the  missionaries  to  the  Pawnees,^  and  of 
studying  the  tribes  in  the  vicinity,  in  whom  he  took 
much  interest.  While  at  Bellevue  the  cholera  broke 
out  among  the  men,  three  of  whom  died  almost  imme- 
diately. Doctor  Whitman,  with  characteristic  kind- 
ness, devoted  himself  to  the  care  of  the  sufferers,  and 
the  disease  was  arrested  by  removing  the  sick  from 
the  riverside  to  the  higher  prairie,  after  which  no 
new  cases  appeared.  Besides  winning  the  gratitude 
of  the  men  whose  lives  he  had  saved,  and  of  Fon- 
tenelle,  whose  company  was  kept  from  breaking  up, 
the  doctor's  n-putation  was  established  among  the 
Rocky  Mountain  hunters  and  trappers,  to  whom  the 
fame  of  his  skill  and  goodness  was  spread  by  the  new- 
comers at  the  summer  rendezvous. 

The  journey  was  marked  only  by  the  usual  inci- 
dents of  travel  across  the  plains :  the  early  morning 
start ;  the  long  march  before  breakfast,  which  with 
supper  constituted  the  only  meals ;  the  frequent  thun- 
der-storms, in  which  everybody  became  drenched  and 
chilled ;  crossing  rivers  in  a  wagon-bed  for  a  boat, 
made  water-tight  by  a  covering  <  i"  undressed  skins;* 
the  occasional  visits  of  Indians,  m  ith  now  and  then  a 
buft'alo  chase  or  a  rare  accident.  The  Black  Hills 
were  reached  by  the  26th  of  July,  and  Fontenelle 
remained  at  Fort  Laramie,  a  post  of  the  American 
Fur  Company,  while  Fitzpatrick,  another  partner, 
t'^cl:  charge  of  the  cai'avan  to  the  rendezvous. 

On  approaching  T^aramie,  an  exhibition  of  mountain 
manners  rather  tried  the  nerve  of  Parker,  who,  leav- 
ing the  road  with  a  single  attendant  to  examine  a 
singular  elevation  called  Chimni'V  Rock,  about  three 
miles  from  the  caravan,  was  alarmed  by  a  com[»any 

'■'In  IS'M  Mr  Allis  waH  still  living  at  his  lionio  on  the  cast  side  of  the 
Missouri,  nearly  opposite  to  tlie  old  IJuUevuo  trading  post. 

•'  The  jireen  hides  are  sewed  togetiier,  and  tigiitly  stretched  over  the  boxes, 
llesh  sitlc  out,  and  fastened  with  strong  taciis  to  tiie  wood,  when  tlicy  are 
placed  hi  the  sun  to  dry.  Repeated  stretcliing  and  drying  iircparcs  tiio  siiin 
to  iveep  out  the  water.  These  are  called  l)ull-hide  boats,  huing  usually  made 
of  Ijuflalo-skins.   Burnett's  liec.  o/a  Pionvvr,  MS.,  112. 


108 


COMING  OP  THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


of  mounted  men,  seemingly  natives,  riding  full  tilt  in 
his  direction.  Fontenelle,  at  the  hurried  flight  of 
Parker,  hastened  to  his  relief  with  a  squad  of  armed 
men;  but  when  the  wild  cavalcade  came  near  enough 
for  recognition,  they  proved  to  be  a  party  of  trappers, 
dressed  in  Indian  finery,  coming  out  to  welcome  the 
St  Louis  partner  with  the  year's  supplies.  Then 
all  was  merriment,  questionings,  and  mutual  rejoic- 


mgs. 


On  the  Ist  of  August,  the  wagons  being  left  at 
Fort  Laramie,  which  Parker  called  the  Fort  of  the 
Black  Hills,  and  the  goods  all  packed  upon  nmles, 
the  caravan  resumed  its  journey  to  the  rendezvous 
on  Green  Kiver,  where  it  arrived  on  the  12th,  and 
where  Parker  remained  until  the  2 Ist,  waiting  for  an 
escort  to  pursue  his  explorations  westward.  While 
at  the  rendezvous  Dr  Whitman  gave  surgical  and 
medical  aid  to  a  number  of  persons,  among  other 
operations  extracting  an  iron  arrow  three  inclies  long 
from  the  back  of  Captain  Bridger,  who  afterward 
built  Fort  Bridger  on  the  Black  branch  of  Green 
River,  and  an  arrow  from  the  shoulder  of  a  hunter 
who  had  carried  it  in  his  flesh  for  more  tlian  two 
years.  The  exhibition  of  his  skill  excited  the  wonder 
of  the  Flatheads  and  Nez  Perces  there  present,  and 
roused  their  desires  to  have  teachers  come  among 
them  who  could  do  so  much  to  relieve  suffering.* 

The  evident  anxiety  of  the  natives  to  secure  the  bene- 
fits of  the  white  man's  superior  knowledge,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  "  a  man  near  to  God,"  as  they 
called  Parker,  led  to  a  consultation  between  the  mis- 
sionaries upon  the  ])ro])riety  of  briiiging  out  teachers 
without  delay.  Witli  his  usual  impetuosity.  Whitman 
proposed  to  return  with  the  caravan  to  St  Louis, 
obtain  assistants,  and  join  the  same  escort  to  the 
mountains  the  next  spring.  To  this  Parker  readily 
consented,  having  confidence  that  God  would  go  with 
and  protect  him  as  s:  urely  without  as  in  the  company 

*  Parlrr.'i  Jour.,  Ex.  Tour,  77. 


WHITMANS  RETURN. 


lOQ 


Ig 


I'lie- 
)ugh 


mis, 
the 
clily 
v^itli 
any 


of  his  associate.^     The  Flat  heads  and  Nez  Perces  of- 
fered to  escort  liim  to  the  Columbia  River. 

According  to  the  new  plan  of  operations,  Parker 
on  the  21st  joined  the  company  of  Captain  Bridger, 
consisting  of  about  sixty  men  who  were  going  eight 
days'  journey  upon  the  same  route  as  the  savages,  to 
Pierre  Hole,  an  extensive  mountain  valley  on  the 
head  waters  of  the  Snake  Kiver.  Here  the  com- 
pany of  Bridger  took  a  course  toward  the  Blackfoot 
country,  the  main  body  of  natives  and  their  guest 
travelling  north-west  in  the  direction  of  Salmon  River. 
Becoming  better  acquainted  as  they  proceeded,  Parker 
taught  them  the  commandments,  which  he  found  they 
readily  understood  and  obeyed ;  and  further  than  this, 
they  gave  up  their  polygamous  practices,  and  went 
back  to  their  first  wives,  whom  they  had  put  away. 

In  all  respects  Parker  found  himself  treated  with  the 
utmost  kindness  and  consideration  by  his  escort^  and 
so  far  wari  he  from  fear,  that  he  rejected  an  invitation 
by  letter  from  Wyeth's  agent  at  Fort  Hall,  Mr  Baker, 
to  pass  the  winter  with  him,  preferriug  to  proceed  to 
Fort  Vancouver  at  once.  No  better  opportunity  could 
ofl'er  of  studying  the  character  and  customs  of  the 
})eople  he  desired  to  christianize  than  he  at  present 
enjoyed;  though  somewhat  misleading,  the  savages 
were  in  their  best  mood,  and  displayed  their  best 
behavior.  But  the  hardships  of  the  journey,  with 
the  sudden  changes  of  temperature  in  the  mountains, 
cost  Parker  an  illness,  the  serious  consequences  of 
which  he  averted  by  free  use  of  tlie  lancet  and  medi- 
cines. One  cannot  but  feel  an  interest  in  the  elderly 
clergyman,  accustomed  to  the  order  and  comfort  of 
his  family,  in  a  land  of  plenty  and  peace,  now  left 

■"■That  IS  H-liat  Parker  himself  said.  lu  Oroi/'s  Jlkt.  Or.,  108,  it  is  stated 
tliiit  Wliitiiiau  went  baek  because  lu?  and  his  superior  oouhl  not  iigrec; 
tlirtt  i'arker  could  not  abide  tlie  slovenly  habits  of  tlie  doctor;  but  tliat  'their 
siMise  of  moral  obligation  was  sueli,  tliat  a  reason  must  be  given  why  Pr 
Whitman  returns  to  the  States,  and  Mr  I'arker  iirocecds  alone  on  his  perilous 
journey.'  It  is  most  probable  that  tlie  want  of  congeniality  made  it  accept- 
able to  botli,  when  their  best  usefulness  to  their  mi.^sion  allowed  them  to 
separate  without  any  r.vVi  double  dealing  as  the  extract  would  indicate. 


110 


COMING  OP  THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


alone  with  a  few  wandering  bands  of  Indians,  starving 
one  day  and  feasting  the  next,  watchful  for  an  en- 
counter with  the  dreaded  Blackfoot  hunters  on  their 
common  buffalo-grounds,  and  startled  frequently  by 
false  alarms. 

On  the  18th,  anxious  to  reach  some  post  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  Parker  took  ten  Nez  Perces 
and  went  forward,  making  twice  the  distance  in  a  day 
that  could  be  made  with  the  main  body,  and  pushing 
Gil  over  the  rough  and  precipitous  Salmon  River  and 
Kooskooskie  ranges,  reached  the  Nez  Perc^  country 
on  the  28th,  his  health  rapidly  improving  as  he  emerged 
from  the  "  wild,  cold  mountains,"  as  he  pathetically 
styled  them.  The  Nez  Percds  received  their  friends 
and  their  reverend  guest  with  the  usual  noisy  demon- 
strations, firing  salutes,  and  feasting  them  with  dried 
salmon.  On  the  following  day  the  journey  was  con- 
tinued to  the  confluence  of  the  Kooskooskie  with 
Lewis  River,  whence,  after  crossing  the  former  river, 
the  little  party  hastened,  by  a  well-worn  trail,  to  Fort 
Walla  Walla. 

On  reaching  this  post,  the  6th  of  October,  Parker 
was  kindly  received  by  Pambrun,  the  agent  in  charge, 
wlio  set  before  him  roasted  duck,  bread,  butter,  milk, 
and  sugar,  spread  upon  a  table,  with  a  chair  to  sit 
upon,  unwonted  luxuries  which  excited  the  warmest 
thanks.  Here  Parker  rested  for  two  days  only,  but 
long  enough  to  note  the  difference  between  the  conduct 
of  the  servants  of  the  British  fur  company  and  the 
boisterous  and  reckless  behavior  of  the  American 
hunters  and  trappers  in  the  mountains.  Instead  of 
boasting  of  the  number  of  Indians  they  had  ki^^ed,  as 
the  latter  often  did  in  his  presence,  he  found  the  Brit- 
ish company  commendably  kind  in  their  treatment  of 
the  Indians,  whose  friendship  they  strove  to  gain,  and 
whom  they  sometimes  even  instructed  in  religion  and 
morality.^ 

"Parker's  Jour.,  124. 


ON  THE  COLUMBIA. 


Ill 


On  the  8th,  three  muscular  Walla  Wallas,  with  a 
canoe  furnished  with  provisions  by  Pambrun,  took 
the  hopeful  traveller  in  charge  for  a  voyage  to  Fort 
Vancouver.  The  first  day's  experience  of  the  Co- 
lumbia rapids  so  alarmed  him  that  he  begged  the 
natives  to  put  him  ashore,  but  he  yielded  to  their 
assurance  that  there  was  no  danger.  He  visited  the 
Cayuse  tribe  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and  some 
savages,  whom  he  called  Nez  Perces,  on  the  north 
bank.  The  Cayuses  were  curious  to  know  what  had 
brought  a  white  man  who  was  not  a  trader  amongst 
them;  and  being  told  that  he  had  come  to  instruct 
them  how  to  worship  God,  they  gave  him  a  salute,  as 
the  Nez  Perces  had  done,  every  man,  woman,  and 
child  shaking  hands  with  him,  and  expressing  their 
satisfaction.  Not  being  able  to  converse  freely,  and 
having  no  interpreter,  he  promised  to  meet  them  in 
the  spring  at  Walla  Walla,  and  bade  them  farewell. 

Arriving  at  the  Dalles  on  the  12th,  the  Walla 
Wallas  were  dismissed.  Here  he  met  Captain  Wyoth, 
on  his  way  to  Fort  Hall,  who  furnished  him  a  short 
vocabulary  of  Chinook  words  for  the  necessary  busi- 
ness of  a  traveller  among  the  natives  below  the 
Dalles.  After  this  he  engaged  a  canoe  and  crew  of 
Wascos,  and  again  set  out  with  a  few  strange  savages. 
Being  near  the  middle  of  October,  the  season  of 
storms  was  at  hand,  as  he  was  informed  by  the  strong 
south  wind  which  obliged  him  to  encamp.  On  the 
second  and  third  days  from  the  Dalles  it  rained,  and 
the  portage  at  the  cascades  compelled  a  toilsome  walk 
of  several  miles. 

About  noon  of  the  16th,  he  was  surprised  by  seeing 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  two  white  men  and  a 
yoke  of  oxen  drawing  logs  for  sawing,  and  soon  after 
a  large  mill,  around  which  were  piles  of  lumber  and  a 
group  of  cottages.  Cheered  with  tlie  sight,  lie  landed, 
and  was  offered  a  breakfast  of  pease  and  fish  by  the 
Orkney  laborers.  Reembarking,  he  landed  at  Fort 
Vancouver  at  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  was  wel- 


112 


COMING  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


coined  by  McLoughlin,  who  invited  him  to  take  up  his 
residence  in  the  fort  as  long  as  suited  his  convenience, 
an  invitation  most  gratefully  accepted ;  "and  never," 
says  the  explorer,  weary  with  more  than  six  months' 
travel,  *'did  I  feel  more  joyful  to  set  my  feet  on  shore." 

After  a  single  night's  rest,  the  May  Dacre  being 
about  to  sail  for  the  Sandwich  Islands,  Parker  de- 
termined to  avail  himself  of  the  opportunity  of  visit- 
ing the  mouth  of  the  river  and  the  sea-coast  before 
winter  set  in.  Going  down  the  river,  he  had  frequent 
opportunities  of  studying  the  character  of  the  natives 
who  inhabited  the  shores,  as  they  often  came  on  board 
to  trado,^  and  he  soon  discovered  the  difference  between 
those  and  the  mountain  tribes,  the  latter  loading  the 
stranger  with  favors,  while  the  others  never  ceased 
begging  for  them.  Nevertheless  he  summed  up  his 
observations  of  natives  by  declaring  that  in  his  opin- 
ion the  character  of  uiiabused  and  uncontaminated 
Indians  would  not  sufter  by  comparison  with  any  other 
nation  that  can  be  named ;  the  only  material  difference 
between  man  and  man  being  that  produced  by  the 
knowledge  and  practice  of  the  Christian  religion.* 

Returning  in  an  express  canoe  from  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia,  where  several  days  had  been  spent  ex- 
amining the  coast,  Mr  Parker  went  into  winter  quar- 
ters at  Fort  Vancouver  October  30th,  having  half  of 
a  new  house  assigned  him,  well  furnished,  with  all 
the  attendance  he  could  wish,  with  books  and  horses 
at  command,  "and  in  addition  to  all  these,  and  still 
more  valuable,  the  society  of  gentlemen,  enlightened, 
polished,  and  sociable." 


'  As  an  example  of  the  traits  of  the  Skilloots,  Parker  gives  this:  A  chief  with  a 
few  of  his  people  came  on  board,  being  very  talkative  and  sportive.  '  He  asked 
that,  as  they  were  about  to  part,  Captain  Lambert  should  give  him  a  shirt,  which 
having  received,  he  put  it  or.,  saying,  "How  much  better  wouhl  a  new  pair 
of  pantaloons  look  with  this  shirt. "  The  pants  being  given  him,  he  said, 
"A  vest  would  become  me,  aiid  increase  my  influence  with  my  people."  This 
'ift  being  added  to  the  others,  he  then  said,  "Well,  tyeo  [chief  or  gentleman], 
t  suppose  we  shall  not  see  each  other  again;  can  you  see  me  depart  without  a 
clean  blanket  ?  "  '  Failing  to  obtain  the  blanket,  he  l)egge<l  some  trifling  present 
id  went  away  well  satisfled.  Parhrs  Jour.,  Kc.  Tour,  144. 


f 


for  Ilia  little  sc  'i,  and 
^Parker's  Jour.,  E.c 


Tout 


■ay 
,  loj. 


PARKER   AT    FORT   VANCOUVER. 


113 


Late  ill  November,  the  weather  beiuj^  j)leasant, 
Parker  set  out  for  an  exploration  of  the  Willainotto 
\''alley,  liaving  for  a  guide  ^fitienne  Lucier,  and  being 
provided  by  McLoughHn  with  provisions  and  con- 
veniences for  the  journey.  He  went  to  Chauipoeg  by 
canoe,  and  thence  on  horseback  to  the  Methodist  Mis- 
.sion,  making  observations  upon  the  country  and  its 
advantages  for  settlement.  At  the  Mission  he  was 
joined  by  Jason  Lee,  who  accompanied  him  several 
miles  south,  showing  him  the  excellence  of  the  soil, 
grass,  and  timber,  and  the  pleasing  variety  of  wood 
and  prairie  in  that  part  of  the  Willamette  Valley. 

On  his  return  journey  to  Fort  Vancouver  he 
preached  at  Champoeg,  to  a  congregation  of  nearly  all 
the  inhabitants,  and  visited  Mr  Edwards,  who  was 
then  teaching  a  school  at  this  place.  A  call  at  Fort 
William,  and  return  to  Fort  Vancouver  on  the  2d  of 
December,  finished  his  explorations  west  of  the  Cas- 
cade Mountains. 


During  Parker's  stay  at  Fort  Vancouver,  lie  n- 
ceived  a  visit  from  the  chief  of  a  village  at  the  Cas- 
cades,  who  wished  to  talk  with  him  about  the  white 
man's  God.  This  chief  appeared  intelligent  and 
serious,  putting  questions  to  his  teachei  which  it 
would  have  troubled  him  to  answer,  had  the  darkness 
of  the  Indian  mind,  the  barrenness  of  the  [ndian  lan- 
guage, and  Parker's  ignorance  of  it  been  less  than  they 
were.  He  wished  Mr  Parker  to  instruct  his  children, 
both  in  material  and  spiritual  matters,  and  was  grieved 
when  it  was  explained  to  him  that  the  man  had  not 
come  as  a  teacher.  "How  many  sleeps,"  asked  the 
chief,  "  before  teachers  can  come  ?  "  "A  great  numbe ."," 
was  the  reply.  '-'Will  it  be  moons?"  "Yes,  at  least 
two  snows."  With  a  sorrowful  countenance  the  chief 
arose  and  departed. 

About  the  middle  of  February  somt>  natives  from 
the  Dalles  visited  Fort  Vancouver,  osklng  to  be  pres- 
ent at  the  Uf-'ual  Sunday  services,  conducting  them- 


Hl.XT.  OK.,  Vol..  I.     8 


114 


COMING  OF  THE   PRESBYTERIANS. 


selves  solierly,  and  taking  part  in  tlie  exercis'js. 
Having  prayed  with  tliem,  Parker  tried  to  convey 
to  these  people  some  idea  of  the  [jrineiples  of  Chi.'s- 
tianity.  When  he  had  conchided,  the  head  chief 
<lesired  to  be  heard.  He  told  Parker  that  he  had 
many  times  prayed  to  the  great  spirit  without  find- 
ing his  heart  better,  but  rather  worse.  He  had  before 
listened  to  the  teachings  of  a  white  man,  who  had 
told  him  to  observe  the  sabbath  by  raising  a  flag 
whicli  he  gave  him,  on  that  day,  by  praying,  singing, 
and  dancing  around  the  flag-staff";  and  that  he  ob- 
served these  instructions  for  a  long  time  without 
benefit.  He  wished  to  know  if  it  was  riglit.  On  being 
told  that  it  was  all  right  but  the  dancing,  he  [)rom- 
ised  to  give  that  up,  and  to  teach  his  peojjle  the 
right  way.  Parker  told  this  benighted  being,  who 
humbly  acknowledged  his  ignorance,  that  he  needed 
a  teaclier,  but  did  not  promise  him  one,  though  he 
felt  like  weeping  over  him ;  nor  did  he  propose  to 
send  him  one,  having  learned  very  early  in  his  ex- 
perience that  an  Indian  cannot  discriminate  between 
a  proposal  and  a  promise."  A  month  afterward  a 
party  of  the  same  natives  visited  Fort  Vancouver, 
and  related  that  since  they  had  left  oft'  dancing  on 
the  sabbath  their  prayers  had  been  answered;  that 
when  they  were  hungry  and  prayed  for  deer  their 
hunting  was  successful.  They  agam  appealed,  unsuc- 
cessfully, for  a  teacher. 

Winter  over,  on  the  14th  of  April  Parker  bade 
farewell  to  the  inmates  of  Fort  voiicouver  with  a 
lively  sense  of  the  obligations  under  which  they  had 
placed  him.  They  had  even  declined  to  accept  any 
return  for  Indian  goods,  or  interpreter's  services  fur- 
nished him  on  his  several  excursions,  where  according 
to  custom  payment  was  made  to  his  nati\^e  crew  in 
ahirts  and  blankets.  His  design  was  to  go  back  to  the 
Nez  Perc(5s,  to  whom  he  felt  bound  by  their  services 

*  Parker's  Jour,,  Ex.  Tour,  79. 


IN  THK   Ul'PHK  COUNTRY 


115 


\g  on 

that 

their 

LUSUC- 


bade 
ith  a 

had 
i  any 

fur- 
ding 
w  in 

the 

ices 


of  the  previous  year,  and  by  his  promises  made  to 
them  at  that  time.  To  the  Cayuses,  also,  he  had  given 
his  word  to  return  and  meet  them  in  the  spring  at 
Fort  Walla  Walla,  Further,  his  ititontion  was  to 
exphjre  the  country  as  far  as  possible  in  the  region  of 
the  Upper  Columbia  with  reference  to  mii-sion  stations, 
and  then  to  return  to  Green  River  to  meet  Whitman 
and  his  associates, 

End)arking  in  a  canoe  belonging  to  a  ciiief  from  the 
Dalles,  he  set  out  with  a  chance  company  of  Indians, 
half-breeds,  and  white  men,  on  the  second  day  out 
meeting  with  Captain  Wyeth  returning  from  his  fort 
<.)n  Snake  River,  with  whom  he  exchanged  a  few  words 
as  their  canoes  passed.  At  the  Dalles  horses  wcTe 
hired  from  the  natives  to  take  him  above  the  narrows, 
where  was  a  bateau  which  conveyed  him  to  Walb. 
Walla,  where  he  arrived  on  the  26th,  finding  a  num- 
ber of  Nez  Perces  and  Cayuses  awaiting  him.  He 
remained  two  weeks  instructing  them,  being  treated 
with  such  kindness  as  to  inspire  a  hope  that  their 
disposition  to  learn  was  more  than  the  mere  love  of 
novelty.  The  only  opposition  to  his  teachings  was 
made  by  a  Cayuse  chief,  who  would  not  accept  the 
doctrine  of  monogamous  marriaij-e  with  the  readiness 
of  the  Xez  Perces,  declaring  he  would  not  part  with 
any  of  his  wives,  but  as  he  was  old  and  had  always 
lived  in  sin,  it  was  too  late  for  him  to  change  his  prac- 
tices, and  he  preferred  to  go  to  the  place  of  burning. 

On  the  9th  of  May  Parker  set  out  on  his  return 
to  the^  rendezvous  at  Green  River,  in  company  with 
several  Nez  Perces,  spending  a  night  at  an  encamp- 
ment of  this  tribe,  and  witnessing  the  burial  of  a 
child,^"  at  the  head  of  whose  grave  the  Indians  pre- 
pared to  place  a  cross,  when  he  interrupted  them,  and 
l)roke  the  symbol  in  pieces,  telling  them  that  they 
should  place  a  stone  instead,  to  which  they  readily 
consented."     Parker  excuses  himself  for  this  by  saying 

'*  For  luaiincrs  ami  custoiiia  of  the  Nez  Percys,  Cayxises,  and  \\''alla  Wallas, 
8tH>  Nutive  RticeK,  i.  .310. 
^^  Smet's  Lettem,  212. 


Illli 


His 


(0.\lIN<i   or  Till-;   J'KKSIiVTKItlAXS. 


that  tlui  Indians  wiTt;  luoro  lik«^ly  t«»  make  the  cross 
a  steppinjjf-stonc!  to  idohitry  tliaii  to  umlerstaiid  its 
spiritual  siL^iiiHcaucc;  not  ap|)earin<i^  to  purcoivo  that 
lie  was  deahiij^  with  savages  who  were  already  inihue<l 
with  the  ])rineiples  of  the  Koiiian  Catholic  religion.'" 
After  travelling  several  days  to  the  Kooskooskic; 
River,  Parker,  dreading  the  tc'rril)le  Salmon  River 
Mountains,  where  ho  narrowly  esi -aped  death  the  year 
hefore,  tried  to  persuade  the  Nez  Pcrces  to  take  the 
(Irande  Jloiide  and  Snake  River  route  usually  trav- 
elled hy  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com})any's  parties.  As 
the  Indians,  however,  preferred  the  Salmon  River 
route,  which  avoided  the  hostile  Rlackfoot  warriors, 
he  changed  his  design,  and  after  sending  letters  hy 

"As  this  mistako  of  I'arki^r's  afterward  a.-<Humcfl  serifuiH  import,  soiiio 
explanation  should  l)c  made  of  tlic  religions  ideas  of  the  natives  sek'ct(!<l 
by  hiiu  as  most  hopeful  and  teaehahle.  It  will  he  renieml)ered  that  tiio 
Palles  people  olwervod  Sunday  as  a  holiday,  in  the  nianncr  of  the  Catholic 
einirch.  Parker  lunmelf  exi)lains  in  a  note,  p.  2.H,  that  the  reason  assigned 
to  him  for  daneing  being  included  in  their  ceremonials  Wius  the  fear  tiiat  if 
it  were  forbidden  they  could  not  be  intercHteil  in  jnire  worslup;  obviously  th's 
reason  was  not  fumi::he<l  him  by  the  natives  tl)f)msclves.  Again,  in  rehiting 
tlic  circumstance  of  the  burial  cross,  he  remarks.  Jiat  they  hiid  probably  l)een 
told  by  some  Iro(pu)is,  a  few  of  whom  he  hail  seen  west  of  the  llocky  Moun- 
tains, to  place  a  cross  a",  the  head  of  a  grave,  again  showing  he  was  not 
wholly  ignorant  t»f  Indian  theology  in  this  quarter.  Slica,  in  his  Ilixlorii  of 
t/ie  Citf/inlic  J//'.v>i/o/w,  407,  says  that  some  Iroquois  formerly  of  the  Coughna- 
waga  Catholic  mission,  joined  the  Flatheads  2)revious  to  18'2(),  the  tribe  be- 
coming christianized  about  tnat  time,  tlirough  tlieir  example;  ami  that  tlu'ir 
desire  for  teachers  led  to  the  pilgrimage  to  St  Louis  before  mentioned.  They 
oontinued  in  the  ceremonials  and  practices  of  the  church,  daily  offering  up 
l)rayers  to  (Jod,  and  keeping  the  sabbath.  This  agrees  with  the  obserx'ations 
of  Bonneville  in  1  SIM,  who  Hnyi,  the  Flatheads,  Nez  Perces,  and  Cayuses  had 
a  strong  devotional  feeling,  but  speaks  of  it  as  successfully  cultivated  by 
some  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  peoph;.  So  far  as  Mr  I'ambrun  of 
Walla  Walla  is  concerned,  this  I  believe  to  be  the  triith,  but  not  of  the  com- 
pany's servants  generally,  as  Dunn  in  liia  HiMorji  of  the  Oin/oii  Territori/, 
181,  informs  us,  they  having  occiision  to  blame  tliemselves  for  their  neglect. 
So  well  advanced  in  the  Christian  religion  were  tiie  tribes  mentioned,  ac- 
cording to  Bonneville,  that  they  would  not  raise  their  camps  on  Sunday,  nor 
tish,  hunt,  or  trade  on  that  day  except  in  eases  of  severe  necessity,  but 
passed  a  jwrtion  of  the  day  in  religious  ceremonies,  the  chiefs  leiidiug  the 
ilevotions.  and  afterward  giving  a  sort  of  sermon  upon  abstaining  from  lying, 
stealing,  cheating,  and  quarrelling,  and  the  duty  of  being  ho8i)itable  to 
strangers.  Prayers  and  exhortations  were  also  made  in  the  morning  on  week 
ilays,  often  by  the  chief  on  hor.sel)ack,  moving  slowly  about  the  camp,  and 
giving  his  instructions  in  a  loud  voice,  the  people  listening  with  attention, 
iuid  at  the  end  of  every  sentence  responding  one  word  in  unison,  apparently 
equivalent  to  amen.  While  these  ceremonials  were  going  on  every  employ- 
ment was  suspended.  If  an  Indian  was  riding  by,  he  dismounted,  and  at- 
tended with  reverence  until  the  conclusion.  When  the  chief  had  finished,  he 
said,  'I  have  done,' upon  wliieh  there  was  an  exclamation  in  unison.      'With 


I 


IX  SKAUCH   OF  MISSION'   HITKS. 


u: 


the  Iiidiaus  to  ])r  Wliitninii  to  \)v  torwuicU'd  to  tlw 
Unitt'd  States,  lio  turii'Ml  hack  to  the  (\iliinibia  Kiver, 
iletoriniiu'd  to  tako  tiu'  sea  route  lionie. 

No  loiijj^or  lacking  for  time,  he  decided  to  make 
furtlier  explorations  for  I'lission  stations,  and  noted 
with  favor  the  ui)per  pari  of  tiie  Walhi  Walla  Valley 
as  a  site  for  an  estahlishment,  the  only  objection  to  it, 
in  his  mind,  beinu^  that  it  was  not  central  for  the  No/ 
l\Tces,  Cayuses,  and  Walla  Wallas,  to  whom  he  had 


].i 


■omised  a  mission. 


H 


ow  easnv 


le 


says, 


"miirht 


the  ])lonijfh  i^o  througli  these  valleys,  and  what  rich 
and  abundant  harvests  might  be  ijathcsred  by  the  hand 
of  industry.  But  even  now  the  spontaneous  growth 
of  these  vast  plains,  including  millions  of  acres,  yields 

these  religious  services,'  says  Bonneville,  '  probably  deriveil  from  tlio  white 
men,  the  tribes  above  mentioned  niiiinle  some  of  their  old  Indian  eerenio- 
iiialn;  such  as  dancinjf  to  the  cadence  of  a  song  or  ballad,  wliiuh  is  generally 
done  in  a  large  lodge  providf'd  for  the  purpose.  Besidt\s  Sundays,  they  like- 
wise  observe  the  canlinal  liolidaya  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church.'  Imntjn 
Hoiiiici'illc's  A)hriitiin:-i,  38!)-'.)0.  Says  .lolni  ^\'yeth,  who  also  gives  thest; 
savages  a  good  cliaraetcu":  '  I  know  luit  wliat  to  say  of  their  religion.  I  saw 
iidtliing  liiie  inuiges,  or  any  objects  of  worship  whatever,  and  yet  tlicy  aj)- 
pcared  to  keep  a  sabbath,  for  tliero  is  a  day  on  which  they  do  not  hunt  nor 
gand)le,  but  sit  moping  all  day,  and  look  like  fools,  lliere  certainly  ap- 
l)eared  among  them  an  lionor,  or  conscience,  and  sense  of  justice.  Tliey 
would  do  what  they  promised,  and  return  our  strayed  horses  and  lost 
articles."  Orei/nn,  54.  ToMnisend  was  equally  struck  with  the  religious  ciiar- 
ac'ter  of  the  Nez  I'erces  iind  Cayusos,  and  after  describing  tiudr  family  wor- 
sliip,  concludes  by  saying:  '  I  never  wiis  more  gratilieil  by  any  exhiliition  in 
my  life.  Tlie  liumble,  subdued,  and  beseeching  looks  of  the  poor  untutored 
beings  who  were  calling  upon  tiieir  heavenly  father  to  forgive  their  sins,  and 
continue  Ins  mercies  to  them,  iind  tlio  evident  and  hi^art-felt  sincerity  wliieh 
characterized  the  wliolo  scene,  was  truly  atl'ecting,  antl  very  impressive.'  A'ar., 
107.  Elijah  White,  in  a  letter  to  tlie  Oreijon  SpecOi/or  of  November  12,  1S46, 
says:  '  Indeed,  the  red  men  of  tliat  region  would  almost  seem  to  be  of  a  differ- 
ent order  from  those  with  whom  we  have  been  in  nioro  familiar  intercourse.' 
I'arker  lumself  often  remarked  upon  the  reverence  and  attention  with  whicli 
the  I'latlieads  and  Nez  Perces  listened  to  his  devotional  exercises,  in  wliicli 
they  joined  M'ith  an  intelligence  that  surprised  him.  The  eil'ect  of  the 
teaching  they  had  some  time  had  was  apparent  in  tlie  exhibition  of  that  hos- 
jiitality,  care  for  f)thers,  and  general  gootl  conduct  to  which  he  often  referred. 
On  one  of  his  journeys  with  these  peojjle  he  says:  'One  sabbath  <lay  al>out 
eight  in  the  morning,  some  of  the  chiefs  came  to  me  and  asked  where  they 
should  assemble.  I  asked  them  if  they  could  not  be  accommodated  in  tlie 
willows  which  skirte<l  the  stream  of  water  on  whicli  we  were  encamped. 
They  thought  not.  1  then  inquired  if  they  could  not  take  tlie  poles  of  some 
of  t.icir  lodges  and  construct  a  shade.  They  thought  they  could;  ami  with- 
out any  other  directions  went  and  ma<le  preparation,  and  about  eleven 
o'clock  came  anil  saitl  they  were  ready  for  worship.  I  found  tlieni  all  as- 
sembled, men,  women,  and  children,  between  four  and  live  hundred,  in 
what  I  would  call  a  .sanctuary  of  (iod,  constructed  with  their  lodges,  nearly 
one  hundred  feet  long,  and  about  twenty  feet  wiile;  and  all  were  arranged 


IIS 


COMINO   OF  THE  rUESBYTKllIAXS. 


ill  such  profusion,  that  not  tlio  fiftieth  part  becomes 
the  food  of  organic  life."^^ 

A  mission  located  in  this  valley  he  believed  would 
draw  to  itself  a  settlement  of  the  Indians,  who  would 
cultivate  tlie  soil,  while  at  the  same  time  they  were 
taught  sacred  things.  Accordingly,  he  selected  for  a 
mission  station  a  spot  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Walla 
Walla  liiver,  near  the  moutli  of  a  small  stream  now 
known  as  Mill  Creek,  where  there  was  a  small  A'alley 
.'overed  luxuriantly  with  rye  grass,  from  which  the 
Indians  called  it  Waiilatpa,  or  Waiilati)u.^*  It  was 
not  the  most  cheerful  of  sites  for  a  homestead,  being 
surrounded  almost  entirely  by  high  rolling  hills  cov- 
ered with  coarse  bunch-grass;  but  it  furnished  water 
and  wood,  and  presented  a  certain  })icturesqueness 
which  its  very  is(  )lati(m  enhanced.  It  was  but  twenty- 
two  miles  from  Fort  Walla  Walla,  which  was  by  no 
means  an  unim})ortant  recommendation  to  a  solitary 
white  family. ^^ 

in  rows,  through  the  length  of  the  huilillng,  upon  their  knees,  with  a  nar- 
row spaee  in  the  niiiliUe,  lengthwise,  resenihling  an  aisle.  Tlie  wliole  area 
within  was  eari)ete(l  with  their  dressed  skins,  and  they  were  all  attired  in  their 
liest.  Tlie  ehiefs  were  arranged  in  a  seniicirele  at  the  end  which  I  was  to 
occupy.  I  co\ild  not  liave  believed  they  had  the  means,  or  could  have  known 
liow  to  liave  constructed  so  convenient  and  so  decent  a  place  for  worship,  and 
especially  ius  it  was  the  first  time  tliey  had  liad  public  worship.  Tlie  whole 
sight  taken  together  sensibly  affected  me,  and  filled  me  with  astonishment; 
and  I  felt  as  though  it  was  the  liouse  of  ( iod  and  the  gate  of  heaven.  They 
all  continued  in  their  kneeling  position  during  singing  and  prayer,  and  when 

I  closed  iirayer  with  amen,  they  all  said  what  WJis  etpiivalent  in  their  lan- 
guage to  amen.  And  wlien  I  commeuced  the  sermon,  tliey  sunk  back  upon 
their  heel:?.'  Porhr'x  Join:,  Kt:  Tour,  1)7-8.  Notliiag  could  be  more  evident 
than  that  at  some  time  some  iiiHuential  and  competent  tee-vclur  had  laid  tlie 
foundati<ms  of  religion  and  morality  with  eonscieiuious  care.  Who  lie  was, 
whence  lie  came,  or  whither  he  went,  is  almost  purely  conjectural.  The  ex- 
|ilanation  giver,  by  Shea  is  re[ieate<l  in  Sfrirklniid'.i  Mifnioim,  120. 

'^  Notwithstiinding  this  early  recognition  l>v  Parker  of  ihe  north  of  t.ie 
Walla  AVi'Ua  Valley  for  settlement,  it  was  thirty  years  before  it  began  to  be 
esteemed  lor  farming  purposes;  and  another  decade  had  ptossed  cro  the  fact  wa'.i 
accepted  that  this  was  one  of  the  most  i)roiluctive  wheat-fields  of  the  world. 

'*^ '  Place  of  Rye  (trass.'     This  word  is  commonly  spelled  '\ith  a  terminal 

II  instead  of  a,  which  some  say  changes  its  signification,  afiirining  tliat  a  is 
the  proper  termination  for  the  word  with  the  above  .neaning. 

'■'  Undoubtedly,  this  spot  Wiis  the  choice  of  I'arker,  though  in  (rnii/'t^  Hint. 
Or.,  1(55-1),  the  reader  is  made  to  believe  that  the  choice  WiU'  left  to  Whit- 
man. Parker  says  that  after  encamping  for  a  iii^lit  on  the  'upper  part  of 
the  Walla  Walla  River,'  he  rode  twenty-two  miles  and  arrived  at  Walla 
Walla,  Whitman  may  liave  selected  a  spot,  not  the  identical  one,  in  tlie 
Same  vicinity. 


WAIILAXPU. 


119 


At  the  time  Parker  made  his  selection  of  Waii- 
latpu  he  was  alone,  except  so  far  as  he  was  surrounded 
by  Indians,  who  overtook  him  and  his  Nez  Percd 
guide,  and  continued  with  him  out  of  curiosity  or 
interest.  To  these  he  undoubtedly  communicated  his 
intention  of  founding  a  mission  at  this  spot,  and  prob- 
ably obtpined  their  sanction,  as  tliey  were  eager  to 
have  a  misfjion  established  among  them.  There  is 
nothing,  he  wever,  in  his  account  of  his  journey, 
which  indicates  that  he  offerod  the  Cayuses,  whose 
country  it  vas,  anything  in  ptyment  for  the  land,  or 
that  the  subject  was  discussei.  On  the  contrary, 
having  no  interpreter  with  him,  he  mentions  a  diffi- 
culty in  communicating  with  the  Indians ;  and  there  is 
no  evidence  that  at  this  time  t  .le  Cayuses  set  any  value 
on  land  required  for  an  individual  farm.  It  seems  to 
have  been  taken  for  grar  Lud  that  there  was  to  be  a 
mission  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians,  and  not  of 
the  missionaries.^^ 


in  their 

was  to 

known 

hip,  and 

wlioh; 
liment; 

They 

when 
ir  lan- 

upon 
•vident 
lid  tlio 

was, 
"ho  ex- 


Hisf. 
Wliit- 
)art  of 
Walla 
in  tlie 


'"In  Brouillet's  Autheulk  Account  nf  the.  Murder  of  Dr  WMtman,  2.3,  is  a 
Htateni(!ut  by  John  Toupin,  which  must  be  taken  with  allowance.  Toupin, 
who  was  interpreter  at  Fort  Walla  V/alla  from  1824  to  1841,  tirst  avers  that 
Mr  Parker  made  the  selection  of  the  luissiou  station  in  183,5,  which  is  not 
possible,  as  during  this  journey  he  proceeded  to  F'ort  Vancouver  with  the 
delay  of  only  ouo  aay  to  ai  lange  for  his  passage  down  the  river.  This  might 
have  been  simply  an  error  in  date,  did  not  Toupin  go  on  to  say  that  Air 
Parker,  in  company  with  Mr  Pambrun,  an  American,  and  liimself  as  inter- 
preter, went  first  to  Waiilatpu,  a  place  belonging  to  three  chiefs  of  the 
('ayuses,  where  lie  met  tliem  by  appointment  to  select  a  site  for  a  mission  for 
Whitman,  who,  he  told  thtm,  would  come  in  the  '  following  spring  ' — whereas, 
if  the  error  wa*;  in  date,  it  woidd  have  been  tlie  following  autumn  tliat  he 
promised  them  that  they  would  see  Whitman.  From  the  (.'ayuses,  says 
Toupin,  Parker  went  to  the  Nez  Perces,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-live 
miles  distant,  on  a  small  creek  emptying  into  the  Ko.iskooskie,  or  Clearwater, 
seven  or  eight  miles  from  the  place  afterwanls  chost  n  for  tlie  Nez  Perc(5  mis- 
.sion,  where  he  made  the  same  promises.  'Next  spring  there  wnll  conu^  a 
missionary  to  establish  himself  here  and  take  a  piece  of  lan<l;  but  he  will  not 
take  it  for  nothing;  you  shall  I)c  paid  every  year;  this  is  tlie  American 
t'asliioii.'  The  facts  as  given  by  Parker  show  that  the  only  occfisious  wlieii 
lie  could  have  been  ^t  Waiilatpu  were  those  when  he  was  alone  with  a  cluance 
company  of  Indi.ans,  and  witiiout  an  interpreter.  So  ini])ortunt  a  circiim- 
stiuice  as  a  formal  meeting  of  himself  with  the  chiefs  .ind  interpreter,  witnessed 
by  I'ambrun,  and  an  American,  would  not  liave  gone  unmentioned,  wlien 
so  sli','ht  a  fact  as  a  ride  with  Paniln'un  to  tlie  contiui'uce  of  the  Snake  and 
''olumbia  rivers  is  carefully  recorded;  therefore  it  wouM  seem  that  the  story 
of  To«])in  was  invented  to  Berve  a  purpose;  and  tiiat  Parker,  who  was  so 
careful  of  liis  word,  did  not  promise  the  C'ayuses  payment  or  annual  rent  for 
their  laud. 


'i! 


I 


^|:l 


ii 


120 


COMIN(}   OF  THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


Returning  to  Walla  Walla,  Parker  made  arrange- 
ments for  a  tour  up  the  north  branch  of  the  Columbia 
to  Fort  Colville,  the  most  northern  post  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company  on  that  river,  in  the  course  of 
which  he  expected  to  meet  other  tribes  than  those  he 
liad  seen,  and  to  gain  much  interesting  informaticHi. 


Ill  this  design  ho  was  encouraged  by  Pambrun,  who 
])rocured  for  liim  Indian  guides,  and  chose  two  Frenoii 
voyageurs  to  be  his  assistants,  one  of  wjioni  spoke 
the  English  language,  though  imperfectly.  In  order 
to  see  more  of  the  country  and  the  n.itives,  it  was 
decided  to  travt^l  with   hoi-ses,  rather  than   by  l)oat 


IX  THE  SPOKANE  COUNTRY. 


121 


r» 


— h; 

i 


y--^ 


b«4. 


icli 

.kt- 

us 
)at 


in  going  up  the  river,  and  to  pass  by  way  of  the 
Spokane  country,  leaving  the  great  bend  of  the 
Columbia  a  long  distance  to  the  left. 

The  23d  of  May  being  fi'  d  upon  for  beginning  his 
journey,  the  first  day's  tra.ol  brought  him  opposite 
the  mouth  of  the  Pavilion  or  Palouse  River,  up  v/hicli 
lay  his  course  to  the  head  of  the  Spokane  River.  At 
this  first  encampment  he  made  the  acquaintance  of 
the  Palouses,  an  inferior  branch  of  the  Nez  Perc^ 
nation,  whom  he  paid  for  assisting  him  to  cross  to  the 
north  side  of  Snake  River.  Passing  over  hills  and 
valleys  destitute  of  trees,  and  meeting  with  several 
villages  of  Xez  Perces  and  Spokanes,  he  encamped 
the  close  of  tlie  second  day  at  one  of  the  latter,  his 
guides  explaining  to  them  the  object  of  his  visit  to 
their  country,  at  which  they  expressed  their  satisfac- 
tion. 

On  the  third  day  the  guides  missed  the  trail,  and 
the  traveller  was  nearly  lost  on  the  trackless  j)rairie; 
but  they  fortunately  fell  in  with  a  party  of  Spokanes, 
one  of  wIkhu  consented  to  show  them  the  way  to  the 
Spokane  River,  leading  the  party  to  within  sight  of 
a  lake,  and  telling  them  that  on  the  east  side  of  it  was 
the  main  trail  leading  to  their  destination. 

What  struck  Parker  witli  astonislimcnt  was  the 
conduct  of  his  new  guide  in  refusing  to  go  with  him 
to  the  river,  thoui>]i  he  offered  a  larj^e  reward  for 
the  service.  *'  I  have  shown  the  way ;  you  cannot 
miss  it;  why  sliould  I  allow  you  to  ]>ay  me  for  un- 
necessary labor  ^ "  iiujuircd  this  punctilious  savage  ;  nor 
could  he  be  persuaded  from  his  determination.  This 
conscientiousness,  as  it  appeared  to  liim,  and  which 
would  have  been  extraordinary  in  a  man  of  civilized 
habits,  so  moved  tlie  missionai'v  that  he  not  onlv  ])aid 
liim  well  on  tlie  spot,  buj  afterward  sent  him  a  pres- 
ent of  powder  and  ball. 

Crossing  the  SpH.ane  River  on  the  27tli,  his  ferrv- 
lujin  guided  him  to  the  ])rhicipal  village,  where  there 
was  a  small  field  of  Hourishuig  )»otatoes.  [lease,  l^eans, 


12-2 


COMING  OF  THE  PRESBYTE11IAN8. 


and  other  vegetables,  the  first  instance  of  native 
agriculture  Parker  had  seen  west  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  although  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
would  at  any  time  have  encouraged  the  Indians  in 
planting  in  tlie  neighborhood  of  their  forts,  had  they 
cared  to  cultivate  the  soil.  The  Indians  about  Pu"ret 
Sound,  more  than  any  others,  seem  to  have  taken  to 
the  cultivation  of  the  potato  for  food, 

Encamping  for  the  night,  sixty  miles  from  Colville, 
he  found  many  Si)okanos  and  Nez  Perces  gathered, 
who  had  heard  from  others  that  a  teacher  of  reli- 
gion was  passing  through  the  country,  and  they  were 
anxious  to  see  and  listen  to  so  great  a  personage. 
They  brought  with  them,  with  wise  forethought,  an 
interpreter  of  their  own,  a  young  Spokane,  who  had 
attended  school  at  tlie  Red  River  settlement,  and  who 
understood  English  fairly.  There  was  i)resent  also  a 
Xez  Perce  chief  who  knew  the  Spokane  tongue.  For 
their  edification  religious  services  were  held  in  the 
evening,  and  as  the  interpreter  rendered  the  sermon 
into  Si)okane,  the  Nez  Perce  translated  it  into  iiis 
language,  wliich  was  done  without  disturbance,  and 
was  entirely  the  idea  of  the  Indians  themselves.  So 
wonderfully  interesting  did  the  preacher-  find  these 
people,  that  he  regarded  it  as  a  special  providence 
that  he  had  suffered  several  detentions  wliich  pre- 
vented his  passing  them  ;  and  as  he  rode  next  day 
through  a  very  fertile  but  narrow  valley  extending 
north  and  south  for  fifty  miles,  he  settled  in  his 
mind  that  here  too  should  be  a  mission,  from  which 
the  tribes  of  the  Spokanes,  Coiurs  d'Alene,  Pends 
d'Oreillc,  and  Shuyelj)i,  or  Kettle  Falls,  could  all  be 
reached. 

Reaching  Fort  Colville  after  a  hard  ride,  on  the 
evening  of  the  28tli,  in  an  almost  starving  condition, 
having  exliausted  his  supplies,  he  found  liimself  just 
too  late  to  see  McDonalcI,  the  gentleman  in  charge, 
who  had  a  few  days  before  gone  with  tlie  annual 
brigade    to    Fort  Vancouver.      Every   attention    was 


1!      ■' 


DEPARTURE  OF  PARKER. 


12S 


j)ai(l  toward  making  hiin  (.•(.)ii)lortal)k!  by  tho  people 
at  the  fort,  hut  his  visit  extoiidod  only  over  the 
sabbath,  v^'^hich  he  spent  as  usual  in  preaching,  and 
teaching  the  Indians.  On  the  30th  he  journeyed  to 
the  Grande  Coulee,  in  whose  deej)  chasm  a  night  was 
passed.  He  was  again  lost  for  a  few  hours  on  the 
great  plain  of  the  Columbia;  but  more  by  his  own 
judgment  than  the  knowledge  of  the  Indian  guides 
lie  made  his  way  safely  to  Fort  Okanagan. 

At  this  place  he  made  no  stay,  but  obtaining  a 
bateau  and  two  natives  to  assist  the  voyageurs,  set 
out  on  his  return  by  river,  sending  his  guides  with 
the  horses  to  Walla  Walla,  where  he  arrived  tlio  3d 
of  June,  having  been  eleven  days,  Sundays  excepted, 
in  the  saddle  or  bateau.  After  a  rest  of  two  days  he 
left  for  Fort  Vancouver,  where  he  arrived  in  safety 
on  tlie  evening  of  the  Dth,  and  took  passage  in  one  of 
the  fur  company's  vessels  to  the  Sandwich  Islands. 

It  is  worthy  of  note,  in  connection  with  Parker's 
residence  of  several  months  at  Fort  A'ancouver,  that 
thence  originated  the  practice  of  assembling  the 
Canadians  twice  every  Sunday,  and  reading  to  them 
in  French  a  ]>ortion  of  the  scriptures  and  a  sermon : 
which  practice  was  kept  u[)  until  the  r.rrival  of  Mr 
Heaver. 

Before  leaving  Oregon  Parker  witnessed  the  intro- 
duction of  a  steam-vessel  into  the  coasting  service  of 
the  company.  This  was  the  Beaver,  which  arrived  in 
the  Cokunbia  River  in  the  spring  of  183(5,  and  on 
which  Parker  with  a  party  of  gentlemen  from  the 
fort  took  an  excursion  on  tlie  1 4th  of  June  around 
Wapato  Island,  indulging  during  their  enjoyment  in 
"a  train  of  prospective  reflections  upon  the  ])rol)able 
changes  wliich  would  take  ])]ace  in  these  remote 
regions  in  a  very  few  years,"  and  in  the  dream  ''a 
new  empire  be  added  to  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth.'"' 


'•  Pnrkvrn  Jour.,  Kr.  Tour,  810-  ■ .  This  pioneer  steamlmat  on  the  Pacific 
Ocean  was  eominaniled  by  Captain  Oavid  Home,  her  consort  being  the  Nereid, 
Uoyal,  niaater.     She  was  a  hnv-i)rcssure,  side- wheel  steamer,  110  tons  register, 


hid 


124 


COMING   OF  THE       IKSBYTERIAXS. 


On  the  IHtli  of  June  Parker  took  final  leave  of 
Fort  Vancouver,  and  sailed  for  Honolulu,  where  he 
was  compelled  to  wait  until  the  middle  of  December 
for  a  vessel  to  the  United  States,  reaching  his  home 
in  Ithaca  the  23d  of  May,  1837,^**  having-  travelled 
28,000  miles. 


i!  -f.  : 


1  i.i 


We  have  now  to  deal  with  the  results  of  the  explo- 
ration ordered  by  the  American  Board.  When  Mr 
Parker  decided  to  proceed  alone,  Dr  Whitman  turned 
back  with  tlie  caravan  to  St  Louis  for  the  next  year's 
supplies,  reaching  the  Missouri  frontier  late  in  the 
autumn  of  1835.  The  business  in  hand  was  some- 
thing requiring  all  his  superabundant  energy,  for 
before  spring  he  must  bring  into  the  service  of  the 
Presbyterian  missions  in  Oregon  persons  enough  to 
set  up  at  least  two  stations,  one  among  the  Flatheads 
and  one  among  the  Nez  Perces. 

To  enlist  the  symj)athy  of  Christians,  he  took  with 
him  two  Indian  lads,  as  did  Columbus,  Pizarro,  and 
Wyeth,  and  as  do  othei-s,  down  to  the  Indian  agents 
and  military  men  of  the  present  day,  when  wishing  to 
interest  the  public  in  alien  and  savage  races.  With 
these  he  went  directly  to  the  missionary  board,  and 
rei)orted  the  field  of  mission  w(  rk  west  of  the  Rockv 

built  at  Blackwell,  England.  Her  paddle-wheels  were  small  and  well  forward. 
She  carried  a  crew  of  thirty  men,  arniament  4  six -pounders,  with  a  large 
supply  of  small-arins.  Tlie  decks  were  protected  by  boarding-netting,  the 
natives  being  restricted  to  the  gangways  for  access.  After  leaving  the  Colum- 
bia in  1837  she  never  afterward  entered  it,  but  was  engaged  in  coasting  the 
northern  seas,  collecting  furs,  ami  supplying  the  northern  forts.  This  steamer 
entered  the  harbors  of  Esquimalt  and  Victoria  in  1830.  She  was  in  1881  a 
tug  in  tlie  latter  harbor.  Heattle  InleUiijenevr,  Jan.  1,  1881;  FinhiysouK  V.  I. 
itiid  X.  W.  Cmut,  MS.,  (). 

'"With  tlu!  departure  of  Mr  Parker  from  Oregon  ends  his  relation  to  its 
history.  He  publishe<l  in  18.''t8  at  Itliaca,  N.  Y.,  a  Join-iKtlofn,  Erploniii/  Tour 
lUfumil  t.lic  /fiH-ki/  MoiniOiiim,  the  first  iictnal  report  of  the  country  and  the 
Indaiu  iribes  since  tlie  expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clarke,  if  we  except  the  partial 
accounts  of  Kelley,  William  Strong  of  Porthmd  remarks  in  his  Jlist.  Or., 
MS.,  '23,  that  he  was  a  jiroof-reader  on  Parker's  book,  'the  first  book  in 
regard  to  the  country  l)y  an  American.'  Parker's  remarks  upon  the  geography, 
geology,  climate,  productions,  and  possil)ilities  of  tlic  tlien  unsettled  Oregon 
territory  show  close  ol)servation,  and  supplementing  his  own  discoveries  with 
information  contributed  by  the  gentlemen  at  Fort  Vancouver,  formed  a  faith- 
ful and  valuable  account  of  the  country. 


WHITMAN    AXI»   Sl'ALDINd. 


125 


Mountains  as  ripe  and  waiting  for  the  liarvtstors.  Yet 
he  seemed  unable  to  awaken  sufficient  eiitlinsiasni  in 
individual  members  of  the  ehureh  to  draw  them  from 
their  conifortable  firesides  into  the  storms  of  March, 
which  thev  nmst  face  to  join  a  caravan  for  the  sum- 
mer  journey  over  a  homeless  wilderness.  For  it  was 
families,  not  single  men,  whom  Whitman  wished  to 
establish  as  missionaries  among  the  Indians.  In  his 
difficulty,  and  fully  determined  to  return  himself  as  a 
missionary,  he  appealed  successfully  to  Miss  Narcissa 
Prentiss,  daughter  of  Judge  Prentiss  of  I^rattsburg, 
New  York,  and  in  February  1836  they  were  married. 
Mrs  Whitman  w^as  a  bright,  fresh-looking  woman, 
with  blue  eyes  and  fair  hair,  good  figur-e  and  jileasant 
voice,  more  than  commonly  attractive  in  person  and 
manner,  besides  being  well  educated,  and  something 
of  a  contrast  to  her  husband  in  her  careful  habits 
and  regard  for  small  refinements.  But  one  man  and 
woman  could  not  go  alone  into  this  new  world,  as 
did  the  primal  pair,  and  Whitman  s«)Ught  some  other 
husband  and  w'li'v  to  accompany  them.  He  had,  how- 
ever, started  on  his  westward  journey  in  March,  before 
he  found  at  Pittsburg,  on  his  route,  the  Rev.  H.  H. 
Spalding  and  wife,  newly  married,  graduated  only  a 
short  time  before  from  Lane  Theological  Seminary 
and  the  female  college  near  it  in  the  suburbs  of  Cin- 
cinnati, and  who  were  already  on  their  way  to  the 
Osages  as  missionaries. 

Mr  Spalding  was  considered  a  man  of  plain,  practical 
talents,  more  esteemed  for  his  sincerity  and  faithful- 
ness than  for  his  gifts,  yet  lionored  as  a  zealous  and 
comparatively  successful  missionary.  Mrs  Eliza  Spald- 
ing, daughter  of  a  farmer  named  Hart,  of  Oneida 
County,  New  York,  had  been  taught  to  spin,  weave, 
and  make  clothing,  as  well  as  to  cook.  These  were  ex- 
cellent attainments  for  anew  country;  added  to  which 
she  was  an  apt  linguist,  and  something  of  an  artist  in 
water-colors,  both  of  "hich  acquirements  proved  of 
use  in  the  missionary  work,  the  first  in  catching  the 


I  h 


126 


COMINd   OF  THE   PRESBYTKHIANS. 


native  tongues,  the  second  in  teaching  by  rude  but 
vigorous  pictures  what  coukl  not  be  conveyed  with 
force  in  language.  The  tall,  slender,  plain,  dark 
woman,  with  few  charms  of  voice  or  feature,  saga- 
cious, decided,  sympathizing,  and  faithful,  won  the 
confidence  of  all  about  her.  What  she  lacked  in 
personal  charms  she  made  up  in  the  excellences  of 
her  character,  taking  for  her  own  standard  that  of 
the  highest  in  pious  life.  She  was  fitted  by  nature 
for  the  work  of  a  missionary,  and  found  the  reward 
of  self-sacrifice  in  elevation  of  spirit.'^ 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  opportune  for 
Whitman's  purpose  than  meeting  these  people,  to 
whom  he  immediately  proposed  to  change  their  des- 
tniation,  and  join  him  in  his  mission  beyond  the 
Rocky  Mountains.  Spalding  hesitated  on  account 
of  his  wife's  delicate  health,  and  as  too  hazardous 
an  adventure  for  women,  but  Mrs  Spalding  asketl 
twenty-four  hours  for  prayerful  consideration,  which 
ended  in  their  undert'kino'  the  mission.  Innnediate 
preparations  were  made  for  the  more  extended  jour- 
ney, and  Mrs  Spalding,  without  returning  to  the 
home  of  her  parents,  set  her  face  toward  the  far-ofl' 
Oregon. 

The  company  of  four,  with  a  leenforcement  for  the 
Pawnee  mission  of  Dunbar  and  Allis,  now  proceeded 
to  Liberty,  Missouri,  where  they  were  joined  by  the 
fifth  Oregon  missionary,  William  H.  Gray  of  Utica, 
New  York,  who  had  been  engaged  as  a  mechanic,  and 
secular  aid  to  the  mission."*'  He  was  a  oood-lookinu' 
young  fellow,  tall  of  stature,  with  fine  black  eyes,  with- 
out special  education,  but  having  pronounced  natural 
abilities,  of  (juick  feelings,  and  a  good  hater  where  his 
jealousy  was  aroused. 

The  Indian  bovs,  John  and  Richard,  were  of  the 
party,  and  before  leaving  the  frontier,  a  boy  of  six- 

"  Prhnte  Letter  of  Mr  Spaldhig.  Lecture  of  Mr  Spalding,  in  A  Ibany  SUrU'A 
Ilii//itK  Democrat,  Jan.  11,  18',)8. 
' '^ Omi/'-i  Hixt.  Or.,  \]'2:  U.  .S.  Er.,  II.  B.  Co.  Claims,  ir)9-(M). 


WHITE   WOMEN   ON   THK    I'LAIN.S. 


127 


tlio 
dec! 
the 


]hs 


tiHe.-< 


toeii  years,  named  Miles  Goodyear,  from  Iowa,  a.sked 
tlie  privilege  of  joining  the  company  as  .servant  and 
lierder.  He  performed  his  duties  satisfactorily  until 
he  arrived  at  Wyeth's  Fort,  on  Snake  River,  where 
he  left  them  to  follow  a  fur-hunting  expedition. 

Enough  has  already  been  said  of  the  mode  of  travel 
with  the  fur  company's  caravans,  but  since  this  was 
the  first  attempt  of  white  Nv^men  to  cross  the  great 
plains,  put  down  on  the  maps  of  that  day  as  a  desert 
country,  let  me  recapitulate  so  far  as  to  show  the 
outfit  of  these  two  women,  celebrated  by  Presbyterian 
writers  as  the  real  pioneers  of  civilization  in  the 
Oreyfon  Territorv. 

Dr  Whitman  was  furnished  by  the  American  Board 
with  the  necessary  material  and  implements  for  begin- 
ning a  settlement,  blacksmith's  tools,  a  plough,  grain, 
and  seeds  to  commence  farming,  and  clotliing  for  two 
years,  with  many  other  articles  thought  indispensable 
to  moderate  comfort.  At  Liberty  he  bought  wagons, 
with  teams,  also  some  pack-animals,  riding-horses,  and 
sixteen  cows.  Additional  teams  were  hired,  making 
quite  a  train,  which  was  placed  in  charge  of  Spalding 
and  Gray,  assisted  by  the  Indian  boys  and  Miles 
Goodyear.  At  Council  Bluffs  the  additional  team- 
sters were  dismissed,  and  after  crossing  the  Missouri 
the  mission  goods  were  readjusted,  and  as  much  as 
possible  reduced  in  bulk.  The  journey  from  Liberty 
to  this  point  was  full  of  accidents  and  delays  of  the 
march,  occurring  often  through  the  inexperience  of 
the  men  in  charge;  there  were  broken  axles,  and  gen- 
eral repairing  to  be  done,  and  the  caravan  began  to 
move  b-^fore  the  missionary  train  was  ready.  By 
great  exertion,  however.  Whitman  was  able  to  over- 
take Fitzpatrick's  company  at  the  Pawnee  village  on 
the  Loup  branch  of  the  Platte  River,  a  few  days' 
travel  west  of  the  Missouri.  The  train  now  consisted 
of  nineteen  carts  drawn  by  two  mules  tandem ;  a  light 
wagon,  and  two  wagons  and  teams  belonging  to  the 


P18 


]28 


COMINli   OF  THE  I'llESBYTEKlANS. 


'  ¥ 


1, 


same  ('aj)tain  Stuart  who  luul  travelled  in  conniajiy 
witli  tlie  LeC's  to  tlic  liocky  Mountains  in  1834.^^ 

Stuart  had  for  a  comj)ani')n  a  young  Eii<>lish  gen- 
tleman, and  a  few  servants.  Another,  not  helonging 
to  eitlier  the  fur  company  or  missionary  party,  was  a 
gentleman  called  Mfijor  Pilclior,  of  St  Louis,  Indian 
agent  to  the  Yankton  Sioux,  whom  Parker,  havmg 
met  him  the  year  before,  calls  intelligent  and  candid, 
and  well  dis|)osed  tow»ard  mission  enterprises,  but 
who  by  his  loppish  dress  excited  the  remarks  of  at 
least  one  of  the  mission  party,  who  perhaps  fancied 
that  he  occupied  too  mud,  of  the  attention  of  the 
two  ladies,  whom  he  was  good-naturedly  desirous  of 
uumsing.  According  to  Gray,  he  wore  a  suit  of  fine 
buckskin  trimmed  with  red  cloth  and  porcupine  quills, 
fine  scarlet  shirt,  and  elaborately  ornamented  moc- 
casons;  and  he  must  have  made  a  conspicuous  figure 
in  any  c()nii)any.  Major  Pilcher  was  one  day  showing 
tlie  ladies  some  singular  salt  clay-pits,  when  going 
too  near  the  edge  it  ga^■e  way,  imnicirsing  his  fine 
white  mule,  himself,  and  his  elegant  Indian  costume 
in  a  batli  of  sticky  liquid  clay.  It  was  with  difficulty 
he  was  extricated,  when  lie  j(jined  heartily  in  the 
merriment  liis  predicament  occasioned. 

Aside  from  the  occasional  storms  to  which  the 
travellers  were  exposed,  and  the  meat  diet  to  which 
in  a  short  time  all  were  restricted,  a  sunnner's  journey 
under  the  j)rotection  of  so  varied  a  company  was 
most  interesting  to  the  two  untravelled  women  from 
central  New  York.  Piftv  years  at  Pi-attsburcf,  or  at 
tlie  Osage  Mission,  would  not  have  aiforded  the  oppor- 
tunities  for  expansion  of  thought,  or  the  accumula- 

-' From  the  frequent  mention  made  of  him  liy  travellers,  Stuart  seems  to 
Imve  haunted  the  lloeky  Mountains  for  more  than  ten  years.  Oray  asserts 
that  lie  waa  'Sir  William  Dvummond,  K.  B.,  \\\w  had  come  to  tlie  United 
States  to  allow  liis  fortune  to  recuperate  duriiii,' his  absence,' and  describes 
him  Jis  a  tall  figure  with  face  worn  by  <lissipatioii,  and  says  that  lie  spent  his 
winters  in  New  Orleans.  In  Kilex''  liciji-iti'r,  Ixv.  70-1,  214,  1843,  there  are 
references  to  a  party  from  New  Orleans  under  the  leadership  of  tliis  gentle- 
man, one  of  whom  was  Mr  Field  of  the  N.  O.  Picni/iim'.  Lee  calls  him 
Captain  Stuart,  'an  English  half-pay  oflieer,  who  liad  then,  in  1834,  been  for 
some  time  roaming  the  mountains,      l.rc  mid  FroH's  Or.,  12*2. 


A  BRAVK  RECEITION. 


l'2ii 


tion  of  expciieiit'c's,  which  so  long  a  stretch  of  travel 
througli  novel  and  wonderful  scenes,  in  the  society 
of  men  of  cultivation  and  wide  observation,  offered 
to  these  missionary  ladies.  This  episode  in  their  lives 
may  be  regard(  d  as  not  only  a  kin«.lly,  but  as  a  most 
useful  introduction  to  the  duties  before  them. 

Mrs    Whitman's    lively   tcmjjerment   and    perfect 
health  enabled   her  to  enjoy  and    benefit   by    these 


experiences;    but   Mrs    S\ 


{^7  . 
spaldi 


ngs 


streni'   li    seemed 


inadequate  to  the  strain.  Her  health  so  rapidly  de- 
clined that  fears  were  felt  that  she  would  not  be  able 
to  finish  the  journey. 

According  to  custom,  the  fur  company  left  their  carts 
at  Laramie  and  packed  their  gootls  on  mules  to  the 
rendezvous.  But  on  Mrs  Spalding's  account  Whit- 
man decided  to  keep  the  lighter  of  his  two  wagons, 
and  the  fur  company  als(^  decided  to  take  one  of 
theirs  to  Green  Hiver.  Loaded  wagons  had  as  early 
as  1829  been  driven  to  Wind  liiver,-'^  and  at  difl'eient 
times  to  various  mountain  posts,  but  tlier*'  was  no 
beaten  track  as  from  Fort  Laramie  eastward.  The 
doctor,  who  drove  his  wagon,  had,  however,  little 
trouble  in  following  the  natural  highway  which  leads 
through  the  mountains  by  the  Sweetwater  or  South 
Pass,  and  Mrs  Spalding  was  thus  carried  safely 
and  comfoi'tably  to  the  great  camp  of  the  fur  com- 
pany. 

Two  days  before  reaching  the  rendezvous,  great 
consternation  was  created  for  a  moment  by  tlu;  ap- 
pearance of  a  party  of  ten  Nez  I^iTces  and  Flat] leads, 
who  with  a  few  American  trappers  constituted  a  self- 
delegated  committee  of  welcome.  Their  apjiroach 
was  like  the  rush  of  a  tornado  down  a  mountain  side, 
the  cracking  of  their  rifles  and  tlioir  terrifying  yells 
like  the  snapping  off  of  the  brandies  of  trees  before 
tlie  wind,  and  the  fierce  bowlings  of  a  tempest.  As 
soon  as  the  white  flag  carried  by  the  advancing  caval- 
cade was  discerned,  all  fears  of  the  Blackfoot  gave 

^■^  nines'  (Jr.  11  kt,  408-0. 
Hist.  Oh.,  Vm,.  I.    9 


I: 


tl 


m 


C()MIN(t   OF  THE   PKKSBYTKRIAN8. 


way,  and  as  the  wild  limitor.s  swooped  down  the  line 
a  salute  was  retunuid  as  hearty  as  their  own. 

Tlie  appearance  of  the  natives  slie  had  come  to 
teach  interested  Mrs  Spalding  more  than  the  antics 
of  till!  mountain  men,  wlio  wore  eager  to  get  a 
gliin})so  of  white  women,  many  of  them  having  boen 
years  in  the  wilderness  without  seeing  one.  To  Mrs 
Whitman  the  novelty  and  excitement  of  the  meeting 
were  exhilarating;  and  when  a  mountain  man  witli 
an  attem})t  at  deferential  courtesy  made  a  militar\' 
salute  and  addressed  some  words  to  her  of  resi)ectful 
comphnient,  she  answered  him  with  gracious  and  cor- 
dial bearinJ,^  While  ^Irs  Whitman  was  receivini;  this 
attention  from  gentlemen  and  trappc^rs,  tlie  natives 
gathered  about  Mrs  Spalding,  wlio,  anxious  to  aequiri' 
the  Nez  Perce  language,  tried  hard  to  e(-)nverso  with 
them. 

Arriving  at  the  rendezvous,  a  second  grand  display 
was  planned  and  executed  by  the  Flatheads  and  Nez 
Perces  in  honor  of  the  missionary  party.  The  general 
camj)  on  Green  River  was  in  several  divisions:  the 
camj)  of  the  fur  company,  surrounding  a  rude  hut  which 
answered  for  a  trading-liouse ;  and  near  by,  those  of  tlie 
hunters  and  trappers,  between  one  hundred  and  two 
hundred  in  number;  the  missionary  encampment;  the 
camp  of  the  English  travellers;  and  those  of  the  sev- 
eral tribes  t)f  Indians  who  travelled  with  the  American 
Pur  Company — Bannacks,  Snakes,  Flatheads,  and 
Nez  Perces,  forminjj:  altoi>ether  no  inconsiderable 
village,  with  a  vigilant  police. 

A  grand  reception  was  planned  in  honor  of  the 
missionaries,  and  on  the  day  selected  a  })rocession  of 
all  the  Indians  in  uala  dress  was  formed  at  one  end 
of  the  plain,  each  tribe  having  a  company  of  warriors 
in  iiLihtinij  costume,  which  was  a  breech-clout  and 
l)lenty  of  paint  and  feathers.  All  were  mounted,  and 
the  fighting  men  cairied  their  weapons,  drun:s,  rattles, 
and  other  noisy  instruments.  When  everything  was 
in   readiness   a   terrifying   yell   buist   forth,    aiid   to 


AT  THK  RENDEZVOUS. 


181 


the 
of 

tnd 
)r,s 

Ind 

liid 

as 
I  to 


a  barbarous  diorus  the  cavalcado  charyfcd  tliroUiih 
the  valley  at  frantic;  speed,  and  returning  in  the 
name  manner,  porforinrd  tlieir  skilful  evolutions  in 
front  of  the  niissionarv  tent,  the  whole  heinjjf  con- 
ducted  in  the  ouler  of  a  jiieeoncerttHl  niilitarv  move- 
ment,  the  force  of  several  hundred  warriors  obeyinjjj 
the  sianal  of  its  leaders  as  an  orchestra  olx^vs  the 
conductor's  baton.  But  although  perfect  order  was 
niiiii'taiiieil,  such  was  the  impc^tuosity  of  the  savages, 
\vl;o  ga\e  the'!iselves  u})  to  the  excitement  of  this 
mimic  charu'e,  that  the  women's  nerves  were  S(»n^lv 
tried.  When  all  was  over,  having  done  so  juuch  to 
ejiteitain  their  white  friends,  the  red  men  l)egan  to 
crowd  idw.ut  tl'.o  missionaries  to  satisfy  their  curiosity. 

Whihi  the  comjtany  remained  at  (ireen  Kiver, 
Captain  Wyeth  arrived  from  Fort  Vancouvi'r,  having 
sold  his  forts  and  goods  to  the  British  conn)any,  to 
the  great  dissatisfaction  of  the  American  traders  and 
trapi)ers,  who  had  not,  however,  offered  less  o}>i)osi- 
tion  to  him  than  had  the  Hudson's  Bay  traders.  He 
was  accompanied  by  Thomas  i\[cKay  and  John  Mc- 
Leod,  a  chief  trader  of  the  British  c(jm{)any,  who, 
after  receiving  Fort  Hall  from  Wyeth,  intended  to  re- 
turn to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  kindly  oftered  his  escort 
to  the  missionary  i)arty.  McLeod  told  Whitnmn  that 
he  thought,  instead  of  encouraging  the  American 
mountain  men  to  follow  him  and  settle  in  Oregon, 
it  would  be  more  profitable  to  send  a  missionary  to 
travel  with  the  camps  of  the  hunters. 

dray,  who  ])i'obably  knew  of  the  prejudice  created 
by  the  publications  of  Kelley,  was  prepared  to  see  in 
this  advice  opposition  to  American  settlement  in  the 
country,  and  to  resent  it  with  his  natural  warmth; 
although  he  had  ample  opportunities  of  learning  that 
the  character  of  many  of  these  ct)untrvnien  of  his 
made  them  a  dangerous  element  among  the  Indians, 
as    l*arker    could    have    informed    him."^     MeLe<jd 

^■' '  Tluir  (loiiioraliziiig  iiiHuence,'  says  I'iiikfr,  '  with  tlio  Iiniiciiis  has  lieL-ii 
lanieiitahle,  aiul  tlioy  luive  imposed  upon  them  in  all  the  ways  that  sini'iil  pro- 


It 


J  i 


132 


COMINU  OF  THE  1'KESBV1EKLV>;.S. 


Iri' 


went  so  far,  we  are  told,  as  to  say  that  if  the  mis- 
sionaries needed  assistance  in  erectinj^'  buildinj^s,  or 
making  other  improvements,  the  company  lie  served 
would  prefer  furnishing  it  to  having  these  reckless 
men  introduced  into  the  Oregon  settlements,  all  of 
which  advice  Captain  Wyetli  indorsed,  though  Gray 
helieved  it  was  because  he  felt  the  uselessness  of 
opposing  the  autocrat  of  Fort  Vancouver,  whose 
fixed  policy  toward  unprinci})led  men,  whether  Amer- 
ican or  French,  was  to  keep  them  as  much  a^  possible 
at  a  distance. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  Dr  Whitman  shared  the 
feelings  of  his  subordinate;  his  letters  to  tJie  Amer- 
ican Board  refer  in  polite  terms  to  tlie  assistance 
rendered  him  by  the  British  fur  company,  and  not  to 
any  opposition  to  liis  plans.  Arrangements  were 
iunnediately  made  to  proceed  to  Fort  Vancouver, 
where  the  missionaries  were  assured  tluy  could  replace 
tlie  farmiujjf  and  blacksmithingf  tools  and  other  arti- 
cles  which  the}'  were  advised  to  leave  at  Green  Kiver 
as  too  heavy  to  be  transported  on  their  flagging 
horses  over  the  difficult  route  to  the  Columbia  River. 


I    i 


1; 


Two  or  three  w(;eks  of  rest,  with  a  change  of  iliet, 
and  the  favt)rable  effect  of  the  climate  on  the  west- 
ovn  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  made  a  decided 
imjirovement  in  the  health  oi  Mrs  Spalding.  But 
Whitman  still  liesitated.  to  give  up  his  wagon,  whicli 
if  possible  ho  wished  to  take  to  the  Columl)ia  River; 
and  lightened  of  all  umiecessary  things,  he  conveyed 
it  with  littl*'  difficulty  as  far  as  Fort  Hall,  receiving 
some  assistance  from  the  Indians.-' 

poiisities  dictate.  It  i.s  saiil  they  liavo  mAd  tlioiii  packs  of  cards  at  liij,'li 
j>rices,  calling  tliem  tlic  l)il>l(^;  ami  have  toM  tht'iii  if  tlicy  sl.oulil  refuse  to 
give  whi'^c  men  wives,  (lod  would  Ik  angry  with  tlieni,  ard  puuinh  them 
eternally,  etc.  Piirkt'rtt  Jo'- r..  Ex.  Tiwr,Si\  1.  ( i ray  himself  relatiii-' tiiat  one 
whom  he  mot  at  (ireen  River,  and  who  afterwaril  settled  in  the  Willanu!tte 
Valley,  amused  himself  teaching  his  little  halfd)reed  son  to  utter  profane  sen- 
tences, lli.st.  Or.,  I'J").  SaysAVyeth:  ''I'lie  preponderance  of  had  character 
is  already  so  great  amongst  traders  and  their  people,  tliat  crime  carries  ■>  ith 
it  litthi  or  no  shame.'  ,.'ntli  Con;/.,  .Ul  Scti'<.,  II.  h'cpt.  10 1. 

■'' (."oncerning  tiie  Flatheads  and  Nez  l'erc(''s,  and  the  currespondi  u'e  of 
ji'arkurwith  Wlutman,  somethinj;  sliotdd  Ik;  said  in  this  ph.ie.     Act,    r<ling  to 


AN   HISTORICAL  CAKT. 


133 


At  J^'oit  Hal]  one  pair  of  wheels  was  taken  off  and 
the  way^on  reduced  to  a  cart.'^'  N(jt  wishing  to  be 
detained  by  the  ])ossible  accidents  and  hinderances  of 
road-making,  McLeod  advised  Whitman  to  abandon 
his  idea  of  getting  the  cart  through  to  tlie  Columbia, 
time  and  provis^ioy.s  being  of  the  greatest  value  from 
this  point  westvard.  But  the  doctor  insisted  on  driv- 
ing his  carriage  to  Fort  Boise',  keeping  up  with  the 
pack-train  all  the  way,  the  worst  obstacles  to  )»e 
overcome  being  sand  and  sage-b.iish.  At  the  crossing 
of  Snake  River  he  was  in  dai!..  er  of  losing  his  life, 
the  current  being  too  strong  for  the  horses;  but  by 
the  coolness  and  dexterity  of  Thomas  McKay,  the 
threatened  disaster  was  averted.  Mrs  Whitman  and 
Mrs  S})alding  were;  ferrit3d  over  on  bulrush  rafts,  the 
goods  being  cairied  on  the  backs  of  the  largest  horses. 

At  Fort  Boise,  the  horses  were  so  worn  out  that 
he  was  forced  to  relinquish  his  idea,  and  the  cait  was 
left  at  this  post,  whei-e  thret;  years  later  another' 
American  ti'aveller  found  it,  and  was  told  that  a  route 
had  recently  been  discovered  by  which  wagons  could 
easily  pass  to  the  Ci^lumbia. 

Oray,  I'arker  fiuiiid  it  prudent  to  send  no  instructions  to  Wliitman  at  (irtien 
River,  Imt  only  a  wliort  note,  all  of  wliich  Wyetli  explained  iut  dictated  l)y 
caution,  knowing  tlu'  etforts  of  tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  (lestroy  Amer- 
ican i'ltluence  in  the  country.  As  Parker  had  not  tlien  reached  liis  destina- 
tion, there  could  not  have  been  much  to  say.  In  tlie  following  spring,  when 
he  turned  l>ack  fioni  : 'le  Nez  Ferct^  country,  leaving  tlie  Indians  to  proceed 
without  him  to  iic  reu  >zvous,  he  mentions  writing  several  letttirs  to  be  for- 
wanled  to  the  Uniii'<l  States  from  On^en  R«ver,  but  does  not  mention  MTiiing 
to  Whitman  especiallv.  His  fhial  dire<;tions  and  advice  may  have  awai'',ed 
A\  hitman  ai  !"ort  Walla  Walla,  or  even  at  Fort  Vancouver,  where  lie  undoiDt- 
«^dly  expected  W  hitman  to  consult  with  McLoughlin;  anil  from  the  fact  'at 
nassions  were  estid)lishcd  at  the  identical  ]ilaces  chosen  by  him,  this  t'"  .ny 
would  seem  to  be  establisiied.  Parker  calls  the  principal  cliief  of  tlie  N'-z 
Perees  T.iii/uininitin/i;  Oray  calls  h.m  TtikkTiixiiifaM.  Parker  does  not  name 
the  se.'ond  clii^'f  of  the  Aez  Percy's;  Oray  calls  him  l-s/i/iol/ioli'iodtx/ioii/s,  ti  • 
nuire  frequently  '  Lawyer,'  a  xolirii/iiit  applied  to  hini  by  the  mountain  men 
on  account  of  his  argumentative  powers  and  general  shrewdness,  by  whicli 
lie  obtaiii'.'d  great  intluence  both  with  his  people  and  witli  white  men.  He 
was  son  of  tlie  cliief  who  took  cliarge  of  tlie  lior.'ses  of  Lewis  and  Clarke  while 
those  explorers  visited  the  lower  Columbia,  and  was  about  thirty-six  years 
of  age.  Both  Oray  and  I'arker  praise  the  kindness  of  these  cliiefs,  and  Ijuw- 
yi'r  bccaiiie  a  great  favorite  with  the  missionaries,  witli  wiiat  rciwon  we  shall 
see  hereafter. 

'■'■'This  cart  is  historical  as  tlie  lii-st  wheeled  vehicle  to  iiass  licyoud  Fort 
Hall. 


p 


I  h: 


1 

1    "        ! 


Ik 

0 


II 


I! 


134 


coMiNrr  OP  thp:  presbytekiaics. 


Some  of  the  cattle  were  also  left  at  Fort  Boise, 
being  too  weak  to  travel  farther;  and  Whitman  re- 
ceived from  the  agent  in  charge  an  order  on  Fort 
Walla  Walla  for  others  to  supply  their  places.  The 
women  were  here  jiresented  with  "  eight  quarts  of 
dried  corn,"  all  thei'e  was  at  the  post,  and  a  precious 
gift  in  that  country. 

On  the  1st  of  September  the  missionary  party 
arrived  at  Fort  Walla  Walia,  McLeod  having  pre- 
ceded them  by  a  few  h.ours  to  prepare  a  suitable  re- 
ception, which,  says  Gra}^  must  have  been  witnesstnl 
to  be  fully  realized,  every  demonstration  of  joy  and 
respect  being  manifested.  The  best  apartments  were 
placed  at  the  service  of  the  women,  ;ind  tlie  men  were 
relieved  of  all  care  of  their  horses  and  cattle;  the 
table  was  furnished  with  luxuries  in  the  way  of  pota- 
toes, green  corn,  and  melons,  and  it  was  like  a  home- 
coming to  all.  Yet  in  the  midst  of  this  enjoyment 
Oray  was  warned  by  Townsend  against  interfering 
with  the  trade  of  the  Britisli  company,'*  as  if  the  mis- 
sionaries were  indeed  a  company  of  traders. 

On  the  3d  the  missionary  party  continued  on  tlieir 
way,  as  it  was  most  important  that  they  should  pre- 
sent at  once  their  letters  from  the  secretary  of  war, 
and  should  consult  with  McLoughlin  on  matters  con- 
nected with  the  establishing  of  the  missions,  the  pro- 
curing of  mechanics,  and  the  prospect  for  obtaining 
supplies.  They  were  accompanied  to  Fort  Vancouver 
l)y  Pambrun,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  furs  brouglit 
by  McLeod.  Townsend  and  McLeod  i)receded  them 
one  day. 

Portages  were  made  at  all  tlie  principal  rapids, 
where  the  savages  were  astonished  at  seeing  the  white 

'^''' Gnti/'x  niif.  Or.,  142.  This  is  Towimond's  report  of  the  single  interview 
he  had  with  Wliitnian'a  party.  '  I  have  had  this  evening  some  interesting 
eonverwition  with  our  guests,  the  missionaries.  Tiiey  appear  admiral)ly  <ju.ili- 
fied  for  tlie  arduous  duty  to  vrhieh  they  have  devoted  themselves,  their  minds 
lieing  fully  alive  to  the  mortitieations  and  trials  incident  to  a  resi<lence  .among 
wild  Indians;  but  they  do  not  shrink  from  the  task,  believing  it  to  be  their 
religious  duty  to  engage  in  this  work.'  Sm:,  24l(. 


ARKINAL  AT  FORT   VANCOUVER. 


135 


women  treated  with  so  much  respect;  tliey  did  not 
even  carry  the  goods  around  the  falls,  as  their  own 
women  were  com})elled  to  do.  In  the  heart  of  the 
mountains  a  storm  of  wind  detained  them  in  camp 
three  days;  after  which  all  went  well,  the  com[)any 
reaching  the  saw-milU  on  the  1 1th,  where  the  last 
encampment  was  made  to  give  opportunity  for  those 
changes  in  dress  which  even  the  French  voyageurs 
never  neglected  on  approaching  Fort  Vancouver.  On 
tl  e  forenoon  of  the  1 2th,  as  to  the  music  of  the  French 
boat-songs  the  bateau  rounded  the  point  where  stood 
the  fort,  the  passengers  saw  two  shi[)s  lying  there  gayly 
decked  in  flags,  while  the  company's  colors  waved  from 
the  fort.  At  the  landing  WcMted  two  magnificent- 
looking  men,  John  McLoughhn  and  Jame«  Douglas, 
who  greeted  the  missionaries,  and  escorted  the  ladies 
with  stately  courtesy  within  the  walls  of  the  fort. 
There  they  were  again  made  welcome,  and  assigned 
to  convenient  quarters  according  to  rank.  Here  they 
met  Jason  Lee,  and  Herbert  Beaver  and  his  wife,'^^ 
as  we  have  seen  before. 

A  few  days  of  delightful  repose  wei-e  enjoyed.  In 
matters  of  business  tht^  missionaries  found  McLoughlin 
willing  to  render  them  such  assistance  as  the  am[)le 
means  of  the  company  allowed,  upon  condition  that 
men  should  not  be  employed  at  wages  higher  than 
the  company's  regular  rates,  or  any  other  rules  of 
the  com})any's  trade  infi'inged  u])on."'* 

Having  left  at  various  points  along  tlie  overland 
route  nearly  everything  they  liad  started  with  except 
their  clothing,  they  were  obliged  to  purchase  with  their 
winter's  su})ply  of  provisions  goods  enough  to  load  two 
luiteaux,  with  which,  at  the  end  of  the  week,  Whit- 

•'  Mr  ami  Mrs  BfiiviT  rcinaiiu'd  in  tlio  country  until  tlie  sjiriug  of  18.S8, 
when  they  went  to  Englund,  having  done  little  to  ailvauce  tlie  cause  of  reli- 
gion. Tlie  natural  antagonism  ot  McLougiilin  ami  Heaver  is  mentioneil  in  my 
lliKtorji  (if  I  III'  yortliiiTut  ('onxt.  Mr  Beaver  evidently  had  some  right  on  his 
side;  luit  his  manners  were  not  suited  either  to  the  society  at  Fort  Vancouver 
or  tlie  American  settlement. 

-*•  Deposition  of  W.  H,  Gray,  in  U.  S.  Er.,  //.  li.  Co.  (  lihns,  1(H»  1, 


satasfsasass 


III 
I  ' 


1 

i 


136 


CO.MINd    OF  THE   ITvE.SHVTEKlANS. 


man,  Sitakliiig,  and  Gray  returned  to  Fort  Walla 
Walla,  leaving  the  women  at  Fort  Vancouver  until 
suc-h  time  as  a  dwelling  should  be  prepared  for  them. 

The  first  stake  was  set  at  Waiilatpu,  at  the  place 
first  chosen  by  Parker  among  the  Cay  uses.  With 
the  assistance  of  the  Indians  and  a  man  or  two  from 
the  fort  at  Walla  Walla,  the  first  house  was  rapidly 
built  out  of  sucJi  materials  as  were  at  hand.  Another 
was  hastily  put  up  in  the  small  valley  of  Lapwai,  about 
a  dozen  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Kooskooskie, 
and  before  Christmas  Dr  and  Mrs  Whitman  were 
settled  at  the  first  station,  and  Mr  Spalding  and  his 
wife  at  the  other. 

It  was  now  apparent  that  if  Parker's  engagements 
with  the  Flatheads  or  plans  about  the  Spokanes 
were  to  be  carried  out,  more  missionaries  must  be 
brought  into  the  field;  and  that  no  time  might  be 
lost,  Gray  was  directed  to  return  to  the  east  the  fol- 
lowing spring  to  jM'ocure  reenforcements.""  This  he  did, 
travelling  with  Erniatinger,  a  trader  of  the  British 
fur  company,  to  the  Flathead  nation,  whence  he 
accompanied  the  Indians  to  the  summer  rendezvous 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  traders  on  the  Jefl:erson  branch 
of  the  Missouri.  At  the  rendezvous,  several  of  the; 
Flatheads  offered  or  were  induced  t<j  escort  him ;  and 
he  was  joined  b}'  two  young  American  adventurers 
who  were  to  go  with  him  to  the  Missouri  River.  At 
Ash  Hollow,  since  famous  in  the  history  of  Indian 
wars,  his  Flathead  escort  was  attacked  by  a  band  of 
Sioux,  and  every  one  murdered,  including  a  young 
chief  called  'The  Hat,'  ^^•ho  had  been  })artially  edu- 
cated at  Red  River.  Gray  with  his  companions  was 
saved  by  the  intervention  of  a  French  trader,  ami 
succeeded,  by  travelling  at  night,  in  reaching  the 
friendly  tribes  to  the  east,  and  finally  in  arrivino-'at 
his  destination.""* 

'^Animal  Ifcjiorf,  A.  Fi.  <'.  F.  M.,  1848,  239;  a  document  of  the  Ainurican 
lloawl  of  Coiiiiiiissiouenj  for  Foreign  Missions. 

'^(h'Oji'n  HiM.  Or.,  11)8-74;  A^v('e//'.s  .Strirtitred  on  (r/vfi/'.x  //m^  Or.,  in  Port- 
land fh'mocntdc  Herald,  Oct.  18GG. 


nu 


AMISSIONS  KSTAliLLSllEl). 


137 


Gray  ^vas  successful  in  cnli.sting  for  the  mission 
three  clcroyinen  with  their  ne\vl\-  married  wives,  a 
young  unmarried  man,  and  a  young  woman  who  be- 
came his  own  wife.  In  a  private  letter  wiitten  after 
her  death  in  1H81,  he  says  that  it  was  an  instance  of 
love  at  first  sight,  which  continued  as  lono-  as  her  life. 
He  met  Miss  Mary  Augusta  Dix,  a  liandsome,  stately 
brunette,  on  the  evening  of  the   19th   of  February, 

1838,  and  l)ecame  engaged  to  her  the  same  evening. 
Six  days  after,  they  were  marrixl,,  and  on  the  morning 
of  the  20th  started  westward  to  jt)in  the  car-avan  of 
the  American  Fur  Company 

On  account  of  the  feeling  among  the  Flatheads 
over  the  loss  of  five  of  their  ])eople  and  tiie  young 
chief,  in  Gray's  companv,  his  d(\stination  as  mis- 
sionary to  them  was  changed,  and  he  remained  alter- 
nately at  Laj>wai  and  Waiilatpu.  visiting  several  tribes 
both  in  eastern  and  western  Oregon,  and  going  l)ack 
to  secular  j)ursuits  after  three  oi-  four  years.  A  mis- 
sion Avas  begun  at  Kamiah,  sixty  miles  up  tlie  Clear- 
water, above  Lajjwai,  by  lie  v.  Asa  B.  Smith,  in  May 

1839,  and  abandoned  in  1841  on  account  of  the  hos- 
tility of  the  upi)er  Nez  Perces,  who  were  in  sympathy 
with  the  Flatheads.  Thus,  after  all  the  cx})ressed 
desire  of  this  tril^e  'for  teachers^  no  Protestant  mis- 
sionary was  allowed  to  establish  himself  among  them. 

Elkinah  Walker  and  Cushing  C.  Eells,  with  their 
wives,  established  a  permanent  mission  on  the  Clie- 
makano'''^  branch  of  the  S])okane  Kiver,  within  easy 
distance  of  Fort  Colville.  C/orndius  Rogers  became 
a  teacher,  first  at  Lapwai,  and  then  at  Waiilatpu.''" 


V 

le 

It 


^'Chcmakauo,  according'  to  WilUi'«,  iiicaiis  'tlic  iilaiu  of  siiring.s, '  from  the 
fact  tliat  the  streams  sink  in  the  t'arili,  ami  jiassinu  uiiilerifrouiid  a  fow  niilcx, 
Imrht  forth  a):aiii  in  sji.-ings.    Wilki'i  Xnr.,  I'.  S.  Kijilr.  K.i.,  iv.  4X3. 

•'-'Rev.  Klkiuah  Walker,  thirty  years  of  ago,  tall,  sjiiire,  aixl  liglit  complex 
ioned,  was  from  North  Vai'numth,  Ale,  and  was  educated  ai  Kindiall  Academ.v , 
M.'rideu,  N.  H.,  from  which  he  went  into  the  Kangoi  Tlieologieal  Seminary, 
wluie  ho  studied  for  three  years,  lie  was  a  diflident  ami  -iiniaMe  man  without 
strong  traits.  He  intemleil  to  <io  a-s  a  missionaiy  to  Zuln)..;ii!,  South  Afnoa, 
hut  heing  prevented  liy  a  lierce  trihal  war,  was  reai'.y  to  respoiid  to  the  first  call 
elsewhere,  which  came  from  Oregnu.  He  was  married  viu  tlie  Sth  of  Marnli, 
ISHS,  ami  next  day  started  for  St  Louis  to  t"i"  'iray.     Ten  years  afterward 


138 


OOMlNCt  OF  THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


ii  ■  » 


he  settled  on  the  Tualatin  Plains  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  where  he  became  a 
leading  citizen,  ami  one  of  the  founders  of  the  school  which  is  now  the  Pacific 
University,'  His  family  consisted  of  six  sons  and  one  daughter.  One  of  his 
sons  went  as  a  ini88i("inary  to  China.  The  father  died  Nov.  21,  1877.  Tram. 
Or.  Pion.  Ahsoc,  1877,08-72;  Oakland  Tramcrlpl,  Dec.  1,  1877;  SeaUk  Pacific 
Tribune,  Nov.  28,  1877;  Ashland,  Or.,  Tidinys,  Nov.  30,  1877;  Salem  Willa- 
mette Farmer,  Nc)^■.  30,  1877.  For  many  years  Mrs  Walker  lived  at  Forest 
Grove,  nuar  tho  Pacific  University,  having  devoted  her  life  to  the  duties  of 
missionary,  wife,  and  mother,  and  enjoying  the  reward  of  a  peaceful  and 
prosperous  old  age.  Gushing  C.  Eells  was  of  Massachusetts  birth,  and  was 
one  of  a  succession  of  clergymen.  In  Cromwell's  time  one  of  his  ancestors 
was  an  officer  in  the  usurper's  army.  Mrs  Myra  EcUs  Fairbanks  wits 
descended  from  a  lino  of  Presbyterian  deacons.  She  was  bom  in  Holden, 
Massachusetts,  M.ay  26,  1805;  and  died  at  Skokomish,  Washington  Territory, 
August  9,  1878,  her  funeral  services  being  celebrated  at  that  place  and  at 
Seattle;  and  there  was  a  memorial  pamphlet  published,  from  which  the  above 
facts  are  drawn.  Like  Mr  Walker,  Mr  Eells  settled  at  Forest  Grove  in  1848, 
and  helped  to  build  up  tlie  Pacific  University.  He  was  also  mainly  instru- 
mental m  establishing  Wliitman  Seminary  at  Walla  Walla,  at  a  later  date. 
In  1875  he  returned  to  his  first  work  as  a  missionary  to  tlic  Spokanes.  His 
youngest  son,  Myron  Eells,  became  a  missionary  to  the  Skokomish.  Seattle 
fntrllujencer,  May  29,  1875;  Portland  Oreyonian,  June  5,  1875;  S.  I.  Friend, 
vii,  57.  Rev.  AsaB.  Smith  is  described  as  a  man  of  fine  literary  attainments, 
who  constructed  a  vocabulary  and  grammar  of  the  Nez  Perce  language, 
assisted  by  Mr  Rogers  and  the  Nez  Perc(5,  Lawjer,  who  knew  a  little  English. 
Smith's  wife  wa."  a  delicate  woman,  unfitted  for  the  trials  of  missionary  life; 
and  the  chief  of  tho  upper  Nez  Perces  proving  v  sry  overbearing,  and  as  Smith 
thought,  dangerous,  he  quitted  the  Kamiah  Miasion  for  the  Sandwich  Islands 
after  three  years  among  tho  Indians.  Cornelius  Rogers  was  a  native  oi  Utica, 
Now  'iork;  but  at  the  time  of  his  joining  Gray's  missionary  party  wa;.<  living 
at  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  He  remained  as  teacher  at  the  different  missions  until 
1 842,  when  he  went  to  tho  Willamette  Valley  to  settle,  soon  after  which  he 
died.  Hines  Oreijon  Hist.,  135-6;  White's  Ten  Years  in  Or.,  198-9;  Gray's 
Hist.  Dr.,  270-i. 

Dr  Samuel  J.  Parker,  bon  of  Rev.  Samuel  Parker,  in  a  manuscript  called 
The  Northwest  and  Pacific  Coast  of  the  U.iited  States,  gives  a  treatise  on  the 
early  history  of  the  Oregon  territory,  and  defends  his  father  from  +he  slurs 
contained  in  Gray'i^  Hist.  Or.  Tho  manuscript  lacks  only  a  personal  k.\owl- 
edge  of  the  subject;  by  tho  author  to  be  vi.lnal)li.'.  It  is  written  in  a  fail  and 
manly  spirit,  though  not  withoxit  some  errors. 


CHAPTER  YI. 


THE  AVILLAMKTTE  (,'ATTLE  «  OMPANY. 

1830-1837. 

Need  of  Caitlb  i\  tiik  Willameitk  Vai.i.ky — The  Hi'dsox's  Bay  Com- 
pany Retose  to  Skm. — McLocohlin's  Views  on  the  (^iestion— Meet- 
ing AT  Champoeo — Formation  of  the  Cattle  Company — E\vtN<i 
YouNf!  ANi.  Party  Sent  to  California  for  Stock — Solemn  and 
Momentous  Necjoi'iations — The  (  'rossino  of  the  San  JoAgriN-  -Herds 
Drawn  Across  hy  Roi'es  and  IIapis— An  Indian  Amuush— Plot  to 
Shoot  Edwards  and  Yorsi; — Division  of  the  Stock  and  its  Increase 
IN  Oreoon — What  Became  of  Ewing  Yoi  no's  Property. 


Civilization  needs  certain  thini;s  to  make  it  respect- 
's of  Confucius  may  feed  on  rice, 


able.     Tlu!  foil 


owe 
seem 


I  ait  it  is  not  seemly  that  Christianity  should  have  to 
oat  only  hear  ir.eat  and  Sidmon-herrics,      It  was  quite 


that  til 


>f  C)i 


■ihould  h 


necessary  tnat  tne  missionarn 

cows  and  horsi;s  l)eforo  they  could  take  rank  among 
the  foremost  nations  of  the  world.  Ewino;  Younu'  saw 
this,  for  he  was  a,  thouu^htfu] ,  practical  man,  ready  to 
assist  proi^ress  and  minister  to  the  wants  of  the  race; 
and  as  his  proposal  to  su])ply  the  settlers  with  that 
fiery  adjunct  of  civilization,  whiskey,  had  met  with 
poor  encouragement,  he  concluded  to  do  what  he  could 
toward  stockinii'  the  vnllev  with  those  i>entle  boasts 
which  men  make  their  c(^)mpai,ions,  not  to  say  masters. 
Younji^'s  distillery  speculation  iiad  l)oen  hke  tlio  labor 
of  Cloanthes,  who  support<  d  Iiiinsi'lf  l)y  diawiny'  water 
at  night  hi  onler  tlu.t  h»  might  indulge  in  plucking 
the  liowers  of  philosophy  during  the  day;  it  was  not 
appreciated  by  the  Willamette  Areopagus,  and  his 
ju  'gos   were   delightoil   o^  or  tlio  prospect  of  suck  a 

( i;ti' ) 


Ji, 


Pii 


140 


THE  WILLAMETTE  t'ATTLE  COM  TAN  V 


IV 


useful  and  ])erha])s  dangerous  ocru])ati()n  for  so  rest- 
less a  settler.  If  Young  would  help  civilization  and 
the  settlers  in  this  matter,  jjerhajjs  the  settlers  and 
civilization  might  help  Young. 

"I  found,"  observes  Slacum,  "that  nothhig  was 
wanting  to  insure  comfort,  wealth,  and  every  hap})i- 
ness  to  the  people  of  this  most  beautiful  country,  but 
the  possession  of  neat-eattle,  all  of  those  in  the  country 
being  owned  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  who 
refused  to  sell  them  under  any  circumstances  what- 
ever."^ This  oft-repeated  charge,  in  the  tone  of 
sufferers  from  tyranny  and  injustice,  it  may  be  as  well 
to  explain.  McLoughlin  asserts  that  in  1825  the 
comjiany  had  but  twenty-seven  head  of  cattle  of  any 
age  or  size.  So  precious  were  these  that  they  were 
allowed  to  nmltiply  with  lut  tlie  slaughter  of  a  single 
animal.  As  late  as  18.39  the  company  declined  to 
furnish  with  beef  tiie  surveying  squadron  of  Sir 
Edward  Belcher,  who  complained  of  this  refusal  on 
his  return  to  England.^  The  policy  of  the  fur  mag- 
nates could  not  therefore  be  called  an  an ti  Amer- 
ican restriction.  McLoughlin  I'easonctl  that  if  he 
sold  cattle  U)  the  settlers  they  would  l)e  entitled  to 
the  increase,  and  he  would  be  deprived  of  the  means 
of  assisthig  new-c(jmers,  and  the  interests  of  the  coast 
letarded.  If  two  hundred  dollars,  which  was  otferetl, 
were  paid  for  a  cow,  the  })urchaser  would  ])ut  such  a 
iji'ice  on  the  increase  that  the  settlej-s  could  not  buv. 
He  therefore  thought  it  better,  while  cattle  were  still 
few  in  the  country,  to  lend  to  every  settler  cows  and 
oxen  to  make  lum  comfortable,  tliough  he  was  not 
mjide  rich,  and  all  to  sliare  alike,  while  the  herds 
suffered  no  diminution.'^ 

Jason  Lee,  Ewing  Young,  and  others  so  repre- 
sented the  benefits  of  cattle  to  them  that  Slacum  made 
a  proposition  to  carry  to  California  in  the  brig  Loriot 


'  SlucH)ii\t  licport,  in  Stipp.  (o  If.  Rcpt.  101,  2-'>lh  Coii;/.,  StI  Sens. 
•  Bdr/ii-r's   f'oi/oi/c,  i.  'JlHi;  Ajijilcf/n/c  s  I'icirx  <•/  7J!.i,\,  M.S.,  28. 
^  Copy  of  a  DocntiK'iit,  in  Trans.  Or.  Pioneer  A t\to<\,  iJiSO,  51. 


i  ■■'  ':»li 


C0NTH11JUT()K8. 


141 


all  persons  wisliino-  to  'Xo  tliitluT,  where  c-attle  eould 
l>e  lK)U<iflit  for  three  dollars  a  head.  A  meetinjjf  was 
ealled  tor  those  so  inclined  to  convene  at  Chanipoeij^ 
to  form  a  cattle  company.  Tlie  object  hein^  one  of 
interest  to  the  Canadian  as  well  as  to  the  American 
settlers,  there  was  a  (general  attendance,  and  the  Wil- 
lamette Cattle  Com[)any  was  orijfanized,  with  Ewing 
Young  as  leader  and  P.  L.  Edwards  as  treasurer.  Mr 
Slacum  at  his  own  option  advanced  Jason  Lee  $500, 
and  to  this  sum  was  added  by  the  settlers,  who  had 
money  due  them  at  Foi"t  Vancouver,  enough  to  make 
the  amount  $1,(500,  to  which  was  added  nearly  !?U00 
by  McLoughlin  for  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company.  The 
collection  was  purjtosely  made  as  large  as  possible,  for 
by  purchasing  a  great  number  the  cost  of  each  would 
be  less,  and  the  expense  of  driving  a  large  herd  was 
little  more  than  that  of  driving  a  small  one.  But 
McLoughlin  is  never  mentioned  by  the  missionaries 
as  having  thus  contributed  to  the  success  of  the  Wil- 
lamette Cattle  Comjiany.'' 

On  the  contrary,  from  the  moment  of  the  ap])ear- 
ance  of  Slacum  in  Oregon,  and  his  cham])i()nship  of 
the  ostracized  party  of  E\\  ing  Young,  the  former  ac(jui- 
escence  of  the  missionaries  in  the  Willamette  Valley 
ill  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  fur  company  was 
changed  to  an  opp  )sition  as  determined,  if  not  so 
open,  as  that  of  either  Kelley  or  Young.  That  Sla- 
cum enci)uraged  this  course  is  true,  for  he  came  as 
the  agent  of  the  United  States  to  oiler  proti'ction  to 
Americans  from  the  despotism  of  a  British  cor[)ora- 
tion,  assuming  that  Oregon  was  United  States  terri- 
tory, and  the  fur  company  had  no  rights,  south  of  the 

'It  is  stilted  in  I/iiii.t'  <)r('(/oii  Hist.,  'l',\,  tluit  the  organization  of  a  cattlo 
co.iipany  was  indirectly  opposed  by  the  autlioritii's  at  Fort  N'anoouver;  but 
this  can  liardly  he  true.  Slacum  says  in  his  I'cjmrt,  already  (juoted,  that  !ii!l,ti(H), 
or  enough  to  purcluise  500  cattle,  was  raised  in  tlie  Williimette  Valley  hy  his 
advancing  SolK).  Daniel  Lee  states  in  his  account,  L<e  aiul Froxt'.'<<)r.,  14-KJ, 
tiiat  800  were  purchased  at  $3  a  head,  and  40  horses  at  $12  a  head,  making 
the  whole  outlay  ^2,880.  If  it  were  not  for  the  explanation  given  by  Mc^Lougli- 
lin  himself,  in  .4  Copy  of  a  l)o<'umt!iit,  Traiit.  Or.  Pioneer  Ax^hoc.,  1S80,  ■")!,  we 
should  be  left  as  much  in  tlu;  dark  by  the  missiimary  statements  as  by  Slacum 
himself,  concerning  the  source  from  Mhich  the  I^SSO  additional  Mas  obtained. 


142 


TiiK  willam»>:tte  c'attlk  company. 


i  3' 


iii: 


Columbia  at  least,  except  such  as  Great  Britain  could 
tifive  it  under  the  convention  of  1818. 

In  Slacuni's  report  to  the  secretary  of  war,  he  says 
that  at  the  public  meetiiii^  hold  at  Chanipoe^  for  the 
orsjfanization  of  the  cattle  (H)nipany,  he  told  thi^  Cana- 
dians that,  althouii^i  they  were  located  within  the 
territorial  limits  of  the  United  States,  the  title  to 
their  farms  would  doubtless  be  secured  to  them  when 
that  government  took  possession  of  the  country.  He 
cheered  them  also,  he  says,  with  the  hope  that  ere- 
long measures  would  be  adopted  for  opening  trade 
with  the  Or(\gon  Territory,  when,  instead  of  getting 
fifty  cents  a  bushel  for  their  M'heat  delivered  at  Fort 
Vancouver,  they  might  receive  the  dollar  and  a  halt 
which  the  Russians  paid  in  California.''  So  much 
interest  was  he  able  to  create  by  this  suggestion,  that 
a  petition  was  drawn  up  praying  the  congress  of  the 
United  States  "to  recognize  them  in  their  helpless 
and  defenceless  state,  and  to  extend  to  them  the  pro- 
tection of  its  laws,  as  being,  or  dessiring  to  become, 
its  citizens,"  and  signed  by  both  Americans  and  Cana- 
dians. 

Little  time  was  consumed  by  Slacum  in  executing 
his  mission  in  Oregon.  On  the  17th  of  January,  four 
days  after  he  was  met  at  Champt)eg  by  Jason  Lee, 
who  had  been  on  business  to  Fort  Vancouver,  eleven 
members  of  the  Willamette  Cattle  Company"  left  in 
a  canoe  for  the  anchorage  of  the  Ix)riot,  a  mile  and  a 
half  below  Wapato  Island,  to  embark  for  California. 
On  the  21st  they  went  on  board,  and  the  following 
morning  Jason  Lee  took  leave  of  them,  first  gather- 
ing the  comi)any  on  the  (|uarter-deck.  and  })raying  for 
the  success  of  their  undertaking. 

*In  another  i)iirt  of  liis  report  he  says  that  a  cargo  of  .'ijOOO  Imshcls  couhl 
at  that  tiiiio  ho  iihtaiiuHl  from  the  hittlors  on  the  WiUamettc,  ami  also  that 
the  Russians  reijiiired  •_'."), 000  hushels  aiimially.  This  was,  of  course,  a  great 
iuiUiceiiieut  to  tlie  settlers  to  strive  for  iiidepeiulence  in  trade,  and  to  oppose 
the  uiouopoly  of  the  fur  company. 

''Their  names  were  P.  L.  lldwards,  Kw:n<i  Young,  Lawrence  ("armicliael. 
James  O'Xeil,  Oeorge  (iay,  t'alviu  Tihhets,  Jolin  Turner,  AN'.  J.  JJailey,  Weh- 
ley  Hauxhurst,  and  two  Canadians.  l>e  Puis  and  Krgnette, 


CALIFORNIA  KXPEUIENc'ES, 


143 


Two  days  were  s|)eiit  in  (lesceiHlinjr  the  river,  and 
when  Haker  Bay  was  reachc^d  it  was  found  that  tiie 
Nereid  and  LUnna,  two  of  the  fur  conipany's  vessels, 
had  been  detained  there  since  the  '22d  of  JJeceniber. 
The  sea  hein*^'  still  roui^h,  on  the  inorninii;  of  the  .'JOth 
of  January  the  Loriot  parted  her  cables  and  was 
driven  on  shore,  but,  bein«5  assisted  by  the  other 
vessels,  escaped  uidiarnied.  It  rendered  it  necessary, 
liowever,  for  Captain  Bancroft  to  return  to  Fort  Van- 
couver to  procure  a  chain-cable  and  anchors,  so  that 
it  was  not  until  the  10th  of  February  that  the  I/)riot 
was  able  to  go  to  sea.  Nine  days  were  occu}>ied  in 
the  voyage  to  Fort  Koss,  where  })ernussi()n  was  ob- 
tained to  land  the  cattle  company  at  Bodega,  anil 
horses  and  guides  were  furnished  to  take  Slacuni  to 
San  Francisco. 

On  the  28tli  the  Jjmot,  with  Edwards  and  Young 
on  board,  resumed  her  voyage  to  San  Francisco  Bay, 
while  the  eight  men  left  at  Fort  Ross  found  employ- 
ment and  good  wages  at  Cooper's  mills,  until  their 
services  should  be  needed  by  Young.  The  Jjmot, 
after  some  dangerous  coast  navigation,  arrived  at  San 
Francisco  on  the  1st  of  March,  and  takin«>:  on  board 
Mr  Slacuni,  proceeded  to  Monterey,  where  was  the 
residence  of  General  Valkyo,  whom  Young  wished  to 
consult  about  driving  out  cattle,  to  whicli  measure 
the  Mexican  government  was  averse.  Edwaids  re- 
mained behind,  occupying  his  time  in  excursions  about 
the  bay,  and  in  studying  the  customs  of  the  country." 

On  the  10th  Young  returned  from  Monterey  with 
the  tidings  that  Vallejo  declined  giving  jiermission  to 
drive  cattle  out  of  the  country,  saying  it  was  the  pre- 
rogative of  the  civil  government,  which  was  at  Santa 
Barbara.  Thither  Young  had  proceeded,  while  Etl- 
wards  continued  to  increase  his  knowledu'e  of  Califor- 


"  Among  other  scraps  of  knowledge,  I'C  remarks  in  his  /)!")•)/,  MS..  13,  of 
the  expedition,  tliat  on  the  stouk-ranches  'spotted  mares  are  generally  lirokeu 
in,  and  mueh  esteemed  on  the  following  aeco>i:it :  all  the  horses  of  a  hand  fol- 
low her,  attracted  by  her  peculiarity  of  color,  and  arc  not  so  likely  tu  stray 
abroad. ' 


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144 


THE  ^VILLAMJ:TTE  CATTLE  COMPANY. 


it: 


nia  customs,  and  the  affairs  of  Americans  whom  he 
found  about  San  Francisco  Bay,  visiting,  in  company 
with  Birnie,  Lease,  and  McNeil  of  the  Llama,  the 
mission  of  San  Rafael,  Sonoma,  Martinez,  Cooper's 
mills,  and  the  farms  of  several  of  his  countrymen. 
On  the  8th  of  May  he  took  passage  in  the  ship  Sarah 
and  Caroline,  Captain  Steel,  for  Monterey,  where  on 
the  12th  he  met  Young,  who,  after  going  from  San 
Francisco  to  Monterey,  from  Monterey  to  Santa  Bar- 
bara, and  from  Santa  Bdrbara  to  Santa  Cruz,  and 
back  again  to  Monterey,  where  the  matter  was  laid 
before  the  deputation  then  in  session,  had  at  length 
obtained  consent  to  drive  from  the  country  seven 
hundred  head  of  cattle,  on  condition  that  they  were 
purchased  of  the  government,  and  not  of  the  missions 
to  which  they  belonged.'^  The  sale  of  cows  was  only 
brought  about  after  much  exertion  on  the  part  of 
Vallejo,  who  on  second  thought  lent  his  influence  to 
assist  the  Oregon  company,  and  won  to  the  purpose 
Alva. ado  ard  the  president  of  the  missions. 

P(;rmission  beiiig  thus  obt;  '       ,  the  next  step,  and 
owe  quite  as  difficult,  was  to  ^he  cattle  and  horses 

into  safe  possession.  There  were  forty  horses  pur- 
chased near  Santa  Cruz  and  driven  to  San  Francisco. 
Young  was  then  obliged  to  go  to  Sonoma  to  obtain  the 
order  of  Vallejo,  who  had  been  appointed  government 
agent  in  the  sale  of  the  cattle.  The  order  was  given 
for  two  hundred  head  from  the  mission  of  San  Fran- 
cisco, one  hundred  and  seventy  cows  and  thirty  bulls; 
but  the  administrator  at  the  niission  used  every  means 
to  evade  the  order,  and  insisted  on  inverting  the  ratio 
and  only  furnishing  thirty  cows.  Thereupon  Young 
was  obliy-ed  to  return  to  Yerba  Buena  to  have  the 
order  translated,  that  he  might  be  sure  it  was  correct. 

This  being  at  length  explained,  and  part  of  the  men 
having  joined  them,  Edwards  and  Young  proceeded 

■  And  (ill  this  nimpus,  *  says  Edwards,  '  on  account  of  an  oM  colonial  law 
wliich  forbids  the  exportation  of  male  and  female  animals  from  the  colonies.' 
Dinri),  MS.,  IG. 


THE  RETURN. 


145 


he 


toward  the  San  Josd  mission  with  their  first  purchase, 
there  to  obtain  the  remaining'  five  hundred.  The 
administrator  of  San  Francisco,  for  collecting  and 
guarding  the  cattle  as  far  as  Martinez,  exacted  presents 
for  his  Indians,  as  he  pretended,  to  the  value  of  over 
fifty  dollars,  and  Young  had  a  sharj)  altercation  with 
the  authorities  there  on  account  of  these  exactions. 
The  whole  number  of  cattle  purchased  was  not  de- 
livered until  the  2  2d  of  June,  three  weeks  having  been 
occupied  in  gf)ing  from  San  Francisco  to  the  mission  of 
San  Josd.  Some  of  the  animals  escaped  on  the  way ; 
and  of  those  at  the  mission,  some  were  found  to  have 
l)een  kept  seven  days  in  a  corral  with  little  or  nothing 
to  eat.  The  wildest  were  starved  or  beaten  until 
sufficiently  subdued  to  drive ;  but  then  they  were  too 
weak  to  travel,  and  many  dropped  to  the  ground  the 
first  day.  Complaint  being  made  to  the  administrator, 
lie  agreed  to  furnish  others  for  those  that  were  lost, 
from  a  place  beyond,  but  on  reaching  the  spot  desig- 
nated no  cattle  were  there.  Then  another  order  was 
given,  to*be  filled  from  a  rancho  still  farther  on ;  never- 
theless when  they  reached  the  San  Joaquin  River,  the 
25th  of  June,  eighty  animals  were  missing. 

To  cross  the  river  was  next  in  order,  and  at  the 
same  time  to  train  these  wild  snorting  brutes  to  cross 
rivers,  for  there  were  more  of  them  beyond.  The 
company  were  nearly  all  together  again,  and  their 
number  was  here  augmented  by  Henry  Wood,  B.  Wil- 
liams, Moore,  and  two  others.  First,  a  strong  corral 
was  put  upon  the  river  bank,  and  the  cattle  driven 
into  it.  Then  on  the  12th  of  July  a  few  cows  were 
induced  to  swhn  over  after  their  calves,  which  were 
towed  across  by  men  in  a  canoe.  Next  day  all  present, 
some  on  foot  and  some  mounted,  lent  their  aid  to 
induce  the  cattle  t(^  take  to  the  water.  Most  of  them 
were  driven  in ;  but  when  half-way  across  a  j)anic 
seized  them  and  they  turned  back,  with  a  loss  of  seven- 
teen drowned.  To  lasso  and  tow  each  animal  over 
singly  was  next  attem[)te(l,  for  the  accomplishment  of 

Hkst.  oh.,  Vol.  I.    10 


ft 


146 


THE  WILLAMETTE  CA'ITLE  COMPANY. 


wliich  rafts  of  bulruslies  were  made,  and  on  them  men 
seated  themselves,  some  to  pull  the  raft  over  by  a  rope 
stretched  across  the  river,  and  others  to  drag  each  an 
animal  through  the  water  by  a  rope  about  the  horns. 
In  tliis  tedious  labor  the  company  engaged  till  the 
20th ;  the  work  of  herding  and  guarding  at  night  being 
increased  by  the  division  of  both  men  and  cattle  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  Edwards,  who  was  on 
the  north  side,  was  obliged  to  be  on  horseback  some- 
times the  greater  part  of  the  night,  after  toiling,  as  he 
says,  "in  sweat,  water,  and  great  danger"  through  the 
day,  with  myriads  of  mosquitoes  which  maddened  the 
animals  beyond  bounds.  There  had  been  little  oppor- 
tunity to  rest  since  the  first  of  June,  and  this  last  trial 
taxed  strength  and  patience  to  the  utmost.  But  the 
climax  came  on  the  same  afternoon  that  the  crossing- 
was  finally  effected.  While  driving  to  a  new  encamp- 
ment, the  horse  on  which  the  anmmnition  was  packed 
ran  into  a  small  tule  lake  or  pond,  and  all  the  powder 
became  wet. 

All  day  long  Edwards  had  ridden  hard,"  and  far 
into  the  night  he  had  labored  to  induce  his  charge  to 
cross  a  slough,  albeit  but  knee-deep ;  and  now  before 
he  could  sleep  he  must  return  to  Yerba  Buena  for 
powder.  If  he  had  ever  rebelled  at  the  wild  ways  of 
the  half-broken  oxen  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
in  Oregon,  he  now  remembered  those  days  with  regret. 
"The  last  month,  what  has  it  been!"  he  exclaims. 
"Little  sleep,  much  fatigue,  hardly  time  to  eat,  mos- 
quitoes, cattle  breaking  like  so  many  evil  spirits,  and 
scattering  to  the  four  winds,  men  ill  natured  and  quar- 
relling ;  another  month  like  the  past,  God  avert !  Who 
can  describe  it?"''  And  yet  he  was  only  sixty  miles 
on  his  way,  with  five  hundred  miles  still  between  him 
and  the  Willamette  Mission.  Agahi  at  Mission  San 
Josd  he  exchanged  two  horses  for  cattle,  to  replace 
some  which  were  lost;  but  when  he  brouglit  the  pur- 
chaser to  Livermore's,  where  one  of  the  horses  had 

*  Diary,  MS.,  24, 


DASTARDLY   CONDUCT. 


U7 


been  left,  lie  found  it  liad  been  stolen.  By  dint  of 
bargain  and  exchange,  however,  he  secured  twenty 
head,  which  with  considerable  assistance  were  driven 
to  camp.  With  these,  and  others  he  was  able  to  pur- 
chase on  the  road,  notwithstanding  losses,  he  had  seven 
hundred  and  twenty-nine  when  he  encamped  on  the 
San  Joaquin  August  14th. 

On  the  20th  the  company  reached  the  mountains 
at  the  head  of  the  Sacramento  Valley,  fording  the 
Sacramento  River  without  difficulty,  following  the 
trail  of  Michel  La  Framboise  and  his  trapping  party. 
As  they  proceeded  north  the  mountains  were  higher 
and  harder  to  ascend,  being  stony,  with  a  close  growth 
of  bushes,  into  which  some  of  the  cattle  escaped.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  26tli  a  high  and  rugged  mountain 
seemed  to  close  the  way.  Riding  up  the  steep.  Young 
declared  that  there  was  another  mountain  above  it. 
"  Now,"  said  ho  to  Edwards,  "  if  you  are  a  philosopher, 
show  yourself  one ! "  But  alas !  no  man  is  a  philoso- 
pher longer  than  his  bodily  frame  can  be  made  to 
support,  his  resolution.  The  patience  of  tlie  company 
was  nearly  at  an  end.  The  men,  tired  of  eating  dried 
meat,  and  irritable  with  toil  and  privation,  insisted 
that  a  beef  should  be  killed  that  night,  which  Young 
refused,  on  account  of  having  to  carry  the  meat  over 
the  mountain.  A  quarrel  ensued,  in  which  they  defied 
authority.  "  Kill  at  your  peril ! "  said  Young ;  and  the 
storm  blew  over.  The  mind  of  the  leader  was  stronger 
than  the  nmscles  of  the  men ;  still  it  was  evident  that 
tlie  courage  of  the  company  was  declining. 

It  was  not  until  the  12th  of  September  that  the 
Rogue  River  Valley  "^  was  gained.  Threats  had  been 
made  by  Turner,  Gay,  and  Bailey  that  after  Rogue 
River  was  passed  there  would  bo  Indians  killed  in  re- 
venge for  the  attack  on  their  party  in  18:55.  Their 
pui'pose  was  kept  hidden  from  Young,  who  for  the 
safety  of  the  property  would  have  forbidden  retalia- 
tion. 

"  Edwards  in  his  diary  calls  this  place  Chasta  valley  and  river. 


148 


THE  Willamette  cattle  comi'ANY. 


If 


HH 


On  the  14tl),  having  crossed  the  river,  camp  was 
made  about  five  miles  beyond.  A  few  natives  ap- 
proached, and  one  of  them,  accompanied  by  a  bt)y  ten 
years  of  age,  entered  the  camp  in  a  friendly  manner, 
(ray  deliberately  raised  his  gun  and  fired,  and  as  tlie 
Indian  attempted  flight,  Bailey  also  fired,  and  the  man 
fell.  The  cry  then  arose,  "Shoot  the  boy!  shoot  the 
boy ! "  but  lie  escaped  behind  a  point  of  rock.  This 
dastardly  act  could  not  be  excused  on  the  ground  ot 
revenge,  as  the  spot  where  these  men  were  attacked 
two  years  before  was  yet  four  days  distant.  The  folly 
of  inciting  a  conflict  with  the  natives,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, was  indefensible. 

The  men  had  become  so  excited  by  past  wrongs  and 
present  suflerings,  aggravated  now  by  bloodshed,  that 
on  the  following  dav,  after  a  toilsome  march  through 
dust  and  heat,  their  insubordination  culminated  in  a 
quarrel  with  guns  and  knives,  which  continued  for 
fifteen  minutto,  while  threats  and  curses  emphasized 
their  acts.  Then  once  more  the  firnmess  of  their 
leader  prevailed,  and  peace  was  restored. 

For  several  days  and  nights  Young  was  on  the  alert 
for  the  expected  retaliation  of  the  natives ;  he  doubled 
the  guard,  and  used  extreme  caution  in  passing  through 
the  frequent  defiles,  where  the  enemy  might  lurk  in 
ambush.  The  first  night  Edwards  fired  on  a  party  of 
five  Indians  stealing  through  the  woods,  and  frightened 
them  off.  The  next  day  there  were  arrows  shot  from 
each  side  of  the  road,  and  several  of  the  cattle  wounded, 
but  only  one  killed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  ISth,  when  the  company 
entered  that  i^art  of  the  country  where  Turner,  Gay, 
and  Bailey  had  been  attacked,  Indians  were  discovered 
running  along  the  mountain  side  as  if  to  intercept 
them  in  some  defile.  It  was  nearly  noon,  and  they 
were  passing  l)etween  the  banks  of  the  Rogue  River, 
when  suddenly  from  the  thickly  wooded  mountains 
yells  were  heard,  and  arrows  showered  upon  those  in 
advance.     Young,  apprehending  such  an  attack,  was 


EDWARDS'    DIARY, 


149 


making  a  recoiinoissance  witli  throe  of  his  ii\en  some 
distance  in  advance  in  the  pass,  but  had  discoverd 
notliing  until  the  cattle  came  within  range  of  the 
arrows,  when  the  savages  were  found  to  be  on  both 
sides  of  the  trail.  Young  ordered  the  men  in  charge 
of  the  cattle  to  remain  where  they  were,  while  he 
undertook  to  repel  the  enemy.  The  Indians  were 
driven  off  after  Gay  had  been  wounded  and  Young's 
horse  shot  with  two  arrows.  That  nioht  strict  y:uard 
was  kept,  and  no  further  trouble  was  experienced. 

From  this  point  onward,  though  the  road  was  still 
rouirh  and  over  toilsome  mountains,  the  condition  of 
the  cattle  improved,  as  there  was  an  abundance  of 
grass  and  water.  With  prospects  more  favorable,  a 
better  state  of  feeling  was  restored,  and  they  reached 
the  settlement  in  good  spirits  about  the  middle  of  Octo- 
ber, nine  months  from  the  time  of  their  departure.'^ 
Edwards'  unpublished  diary  of  the  expedition  is 
the  only  reliable  account  extant  of  the  experiences  of 
the  cattle  company  on  the  road.  It  is  evident  that 
to  hin\  this  journey  was  a  prolonged  horror.  In  one 
place  he  remarks:  "Short-sighted  man!  happy  that 
his  knowledge  is  not  prospective,  else  he  would  not 
adventure  upon  some  of  his  most  ennobling  enter- 
prises. Few  of  our  party,  perhaps  none,  would  have 
ventured  on  the  enterprise  could  they  have  foreseen 
all  its  difficulties.  It  boots  little  to  reflect  tliat  the 
future  gains  will  amply  compensate  for  present  suffer- 
ing. Most  of  the  party  cursed  the  day  on  which  they 
engaged,  and  would  hardly  have  exchanged  a  draught 
of  cool  water  for  their  share  of  the  profits."  ^"^ 


''  Lee  and  Froxl's  Or.,  146, 

^'Edwanlx'  Dinni,  MS.,  30-1.  In  the  Nemda  Gazette  of  June  5,  1869, 
is  an  article  by  an  anonymous  writer  which  refers  to  this  expedition.  It 
represents  Young  as  overbearing,  and  ilinliked  !)y  tiie  men;  also  saying  tliat 
in  the  Siskiyou  Mountains  five  of  them  had  couHplred  to  kill  him  and  others 
on  a  certain  niglit,  and  to  divide  the  stock  among  tliemselves,  the  nmrder  to 
be  committed  as  Young  and  Edwards  returned  from  looking  for  lost  cattle, 
Turner  being  the  one  elected  to  shoot  Y'oung.  On  coming  into  camp  and 
seeing  by  the  looks  of  the  men  that  something  was  wrong,  Y  oung  (piestioned 
them,  and  one  of  the  conspirators  commence<l  cursing  Turner  for  his  cowardice, 
and  the  plot  was  revealed.     An  altercation  took  place,  aiul  the  company 


!i: 


150 


THK  \VII,LAMETTE  CATTLK  CO.MrANY. 


The  jT^reat  object  of  the  Willainctte  settlerg  was 
accomplished,  and  an  era  opened  in  colonial  history 
which  rendered  them  in  no  small  measure  independent 
of  the  fur  company.  The  precedent  thus  established 
of  bringing  cattle  into  Oregon  was  followed  three 
years  later  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  which 
obtained  a  permit  in  Mexico  to  drive  out  from  Cali- 
fornia four  thousand  sheep  and  two  thousand  horned 
cattle,  Scotch  shepherds  being  sent  to  select  the  sheep^ 
and  the  company's  trappers  in  California  being  em- 
ployed as  drivers. 

The  number  of  cattle  that  survived  tlie  first  expe- 
dition was  six  hundred  and  thirty,  two  hundred  having 
been  .lost  by  the  way.  The  expenses  of  the  expedition, 
and  the  losses,  brought  the  price  up  from  three  to  nearly 
eight  dollars  each.  They  were  divided  in  the  manner 
agreed  upon  when  the  company  was  formed,  the  sub- 
scribers taking  all  that  could  be  purchased  with  tlieir 
money  at  seven  dollars  and  sixty-seven  cents  a  head ; 
while  the  earnings  of  the  men  who  went  as  drivers  at 
one  dollar  a  day  were  paid  to  them  in  cattle  at  the 
same  rate.  The  stock  obtained  were  of  the  wildest, 
the  administrators  taking  good  care  that  it  should  be 
so,  and  their  value  was  lessened  in  consequence.  But 
the  settlers  were  allowed  to  keep  the  oxen  borrowed 
from  McLoughlin  in  exchange  for  wild  cattle,  and 
calves  were  accepted  in  place  of  full-sized  animals,  as 
they  were  wanted  for  beef  later.  ^'* 

There  is  some  difference  of  opinion  as  to  whom  the 
credit  of  this  enterprise  is  due.  Mr  Hines^*  thinks 
that  it  was  Jason  Lee's  energy  and  perseverance  which 
laid  tliis  foundation  of  rapidly  accunmlating  wealth 
for  the  settlers.  Perhaps  it  might  more  justly  have 
been  attributed  to  Edwards ;  but  as  a  matter  of  fact, 

being  pretty  evenly  divided,  an  armistice  was  agreed  upon,  the  division  being 
contniued  to  the  end  of  the  journey,  and  the  guard  at  night  being  made  up  of 
iMjual  numbers  of  both  parties  for  fear  of  treachery.  This  I  take  to  be  a  sen- 
sational story,  as  Edwards  makes  no  mention  of  it  in  his  Diary,  where  lesa 
important  quarrels  are  described  minutely. 

^'■^Copif  of  a  Document  iii  Trans.  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc.,  1880,  50-2. 

'*  JJine''  Oreijoii  History,  23. 


1>EATH  OF  EWINO   YOUNG 


lol 


1 
1 


it  was  Ewing  Young,  as  Walker  says,  who  "  put  in 
motion  the  introduction  of  Spanish  cattle  in  Oregon."  '•' 
He  was  the  only  man  among  the  settlers  who  knew 
enough  of  California  and  its  customs  to  intelligently 
propose  such  a  plan,  and  to  overcome  the  almost  in- 
superable difficulties  of  its  execution. ^^  He,  too,  it 
was  who  resented  the  restrictions  of  the  fur  company, 
and  determined  upon  the  independence  of  American 
settlers.  No  longer  under  a  cloud,  after  his  return 
Young  rose  to  an  important  position  in  the  colony. 
He  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  Chehalem  at  considerable 
expense,  whicii  was  kept  in  operation  until  tlie  winter 
of  1840-1,  when  it  was  carried  away  by  high  water. 
Soon  after  this  misfortune  Young  died."  The  pro- 
visional government  of  1841  was  organized  to  take 
charge  of  Young's  estate,  and  the  jaii  was  built  with 
it,  the  government  pledging  its  faith  to  restore  it  or 
its  value  to  his  heirs.  It  was  restored  in  part  to  his 
heirs  years  afterward  when  Oregon  hcd  become  a 
state. 

In  1854,  while  Oregon  was  still  a  territory,  there 
appeared  Joaquin  Young,  a  son  of  Ewing  Young  by  a 
Mexican  mother,  who  petitioned  the  territorial  legis- 
lature for  his  father's  money  An  act  was  passed 
empowering  him  to  commence  suit  in  the  supreme 
court  to  recover  the  sums  paid  into  the  treasury  of 
the  provisional  government  by  his  administrators,  said 
action  to  be  prosecuted  to  final  judgment.  The  suit, 
however,  was  not  brought;  the  legislature  deferred 
passing  a  bill  authorizing  the  ])ayment  of  the  judgment 
until  1855.  Finally  the  supreme  court,  consisting  of 
George  H.  Williams  and  M.  P.  Deady,  gave  judgment 
for  Joaquin  Young.  In  tlie  mean  time  the  claim- 
ant sold  his  interest  to  O.  C.  Pratt;  and  when  this 
was  known,  R.  P.  Boise,  a  member  of  the  legislature, 

'*  Sketch  of  Ewing  Young,  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc.  Trans.,  1880,  58;  Wilkes' 
Nar.,  U.  S.  Ej-plr.  Ex.,  iv.  384. 

»8iVar»/i'«/.c<fcr,  MS.,  10. 

"  It  wa.s  said  that  his  mind  became  affected  by  disease,  or  from  his  many 
trials  and  disuppointineuts.    Wltite'.t  Tvn  YeAirs  in  Or.,  154. 


152 


THE  WILLAMETl'E  CAITLE  COMPANY. 


and  ()j)pOHed  to  l*iatt  in  jjolitics,  secured  the  passage 
of  a  bill  stopping  the  ])aynient  of  the  judgment.  The 
tiiatter  then  rested  until  18G2,  when  a  law  was  enacted, 
chiefly  through  the  influence  of  Judge  Deady,  author- 
izing persons  having  claims  against  the  territory  or 
state  to  bring  suit  for  recovery.  Under  this  act  Pratt 
brought  suit,  and  obtained  judgment  for  the  amount, 
receiving  $5,108.94,  in  November  I8G3,  twenty-two 
years  after  the  property  was  taken  in  charge  by  the 
Methodist  Mission. ^^ 

Slacuni,  after  having  been  of  such  real  service  to 
the  settlers,  sailed  for  San  Bias  a  few  days  after  his 
arrival  in  California,  on  his  way  through  Mexico  to 
Washington.  He  took  a  share  in  the  company,  and 
deputed  Young  to  take  charge  of  his  proportion  of 
the  stock,  amounting  to  twenty-three  animals.  Four 
years  afterward,  in  consequence  of  Slacum's  death,  his 
nephew,  a  midshipman  of  the  United  States  exploring 
squadron,  claimed  his  uncle's  share,  with  the  increase, 
which  amounted  to  sixty-three,  and  these  he  obtained 
and  sold  to  McLoughlm  for  $8G0.^^ 


^ 


From  the  presence  of  Ewing  Young  in  Oregon 
sj)rang  two  important  events  in  the  settlement  of  the 
country:  the  coming  of  an  authorized  agent  of  the 
United  States,  and  the  disinthralment  of  the  settlers 
from  what  they  felt  to  be  the  oppressive  bt)ndage  of 
the  fur  company.  By  his  death  Ewing  Young  gave 
the  colony  a  further  and  still  more  important  impulse, 
as  will  be  shown  during  the  progress  of  events. 

From  the  life  of  Ewing  Young — indeed,  from  any 
man's  life — we  may  safely  conclude  that  it  is  better 
to  laugh  at  sorrow  and  slight,  and  even  indignity, 
especially  where  the  wrong  is  only  fancied,  as  is  usually 
the  case,  than  to  cry  over  these  things.  There  is 
nothing  in  the  wide  world  worth  mourning  for ;  if  all 


'8  See 


See  Special  Laws  Or.,  1855-6,  92;  General ^ Laws  Or.,  18(52,  78;  Mes- 
tmije  and  Docs.,  1864,  72;  Or.  Jour.  Council,  1S55-G,  app.,  5)2;  Or.  Statesman, 
Jan.  2,  1855. 

'»  Wilkes  Nar.,  U.  S.  Ea^lr.  Kr.,  iv.  384. 


THE  UFE  OF   A   MAN. 


163 


our  joys  have  taken  thuir  departure,  tliey  are  but  a 
step  before  us.  But  it  has  always  been  so,  the  chief 
occupation  of  man  being  to  torment  himself  withal. 
At  first,  on  coming  to  Oregon,  Ewing  Young  would 
be  king;  but  finding  there  a  monarch  so  much  his 
superior,  ho  fell  into  hateful  ways.  S(J  mightily  had 
he  been  mistaken  in  the  begiiming,  that  so  mi  he  felt  it 
hardly  safe  to  be  sure  of  anything.  But  when  the 
shore  lines  of  his  life  were  worn  somewhat  smooth  by 
the  eroding  waves  of  humanity's  ocean,  and  the  rewards 
of  benificent  conduct  far  exceeded  the  most  sanquinc 
anticipations  of  benefits  to  flow  from  evil  practices, 
might  not  the  broad  truth  have  come  home  to  him, 
that  he  is  made  as  conspicuously  uncomfortable  whose 
virtues  lift  him  above  the  conmion  sentiment  of  so- 
ciety, as  he  whose  vices  sink  jiim  beloAV  the  general 
level  ? 


!  I  ^  n 


CHAPTER   VII. 

COLONIZATION. 

1837-40, 

TuREK   Missionary  Bi!inKs~-J.\soN    Lkk's   MARRiAfiE-  Sea-coast  Excur- 
sions—  Branch    Mission     amomi     the    Calai-ooyas  —  Petition    to 

CONORESS     FOR     A     CiVII,     (tOVERNMENT — LeE    GoES     EaST — DeATII    OK 

Mrs  liEK  — Missionary  Entih  siasm  in  the  East— Bill  for  the 
Occi taiton  OF  C)ke(U)N — 8aii,in(j  of  th."  '  Lausanne' with  the  Mis- 
sion Colony —  Treaty  of  Commerce  with  the  Hawaiian  Lslands — 
Affairs  in  OitE(iON  l>KowNiN(i  of  th"-:  First  White  Boy  lioRN  in 
THE  Ieruiiohy- Death  of  Shei-au)-  Keliuiois  Interest  at  the 
Dalles — Arrival  of  the  Mission  Colony. 


;  I 


Danikl  Lkk  does  not  iiu'iitioii  what  the  superin- 
teiuleiit  wrote  to  the  iiiissioiiaiy  society  of  the  Metho- 
dist cliureli  on  estaUishin*^  liiniself  in  tlie  Willamette 
Valley,  but  it  is  to  be  presv  'led  that  whatever  it  was, 
the  action  of  the  society  »vas  founded  upon  it.  A 
reenforecenient  for  the  Mission,  consisting  of  eight 
adults  and  several  children,  sailed  from  Boston  on  the 
28th  of  July,  183(5.  They  took  passage  in  the  ship 
Hamilton,  Captain  Barker,  bound  for  the  Sandwich 
Islands,  where  they  arrived  late  in  the  winter.  There 
they  remained  guests  of  the  missionaries  at  Honolulu 
until  the  latter  part  of  April  1837,  when  they  sailed 
in  the  brig  Diana,  Captain  Hinckley,  for  the  Columbia 
River.  On  the  18tli  of  May,  three  months  after  the 
departure  of  the  hmot  with  the  cattle  company, 
tidings  of  the  new  arrival  rej^ched  the  Willamette, 
and  Jason  Lee  hastened  to  Fort  Vancouver,  and  found 
them  already  provided  with  c(  mfortable  quarters  by 


John  McLoughlin. 


(154) 


WIHTK,  HKKUS,  AND   WILI.SON. 


1^ 


The  principal  person  of  the  reentoreenient.  and  ono 
whom  it  was  expected  would  supply  the  jj^reat  neetl  of 
the  Mission,  was  Elijah  White,  A[,  JX,tVoni  Tompkins 
County,  New  York.  J)r  White  was  little  more  than 
thirty  years  of  nirv,  with  li<jfht  complexion,  hlue  eyes, 
and  dark  hair,  and  of  slitrht,  i-lastic  frame.  He  was 
thin,  too,  when  he  lanck-d  fi-om  his  lonu^  voyaufe, 
thoujj^h  not  so  thin  as  Daniel  Loe,  to  whoso  shoes  the 
leaden  soles  of  Philetas  would  scarcely  have  heen  out 
of  jdace. 

His  manners  were  of  that  ohlij^iinj;  .  id  flatterinj^ 
kind  which  made  him  })o}»ular,  esDt  -ially  amontjc 
women,  but  whi(^h  men  often  called  sycoMliantisI,  and 
insincere.  Ho  was  fond  of  orat<un-al  d'-ij)1  i^  and  of 
soci  ty,  affectedly  rather  than  truly  piv  is.  not  alto- 
i^etmsr  a  had  man,  though  a  weal:  on._.  Y^et  we  shall 
see  that  in  such  a  society  an  ert'eiriinate  man  may  ho 
of  no  less  consequence  than  a  mascidine  woman,  for 
here,  as  elsewhere,  M'o  find,  as  Lm  Fontaine  says,  a 
"bon  nomhre  d'hommes  qui  sont  fenmies."  Ho  had 
no  talent,  as  Hcinrich  Heine  would  declare,  hut  yot  a 
character.  And  strange  to  say,  the  longer  1m^  dwelt 
upon  this  coast,  the  more  he  became  smooth  and  sli})- 
pery  like  <^^lass,  and  flat  withal,  yet  Ikj  could  be  round 
and  cutting  on  occasions,  particularly  when  broken  on 
the  wheel  of  adversity.  He  was  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  an  infant  son,  and  a  lad  of  fourt(^en  years  named 
(xeorge  Stoughtenburg,  whom  he  had  adopted.  Mrs 
AVhite  was  a  cheerful,  amiable  young  woman,  and  do- 
yotcd  to  her  husband. 

Next  we  will  mention  Alanson  Beers,  a  blacksmith 
from  Connecticut,  a  man  of  low  stature,  dark  com- 
plexion, thin  features,  and  rigid  alike  in  his  views  of 
religion  and  social  propensities,  an  honest,  worthy 
character,  entitled  to  respect.  Ho  also  brought  his 
wife,  a  woman  of  comfortab.^'  physique  and  yielduig 
temper,  together  with  three  children. 

Another,    W.   H.  Willson,    a   ship-cariienter,    had 

»  Moss'  Pioneer  Times,  MS.,  3. 


I 


?  !• 


loC. 


COLONIZATION. 


sailed  out  of  Now  Bodford  on  more  than  one  wlialing 
voyaj^e.  Judging  from  the  commendations  lavislied 
upon  him  by  liis  associatos,  lie  was  a  more  than  or- 
dinarily worthy  man.  Tall,  with  a  well-knit  frame, 
cheerful  teni})er,  and  an  allectionate  dis[)osition,  kind 
to  children  and  animals,  he  was  a  general  favorite, 
aside  from  the  stories  of  sea-ii^oinu'  adventures  with 
which  he  was  ever  ready  to  entertain  his  listeners. 
Mr  Willson  vas  unmarried.  While  on  this  journey 
he  studied  medicine  under  White,  and  was  afterwards 
given  the  title  of  Doctor,  to  distinguish  him  from 
others  of  the  same  name  in  Oregon,  who  spelled  their 
name  with  only  one  1." 

The  other  adults  of  the  reenforcement  were  Miss 
Anna  Maria  l^itman  of  New  York;  Miss  Susan 
Downing  of  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  who  was  engaged 
to  marry  Cyrus  Shepard ;  and  Miss  Elvira  Johivson, 
froni  central  New  York.  Miss  Pitman  was  tall,  dark, 
somewhat  gifted  with  ])oetic  genius,  fervently  pious, 
and  full  of  enthusiasm  for  the  missionary  life.  Miss 
Downing  was  a  less  i)ronounced  character,  ])ersonally 
attractive,  possessed  of  a  fine  figure,  dark  hair,  blue 
eyes,  always  exercising  good  taste  in  dress,  and  po})U- 
lar  with  her  associates.  Miss  Johnson,  winning  in 
manner,  and  ])ure  and  zealous  of  spirit,  was  devoted 
to  her  duty.  She,  like  Miss  Downing,  had  dark  hair 
and  blue  eyes,  and  was  to  become  the  wife  of  a  mis- 
sionary. 

It  was  understood  that  Miss  Pitman  was  to  marry 
Jason  Lee,  if  tliey  sliould  suit  cacli  otlier.  The  meet- 
ing, tlierefore,  was  of  considerable  interest,  not  to  say 
embarrassment,  to  both,  when  McLoughhn  having 
introduced  Dr  White,  that  gentleman  brought  the 
su])erintend(;nt  face  to  face  with  the  lady.  "A  light 
blush  rose  to  her  cheek,  and  a  slight  trepidation, 
which,  added  to  the  charm  of  lier  manner,  was  all  the 
evidence,"  says  White,  "that  slie  was  conscious  of  the 
peculiarity  of  her  position."     With  Jason  Ijce  it  was 

-'  W/ii/c's  T<  II  Yearn  in  Or.,  passim;  Mrs  Wilson,   in  Or.  Skctchi.'i,  MS.,  'l',\. 


FURTHKR   ARRIVALS. 


157 


m 


TV 

im* 


II, 
le 
le 
as 


(littbrent;  lie  was  evidently  [)leas(>d  that  the  society 
had  sent  him  so  prepossessing  a  woman  for  a  wife, 
iind  took  nmcli  pains  to  render  himself  agreeable. 

On  tlie  day  after  Jason  Lee's  arrival,  the  whole 
company,  including  Captain  and  Mrs  Hinckley,  and 
Mr  J.  L.  WhitcomI),  from  Honolulu,  second  officer 
of  the  Diana,  set  out  in  canoes  for  the  Mission,  the 
superintendent  and  Miss  Pitman  accompanied  only  by 
their  Indian  crew  who  understood  no  En^jlish,  an 
arrangement  which  was  apparently  not  disagreeable. 
At  the  close  of  the  first  day,  which  had  been  bright 
and  musical,  an  encampment  was  made  under  the  oak 
trees  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Willamc^tte  where  Port- 
land now  stands.  The  following  day  they  reached 
the  mouth  of  Pudding  Kiver,  above  the  falls;  and  at 
an  early  hour  on  the  third  day,  they  finally  disem- 
i)arked  at  the  landing  of  Baptiste  Desportes  McKay, 
at  Champoeg,  where  horses  were  obtained,  ami  the 
journey  ended  witli  a  ride  through  Frencli  Prairie, 

At  the  landing,  a  letter  from  Daniel  Lco  was  found 
awaiting  them,  with  the  request  that  Dr  White  should 
hasten  forward,  as  twelve  persons  lay  sick  at  the  Mis- 
sion, some  of  th(;m  dangerously  so.  This  ])ressing  de- 
mand for  assistance  was  responded  to  by  the  doctor, 
who,  with  Willson,  IVfrs  Hinckley,  Miss  Pitman,  and 
Miss  Downing,  mounted  and  rode  oft'  at  a  rapid  pace 
in  advance  of  the  others. 

The  reception  at  the  ^lission  might  well  have  been 
disheartening  to  the  new-comers.  Think  of  those 
refined  }oang  womiMi,  fresh  from  the  comforts  aiul 
orderly  ways  of  eastern  homes,  ilismountiiig  i)efore 
the  rude,  substantial  Mission  house  in  tlie  wilderness, 
to  find  its  fioors  covered  with  the  sick,  lying  on  mats 
and  blankets,  more  than  a  dozen  (»ut  of  the  tliirty- 
eight  native  children  who  found  a  homo  there  down 
with  fever,  and  the  ivst  of  the  strange  uidvem[>t  brood 
peeping  through  doors  and  windows  for  a  sight  of 
the  straiiirers.     With  natural  care  Miss  Downinj'-  had 


158 


COLONIZATION. 


i  1 ' 

t  f 


dressed  herself  in  trim,  becoming  style  for  the  eyes  of 
her  affianced  husband.  This  neat  and  gentle  maiden, 
who  would  gladden  the  heart  of  any  lover,  happened 
upon  (^yrus  Shepard  in  the  brown  linen  frock  he  wore 
about  housework,  and  which  did  not  by  any  means  set 
off  his  tall  synnnetrical  figure  to  advantage.  It  was 
a  trying  situation,  but  thougli  Shepard  deeply  blushed 
in  his  embarrassment,  he  did  not  entirely  faint  away, 
and  finally  recovered  himself  sufficiently  to  welcome 
the  ladies,  after  which  he  ])roceeded  to  lay  the  table 
with  a  brown  linen  cloth  and  tin  plates,  and  to 
prepare  dinner  for  the  hungry  travellers.  The  fare 
was  venison,  sausages,  bread  of  unbolted  tlour,  butter, 
cheese,  and  fried  cakes,  with  wild  strawberries  and 
cream  for  desert."'  The  Mission  nmst  have  done  well, 
indeed,  to  have  been  able  to  offer  su[)plies  like  this  in 
the  third  year  of  its  tixistence,  it  being  too  early  hi  the 
season  for  a  garden. 

How  sixteen  new-comers  were  accommodated  with 
beds  when  even  the  floors  were  occupied  by  the  sick, 
not  one  of  the  chroniclers  of  earlv  events  has  told  us. 
Fifty-four,  and  for  a  short  time  fifty-seven,  unnates 
found  lodgment  in  a  building  forty  by  eighteen  feet, 
the  space  increased  by  a  fiooring  overhead,  which  was 
converted  into  an  attic  under  the  rafters. 

Thus  we  see  in  the  chemistry  of  west-coast  adven- 
ture an  adaptation  of  self  to  circumstances,  not  unlike 
that  of  sulphuric  acid  and  water,  which  when  mingled 
are  contained  in  less  space  than  they  separately  occu- 
pied. 

In  apparent  enjoyment,  the  missionary  recruits  and 
their  guests  exi)lored  the  ct)untry  by  day,  and  slept 
under  the  same  roof  at  night;  until,  after  a  few  days. 
Captain  and  !Mrs  Hinckley  returned  to  Fort  Van- 
couvci'.*     Dr  White,  on  looking  about  for  the  cause 

'  WhiUi's  Ten  I'ca/'.-i  //(  Orci/on,  7'2. 

*  Mrs  Hinckley  tlioil  not  long  tafter  her  visit  to  Oregon,  and  t'aptain  Hinck- 
ley married  a  daughter  of  Martinez  of  California.  In  deaurihing  the  wedding 
festivities,  Mrs  Harvey  says  tliat  dancing  was  kept  up  for  tliree  nights,  with 
luiU-fights  in  the  daytime  ;  feasting,  and  drinking  a  good  deal,  especially  sweet 
wines.     L{/'c  oj  McLouijhVw,  MS.,  25. 


PREACHING  AND   PKACTI81N(i. 


159 


t)f'  disease,  found  an  accumulation  of  vegetable  matter 
washed  up  by  a  freshet,  decaying  and  })oisoni!ig  the 
air.  He  also  noticed  tliat  a  dense  grove  of  lirs  be- 
tween the  house  and  the  river  ])revented  a  free  circu- 
lation of  air.  At  once  he  set  the  Indian  bovs  to 
lopping  off  branches  of  trees,  and  clearing  away  rub- 
bish ;  after  which  the  general  health  improved. 

Shej)ard  was  soon  prostrated  witli  fever,  and  Miss 
Downing's  loving  care  was  as  the  ministration  of 
an  angel  in  this  dark  wilderness;  by  good  nursing  he 
escaped  with  a  short  illness.  Jason  Lee  was  fortunate 
in  the  prosecution  of  his  suit;  nmch  of  tlie  time  being 
spent  with  Miss  Pitman  in  riding  about  the  country, 
and  the  favorable  first  impression  deepened.  On  the 
IGth  of  June  there  was  a  large  gathering  in  the  grove 
near  the  Mission  house,  it  being  the  sabbath,  and  the 
marriage  of  Cyrus  Shepard  was  expected  in  addition 
to  the  ur.ual  service. 

Jason  Lee  delivered  a  discourse  on  the  propriety 
and  duties  (jf  marriage,  a  ceremony  too  lightly  re- 
garded in  this  new  country.  When  he  had  finished 
his  remarks  he  said,  "  What  I  urge  upon  you  by  pre- 
cept I  am  }>repared  this  day  to  enforce  by  example ;" 
and  characteristic  as  it  was,  without  such  a  purpose  be- 
ing suspected  by  any  one,  he  went  to  Miss  Pitman  and 
led  her  forth  in  view  of  all  the  congregation.  Then 
rose  Daniel  Lee,  and  solenmly  read  the  marriage 
service  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  after 
which  Mr  Lee  led  his  wife  back  into  the  assemblage, 
and  returning  took  his  nei)liew's  ])lace,  and  jterformed 
the  same  service  for  Mr  Shepard  and  Miss  Down- 
ing. When  the  marriages  were  duly  solemnized,  Lee 
preached  his  usual  Sunday  sermon,  after  which  the 
communion  service  was  held,  and  two  members  were 
admitted  to  the  church.'"'  The  whole  mimber  of  com- 
municants was  fourteen.  There  was  a  tiiii'd  mar- 
riage on  that  day,  that  of  CharVvs  J.  lioe  and  Nancy 
McKay,  some  of  whose  brothers  were  in  the  Mission 

^Ifliies'  Orc'/oii  Ifht.,  2');  /.<■<■  ami  Frost'n  Or.,  149, 


ItiO 


COLONIZATION. 


school.^  A  weddinjj^  breakiast  followed  the  conclusion 
of  the  services.  Thus  was  inaugurated  the  marriage 
ceremony  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  where  heretofore 
christianized  forms  had  not  been  deemed  essential.^ 


f  1'  r- 


The  labor  of  settling  the  families  now  occupied  all 
the  time  that  could  be  spared  from  the  harvest,  in 
both  of  which  Jason  Lee  and  White  assisted.  Beers 
and  Willson  spent  most  of  the  sunnner  in  transport- 
ing the  goods  which  arrived  by  the  Diana  from  Fort 
A'^ancouver,  by  the  slow  conveyance  of  canoes.  A  log 
house  and  shop  were  built  for  Beers.  White  had  a 
hewn-log  house,  in  which  the  skill  of  the  mechanic 
Willson  was  very  serviceable.  A  school-room  was 
added  to  the  Mission  house,  and  Miss  Johnson  in- 
stalled as  teacher.  Mrs  Shepard  made  and  mended 
the  clothing  of  the  Indian  children;  the  other  women 
attended  to  the  general  housekeeping.  A  temperance 
meeting  was  held  to  keep  alive  the  sentiment  against 
the  introduction  or  manufacture  of  intoxicating  drinks, 
an  tfort  in  which  the  missionaries  were  successful 
for  a  numl)er  of  years  after  the  first  formation  of  the 
Oregon  Temperance  Society.^ 

In  August,  Jason  Lee  made  two  exploring  excur- 
sions in  company  with  his  wife  and  Mr  and  Mrs  Shep- 
ard. The  first  one,  under  the  guidance  of  a  French 
settler  named  Desportes,  was  toward  the  upper  end 

"Roo  hail  a  strange  liistory.  He  was  l)orn  in  New  York  in  180(5,  aiul  came 
to  Oregon  in  ISIU.  Ho  early  joined  the  Metliodist  chnrcli,  in  whicli  for  many 
years  he  liail  a  goo<l  standing.  On  tlie  deatli  of  his  wife  lie  iharried  again  in 
IS.")ti  another  half-breed  girl  of  gooil  character;  hnt  lieeoiiiing  jealous  of  her, 
lie  nmrdered  her  in  185'.),  for  which  he  was  hanged,  professing  to  hope  for  for- 
giveness, and  expressing  a  willingness  to  pay  the  penalty  of  his  sin.  Jfim's 
ilm/on  JIM..  '2">;  Or.  SfaffMinaii,  March  1,  18.V.). 

'  Parker  says  that  when  he  nrged  tlu!  dtity  of  the  marriaii;e  relation  he  was 
nut  l>y  two  reasons  for  dispensing  with  a  h^gal  marriage:  one,  that  if  the  men 
wished  to  return  to  tiieir  former  liomes  they  could  not  take  tiieir  Indian 
familit^s  with  them;  and  tiie  other,  that  the  Indian  women  did  not  nnder- 
stand  the  ohligations  of  the  marriage  covenant,  and  might  at  any  time, 
througii  caprice,  leave  them,   Pnrhr'n  Joitr.,  E.i\  Tour,  liS<)--l. 

''Wilkes,  whose  visit  to  the  Willamette  .settlements  occurred  in  1841,  ex- 
pressed liis  surprise  at  tile  general  regard  for  temperance,  and  f.pjwisitiou  to 
distilling  spirits  among  a  class  of  men  who  might  he  expected  to  favor  that 
indulgence.  Kut  they  were  all  convinced  that  their  welfare  depended  on 
sobriety.    Wilb-'i'  Xttr.,  U.  S.  Explur.  Ex.,  iv.  380. 


MOKE   MISSIONARIES. 


161 


(jf  the  Willainetto  Valley,  by  an  eastward  circuit  to 
the  head  waters  of  the  Mollale,  and  down  that  stream 
to  its  junction  with  the  Willamette,  which  he  crossed, 
and  returned  to  the  Mission  by  the  west  side.  The 
second  excursion  was  to  the  sea-coast,  at  the  mouth 
ot"  the  Salmon  Kiver,  under  the  guidance  of  Jose})!! 
(^ervais.  Here  they  sojourned  seven  days,  batliing 
'II  the  salt  water,  and  preaching  as  they  were  able  to 
the  Killamooks.  Health  and  pleasure  with  lioht  pro- 
fessional occupation  was  the  object  of  these  excur- 
sions, Shepard  particulai-ly  being  in  need  of  change 
of  air.  This  visit  to  the  coast  was  an  example  which 
later  became  the  custom,  namely,  for  camping  parties 
to  spend  a  portion  of  the  summer  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Coast  Range,  there  to  enjoy  the  sea-bathing  and 
rock-oysters." 

Hardly  had  the  excursionists  returned  to  the  Mis- 
sion when  news  came  of  the  arrival  of  a  second  reiin- 
forcement,  which  left  Boston  on  the  20th  of  January, 
18:37,  in  the  ship  Sanuitra,  and  arrived  at  Fort  Van- 
couver on  the  7th  of  September  following.  The  Su- 
matra was  loaded  with  goods  for  the  Mission,  and 
brought  as  assistants  t<^  Lee  the  Rev.  David  I^cslie  of 
Salem,  Massachusetts,  Mrs  Leslie,  and  three  young 
daughters,  Rev.  H.  K.  W.  Perkins,  who  was  to  marry 
Miss  Johnson,  and  Miss  Margaret  Smith,  afterwai-d 
the  wife  of  Dr  Bailey.  Perkins  and  Miss  Johnson 
were  marrietl  November  21,  18M7,  Bailey  and  Miss 
Smitli  in  1H40. 

The  family  at  the  Willamette  mission  now  num- 
bered sixty  n)oml)ers,  including  the  nati\e  cjiildren,  or 
nearly  an  ecjual  nund)er  of  Indians  and  white  persons. 
It  was  a  somewhat  ex[)ensive  process,  one  civilizer 
to  every  savage,  especiall}'  where  ninety-nine  out  of 
every  hundretl  of  tlie  latter  died  under  the   infliction. 


'A  pear-Hhapeil  mollusk  in  a  soft  shell,  incased  in  the  sandstone  of  the 
Bca-shorc  at  tlie  mouth  of  the  Salmon  River.     It  is  found  hy  lircakitig  open 
the  rock,  ami  seisms  to  have  enlarged  its  cell  as  remiired  for  growth. 
Hist.  Oh.,  Vol..  I.    U 


-^^ 


1G2 


COLONIZATION. 


tn 


'\-  5 


Tlieretbre  it  was  deemed  best  tliat  the  niissioiiaries 
wliould  divide.  Lee  had  purchased  a  farm  recently 
opened  hy  a  Canadian  near  tlie  Mission  premises,  with 
a  small  house  now  occupied  by  Leslie  and  Perkins 
with  their  wives.  White  and  Beers  were  domiciled  in 
houses  of  their  own,  leaving  the  Mission  building  in 
possession  of  Lee,  Shepard,  Edwards,  Willson,  and 
Whitcomb,  the  latter  at  present  employed  as  farm 
su})erintendent.  In  addition  to  these  accommoda- 
tions, it  was  decided  to  erect  a  hospital,  which  was 
accordingly  begun. 

The  amount  of  labor  caused  by  the  addition  of  so 
jnany  persons  unprovided  with  the  conveniences  of 
living,  the  transportation  of  the  second  ship-load  of 
goods,  and  the  care  of  the  cattle  which  came  in  Octo- 
ber, retarded  the  progress  of  the  Indian  school,  which, 
notwithstanding  sickness  and  other  drawbacks,  was 
in  a  promising  condition.  Perhaps  l)ecause  his  mind 
is  empty  of  tlie  loftier  civilized  conceptions,  the  sav- 
age is  a  ready  scholar  in  the  elements  of  learning, 
thouii'h  he  rarely  masters  more  than  these.  A  native 
lad  in  the  class  of  Solomon  Smith  at  Fort  Vancouver 
learned  reading,  writing,  and  the  whole  of  DalioU's 
arithmetic  in  eleven  months,  writing  out  all  the  ex- 
am[)les  for  the  benelit  of  the  other  scholars.  Some 
simi)le  penalty  usually  kept  these  primitive  pupils  in 
good  order,  such  as  being  made  to  wear  an  old  gun- 
lock  sus})ended  round  the  neck  by  a  string.  ^^' 

The  first  [)rejudice  of  the  adult  ab(jriginals  against 
leaving  their  cliildreii  at  the  Mission  was  not  over- 
conu?,  the  sch(H)l  consisting  chiefly  of  those  who  had 
no  })arents,  wliich,  if  they  were  to  be  educated  in  any 
sense,  was  a  favorable  circumstance.  But  from  pu])ils, 
the  wards  of  the  Mission  were  likely  to  become  ser- 
vants, while  so  mucli  labor  was  reijuired  to  make  their 
teachers  comfortable ;  and  as  the  savage  is  by  nature 
averse  to  labor,  the  demands  made  upon  the  children 

'"IiKlividual  instances  of  s,.vage  intellect  are  often  founil  which  are  fai- 
superior  to  the  average  civilized  mind. 


THE  DALLES  MLSSION. 


168 


at  the  Mission  were  sure  to  operate  against  tlie  suc- 
cess of  the  scliool. 

A  meeting  to  t)rganize  a  society  for  the  henofit  of 
the  Calapooyas,  held  on  Christiiias-dav,  was  well 
attended,  as  occasions  for  social  intercourse  anioui'  the 
settlers  were  rare.  Moreover,  the  Mission  being  to 
the  VVillan^ettc  Valley  in  points  of  intiuence  and  pro- 
spective importance  what  Fort  Vancouver  was  to  the 
Oregon  territory,  great  interest  was  felt  in  its  pro- 
jects. It  was  i)roposed  to  form  an  organization  among 
the  missionaries  and  settlers  to  induce  the  natives 
to  locate  at  a  branch  mission  on  a  piece  of  ground 
which  they  should  be  taught  to  cultivate,  and  that 
they  should  receive  encouragement  in  their  work, 
and  assistance  to  build  comfortable  homes.  About 
four  hundred  dollars  weie  sul)scribed;  Frenchmen  and 
Americans  contributing  from  five  to  twenty  dollars 
each  men  who  themselves  used  dried  deerskin  in 
place  of  glass  for  windows,  and  who  possessed  few 
comforts  beyond  the  actual  necessities  of  life,  and  yet 
had  farms  well  stocked.  Much  more  than  this  would 
the  people  have  done  for  Lee  and  his  associates,  for 
the  visit  of  Slacum,  tht'  petition  to  congress,  and  the 
successful  formation  of  the  catth;  company  had  in- 
s})ired  them  with  a  respect  and  confidence  in  the  judg- 
ment, energy,  and  enterprise  of  the  Americans.  The 
branch  mission  was  a  failure,  as  might  have  been  fore- 
seen ;  for  though  asssted  wdth  their  farming,  tlu; 
natives  were  so  indolent  and  a])athetic  that  the 
attempt  h.ad  to  be  abandoned. 


n 


It  was  decided  in  missionary  councils  during  the 
winter  that  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia  offered  supe- 
rior advantages  for  a  mission  station,  and  Daniel  Lee 
and  Perkins  were  assiijfned  to  that  |»lace.  (hiw  states 
m  his  account  of  the  Presbyterian  missions,  that  he 
urged  Whitman  to  establish  a  station  at  this  point; 

"  Aw  nmf  Frwt'n  Or.,  150. 


1(14 


<'OL()NIZATI()N. 


I  i ' 


it 


u 


and  peiliaps  tin'  lattei'  intended  to  <1(»  so  when  lio 
sliould  l)e  ssutficitiiitly  reiinforced.  Hut  wIkmi  (iray 
returned  from  the  Ignited  States  in  the  autumn  of 
1838,  he  found  tlie  place  already  o('cu[)ied  hy  the 
Methodists, 

About  the  middle  of  March  1838,  Perkins  and  l^ee 
proceeded  by  canoe  to  the  Dalles,  and  selected  a  sit(! 
three  miles  below  the  narrows,  and  half  a  mile  from 
the  Columbia  River  on  the  south  side,  where  there 
was  good  land,  s})rings  of  excellent  water,  a  plentiful 
supply  of  pine  and  oak  tind)er,  and  a  fine  view  of  the 
Columbia  for  several  miles.  Back  of  the  chosen  site 
the  ground  rose  rather  abruptly,  and  was  lightly 
wooded  with  lofty  pines.  Standing  like  a  watch- 
tower  in  the  south-west  was  Mount  Hood,  whose  icy 
cliffs  wrap]»etl  in  the  silent  sky  flung  back  the  sun's 
rays  defiantly. 

Assisted  by  the  natives,  who  at  first  labored  with 
zeal,  hoping  now  to  realize  the  good  which  then- 
interviews  with  Parker  had  taught  them  to  expect, 
a  house  was  built  in  which  Mrs  Perkins  came  to  live 
in  May,  Unlike  the  natives  of  the  Willamette,  those 
at  the  Dalles  showed  a  willinu^ness  to  be  tauo-ht  reli- 
gion,  assembling  on  Sundays,  and  listening  with  a  sober 
demeanor  to  sermons  })reached  through  an  interpreter, 
and  this  to  the  great  encouragement  of  tlieir  teachers. 

After  several  journeys  by  river  to  trans})ort  suj)- 
plies,  each  of  which  took  three  weeks  to  perform, 
early  in  September  Daniel  Lee  undertook  the  serious 
task  of  bringing  cattle  from  the;  Willamette  to  the 
Dalles  by  an  Indian  trail  over  tlie  Cascade  Moun- 
tains,^'" being  assisted  in  this  labor  only  by  the  natives. 

Lee's  description  of  his  squad  of  savages  might  be 
compared  with  Palstaff' s  remarks  in  nmstering  his  re- 
cruits.    There  was  an  old  C-hinook,  blind  in  one  eye; 

'^  Daniel  Lcc  calls  lliese  monntaiiis  the  President's  Range,  after  Kelley; 
nor  were  tliey  as  a  range  ever  otherwise  formally  named.  It  was  from  the 
circumstiince  that  traN'ellers  so  often  said  'the  Cascade  Monntains, '  to  dis- 
tingnish  tliem  from  other  ranges  in  the  country,  that  they  obtained  their 
present  name. 


DANIEL  LKK'S  KXl'KDITlON. 


165 


I 


a  stout  yoiiiif?  Walla  Walla,  knij^ht  of  the  sorrowful 
c'ountoiiaiicc,  whoso  name  signified  'destitute,'  because 
he  had  gainl)le(l  away  his  patrimony;  also  another 
Chinook  with  a  flattened  head  and  wide  mouth,  a 
youth  wearing  the  dignity  of  manhood;  another  was 
a  W^alla  Walla,  also  a  jramestcr  and  a  roi>ue,  thouij:h 
shrewd  ;  yet  another  was  a  cripple  with  sliort,  crooked 
legs,  who  carried  a  crutch  of  great  length  on  which 
he  poised  himself  and  swung  his  hody  forward  three 
or  four  yards  at  a  leap.''  The  sixtli  was  to  have  been 
the  guide,  but  failed  to  keep  his  engagement,  which 
led  to  much  trouble. 

With  ten  horses  belonging  to  the  Mission,  and  ten 
others  owned  by  the  natives,  and  j)rovisions  for  six 
davs,  Lee  set  out  on  his  undertaking.  The  trail  i)roved 
worse  than  he  had  anticipo.ted,  passing  through  I'avines 
and  across  rapid  streams,  and  often  obstructed  by 
fallen  trees.  Sometimes  it  lay  along  the  margins  of 
dangerous  cliffs,  and  at  the  best  was  everywhere  over- 
grown with  underbrush.  On  the  west  side  of  the 
summit  it  was  lost  altogether  under  many  generations 
of  leaves.  The  six  days'  provisions  were  exhausted, 
and  two  of  their  horses,  starving  like  themselves,  were 
eaten  before  they  had  reached  the  Willamette,  at  the 
end  of  two  weeks. 

On  this  expedition  Lee  was  overtaken,  soon  after 
leaving  the  Dalles,  by  John  A.  Sutter,  then  on  his 
way  to  California.  With  Sutter-  was  a  party  of 
mountain  men,  who  were  unwillino-  to  follow  the  cir- 
cuitous  route  taken  by  Lee's  guides,  and  broke  away 
from  them,  reaching  the  Mission  in  six  days — a  feat  that 
was  considered  incredible  but  for  the  ])roof  of  letters 
sent  by  T-*orkins.'*  Eight  days  more  j)assed,  and  as 
Lee  had  not  yet  returned,  a  party  was  forming  to  go 
ill  seai'cli  of  him,  when  he  made  liis  apitearance. 

A  good  guide   being  procured,  antl  the  services  of 


'^  Lee  n»il  Fro.i/'s  Or.,  1.")'). 

^^  Slitter's  Persoiint  Jt'eininisreiices,    MS,,   7-8;  Siittir  f  \i.   Ilisi.,  'j;j;    Ynlni 
Co.  Hixt.,  -M. 


Hit  J 


COLON  IZATION. 


two  wliito  mow  oiif;nf(i'<l,  the  return  jouriU'V  was  inoro 
casilv  accoinplislu'd.  On  the  5tli  of  October,  ciu'lit 
days  from  the  Willamette,  Lee  arrived  at  the  Dalles 
with  fourteen  head  of  eattle,  to  find  that  Perkins  and 
his  wife  had  ^one  to  the  old  Mission  to  s])end  several 
months.  Thus  he  was  left  dui'iiiir  the  ^ivater  j)art  of 
the  winter-  alone,  with  the  exception  of  a  man  nami'd 
Anderson,  who  had  heen  hired  some  time  previously 
to  assist  in  roofiiiij^  the  house.  As  timber  for  fenoini*' 
and  for  farminsjj  utensils  was  required  before  spring-,  nnd 
harness  and  imjilenients  had  to  1k^  made,  there  was  little 
tinu'  for  nussion  woik.  Pei'kins  returned  to  the  Dalles 
with  his  wife  and  infant  son  in  February,  and  farmin*;" 
was  begun,  part  of  the  ground  being  held  on  shares 
with  the  natives,  who  helj)ed  to  fence  and  plough 
it.  But  the  soil,  being  newly  stirred,  did  not  yield 
abundantly ;  and  the  crop,  small  as  it  was,  was 
partly  stolen  by  other  Indians,  which  so  discouraged 
the  laboring  savages  that  they  abandoned  work  and 
took,  without  leave,  the  vegetables  raised  by  the  mis- 
sionaries. The  latter,  however,  })ersevered,  building 
another  house  in  the  sununer  of  IB:]!),  which  was  used 
for  a  church,  and  improving  their  home.  And  here 
for  the  jiresent  we  will  leave  them,  to  return  to  the 
afiairs  of  the  parent  Mission. 


I.  1 

r.  S  ■ 


W 


From  this  ])oint  we  regard  Jason  Lee  less  as  a 
missionary  than  as  an  American  colonizer.  When 
he  first  conceived  the  idea  of  appropriating  the  valley 
of  the  Willamette  for  the  Methodist  church  under  the 
protection  of  the  United  States  is  not  very  clear,  for 
Kelley's  account  of  Lee's  intentions  is  o])en  to  the 
charge  of  j)rejudice,  the  former  feeling  himself  un- 
justly treated.  But  there  can  be  little  doubt  that 
the  scheme  took  form  on  being  enc(niraged  by  Slacuni 
to  look  for  the  support  of  government  in  sustaining 
American  supremacy  south  of  the  Columbia, 

Lee  had  been  lonu;  enouuh  in  Oreudii  when  the  first 
reenforcemcnt  arrived  to  have  discovered  that  the  tribes 


CHAN(iE  OF  BASE. 


167 


r 


of  the  Willamette  Valley,  and  of  the  Columbia  River 
west  of  the  Cascade  M(tuMtaiiis,  were  hopelessly 
diseased  and  depraved;  and  that  to  sustain  an  asylum 
with  a  few  sickly  orjthans  tlid  not  re([uire  the  services 
oven  of  those  persons  already  on  the  <^round.  Xt)r 
was  the  character  of  the.  J)alles  savages  unknown  to 
hira  as  tho  banditti  of  the  Columbia  Kiver  ntgion, 
whom  there  was  littler  hoi)e  of  benefiting.  With  tho 
exception  of  tlie  Umiujua  and  Rogue  Kiver  valleys, 
and  a  portion  of  tho  southern  coast,  regions  avoided 
on  account  of  the  hostile  character  of  the  natives,  he 
had  traversed  the  whole  country  south  of  the  Ct)lumbia 
without  finding  a  single  place  where  there  was  any 
prospect  of  success  in  missionary  work.  Slowly  it 
dawned  upon  his  mind  that  he  and  his  associates  would 
have  long  to  wait  for  the  spiritual  sky  to  fall,  that 
they  might  catch  some  larks. 

What  should  he  do  {  Clearly  as  special  agent  of 
the  Lord,  the  Lord  did  not  ri'(piire  his  services  here? 
Should  he  then  serve  his  fellow-man,  or  even  himself? 
Miglit  not  -le  serve  God  as  well  by  ministering  to 
civilized  man,  ministering  in  things  material  as  well 
as  in  things  spiritual,  assisting  in  establishing  a  grand 
and  virtuous  commonwealth,  as  by  waiting  on  sickly 
savages?  Would  it  not  please  his  Maker  as  well  if 
he  becauKi  a  little  more  a  colonizer  and  a  little  less 
a  missionary?  and  would  it  not  please  himself  better? 
But  how  would  the  good  people  at  lumie  regard  such 
a  change  of  base,  those  earnest  in  sewing-societies, 
church  sociables,  and  in  gathering  the  Sunday-school 
pennies?  Jason  Lee  felt  that  tliese  would  not  ap- 
prove of  such  a  course;  that  in  their  eyes  the  one 
sickly  savage  was  more  than  the  ninety  and  nine  of 
civilization,  and  that  to  abandon  the  attempt  of  con- 
version would  be  apostasy.  He  knew  well  enougli 
that  it  was  not  the  abandonment  of  his  trust,  or  of 
any  trust  worthy  of  his  manhood;  in  fact,  tliere  wa* 
nothing  to  abandon.  Nevertheless,  for  the  sake  i 
the  cause,  which  was  just  now  b^'ginning  to  assume 


1G.S 


COLONIZATION'. 


sliaiH'  ill  his  iniiid,  In-  would  ducoivo  tluaii  a  little;  for 
tlu;  sjiko  of  proii^ross  and  tho  (iod  of  pro;^rit.Ha,  Ids 
CJod  and  theirs,  lie  would  not  tell  them  nil  at  once  his 
whole  heart. 

For  tlic  old  alfair  he  had  more  help  than  he  needed; 
for  iiis  slowly  evolving  purpose  he  had  not  enough. 
Moreover,  the  fruits  of  the  sewing -societies  and  the 
Sunday-schools  would  be  none  the  less  acceptable  to 
civilization  than  to  aavauism  at  this  juncture.  There- 
for-e  he  tlecidi'd  in  the  winter  of  18'57-H  to  visit  the 
states  and  obtain  more  men  ami  means. 

Preparatory  to  this,  Lee  made  a  hasty  excursion  m 
March  18."}8  to  the  Ump<pia  N'^alley,  to  inform  him- 
self of  its  nature  and  advantages  for  the  i)urposes  now 
in  contemplation.  A  convention  was  called  in  order 
to  meriiorialize  congress  to  extend  jurisdiction  over 
the  Oregon  colony.  The  memorial  set  forth  that  the 
settiement  began  in  1832,  and  had  pros])ered  beyond 
all  expectation;  that  the  ])e()})le  of  the  United  States 
were  ignorant  of  the  value  of  the  country  west  of  the 
Rocky  Alountains,  of  the  mildness  of  its  climate,  the 
wealth  of  its  resources,  and  its  commercial  advantages 
in  relation  to  China,  Lulia,  the  Islantls  of  the  Pacific, 
and  the  western  coast  of  America;  for  all  of  which 
leasons  the  government  was  urged  to  take  formal 
possession  without  loss  of  tinu';  not  (»nly  because  of 
its  general  importance  to  the  nation,  but  for  the  con- 
secpient  benefits  to  the  colony.  Moreover,  if  this  were 
not  done,  evil  to  the  settlers  would  ensue.  The  inter- 
ests of  the  nil  'norialists  they  declared  were  identical 
with  th<»se  o;  the  country  of  their  adoption.  They 
felt  themselve,  the  nucleus  of  a  great  state,  and  were 
anxious  to  oive  t  at  the  beiiinniniij  an  elevated  moral 
and  intellectua  tone.  They  were  concerned,  also, 
about  the  char  "ter  of  those  who  mlulit  emii'Tate  to 
Oresfon,  and  desiied  conijress  to  sav  bv  whom  the  ter- 
ritory  should  be  populated.  Unpi-inciplcd  adventurers, 
Bctany  Bay  refugees,  renegades  from  civilization  now 


LKKs  Msrr  KAsr. 


1U9 


roamiii;:^  the  l^ocky  Moiiiituiiis,  deist  rtiM<^' seaimiii  tVom 
J*<»lyii('siii,  aiul  banditti  from  Spanish  Anieriua  were 
not  \vanti!«l. 

T1)UH  fill',  said  tlio  nuMnoiial,  tlie  colony  liad  dc- 
})endod  t<»a  i^rcat  extent  on  the  inthienee  of  the  Hud- 
son's i^ay  Coni[»any,  vvhicli  had  j)iesei\  t-il  peace  an  lonj^' 
l)oth  the  settlers  and  the  natives  hy  its  jucHeions 
nianat^ement.  Hut  they  couM  not  lioDe,  as  tlie  settle- 
nients  heeanie  independent  of  the  fur  eonipany,  that 
this  condition  of  harmony  would  remain  unchanged, 
with  a  mixed  population,  and  without  a  civil  code. 
The  memoriid  is  dated  March  1(5,  18;{8,  and  sij^ned  l»y 
the  ten  })roachers  and  laymen,  Ewin^'  Youiit;"  and  ten 
other  colonists,  and  nine  French  Canadians.'' 

Toward  the  last  of  March,  Lee  left  the  Willamette 
Valley  on  his  projected  mission,  and  j)roceeded  to  Fort 
Vancouver,  tin;  Dalles,  and  F( )rt  Walla  Walla.  Eil wards 
accompanied  Lee,  having  long  contemplated  leaving 
Oregon;  yet  althougli  he  had  no  disposition  himself 
to  remain,  he  gave  favorable  accounts  of  the  country, 
during  subsecjuent  years,  to  the  frequent  inquiries  for 
information  on  that  subject.'**  There  were  also  with 
them  F.  Y.  Ewing  of  Missouri,  and  two  Chinook  boys 
named  W,  M.  Brooks  and  Thomas  Adams,  who  had 
been  m  the  mission  school  for  some  thne.^'     Possibly 


^'>25th  Con;,.,  M  Sfsx.,  If.  J},yt.  in/  ;  I'^ninx'  Ilixt.  (>,:,  MS.,  •23.-)-G.  The 
sij,'iiiiig  of  this  iiiumorial  by  Ydiiiiy  aiul  liis  ansdciatL's  iuilicatcs  tliat  their 
Htaiidiiig  was  vi^ry  (Uffuruiit  at  tliis  time  from  wliat  it  was  whuii  tliuy  tirst 
(^iiturod  the  valley-  and  were  ostracized  hy  .McLoiigliliii;  otherwise  they  were 
siirniiig  a  pi^titioii  to  exehide  just  sueh  adventurers  as  themselves.  .lasou  Leo 
had  marked  al)ility  in  using  others  for  his  own  advantage;  Kdwards  was  his 
instrument  in  <h-awiiig  u[i  this  memorial,  enal)liiig  Leu  hiniself  to  keep  in  the 
hackground,   Kilirttrdx'  Shtfh  of  Oriijoii,  MS.,  17. 

"'Heturnini'  to  Mi.ssouri,  Kdwards  studied  law,  married,  and  iluring  the 
Mormon  trouliies  in  that  state  in  1S41  did  military  duty,  reeeiving  the  title 
of  colonel.  In  ISoO  he  emigrated  to  California,  settling  in  Xe\ada  Countv. 
where  he  engaged  in  politics  as  a  wliig  and  afterwanls  as  a  re[)uhliean.  in 
Shnrk's  JlvyntftiitiUire  Men,  4tjl-7'i,  is  a  l)iogr.4)hy  written  hy  Kohert  K. 
l>raper;  and  there  is  also  his  Dinri/  of  l/ir  WiUaiiictIr  Cattle  CoinjMiiiy,  and 
i^ikelch  of  Oreijon.     He  died  May  1,  181)!),  leaving  descendants  in  California. 

"Daniel  Lee  does  not  mention  them  in  this  connection,  and  Mines  in  his 
llixt.  Or.,  30,  agrees  witii  Lee.  Wliite  states  that  Alexander,  William,  and 
.Tohu  McKay  accompanied  Jason  Lee,  and  tiiat  they  returned  in  1842  from  the 
east;  having  gone  there  to  be  etlucated  in  tlie  Wilhraham  Academy,  Mas.sa- 
fhusetts,  where  the  Loes,  years  before,  had   completed  their  stuilies.     Mrs 


J,| 


170 


COLONIZATION. 


the  three  sons  of  Tlionias  McKay  were  also  of  the 
party,  thciigli  there  is  a  conflict  on  that  point  in  the 
statements  furnished. 

The  first  tidings  of  his  family  received  by  Jason 
Lee  were  of  a  most  painful  character.  At  Pawnee 
Mission,  near  Council  Bluffs,  an  express  arrived  from 
Fort  Vancouver,  sent  by  McLoughlin,  with  the  intel- 
ligence of  the  death  of  Mrs  Lee  on  the  26th  of  June, 
three  weeks  after  the  birth  and  death  of  a  son.^"^  Mrs 
Lee  was  buried  among  the  firs  that  had  overshadowed 
her  when  her  marriage  vows  were  taken,  and  her 
burial  was  the  first  of  any  white  woman  in  Oregon.^* 

After  crossing  the  Mississippi,  Lee  began  a  lecturing 
tou. ,  drawing  large  audiences  in  the  churches,  where 
he  presented  the  subject  of  Oregon  with  the  ardor  of 
an  enthusiast,  and  stimulated  his  hearers  to  furnisli 
funds  and  men  for  the  settlement  of  that  paradise  of 
the  west.  The  effect  of  his  labors  was  to  draw  into 
his  paradise  "hundreds  of  immigrants,"  says  White, 
"  from  the  western  frontier  of  the  states,  of  a  restless, 
aspiring  disposition."  who  gave  him  subsequently  no 
little  uneasiness.^"  The  interest  at  Peoria,  Illinois, 
was  augmented  by  the  illness  of  Adams,  the  young 
Chinook,  and   by  his  remaining  there  through   the 


Eliziibeth  Wilson  of  the  Dalles  says  that  Jason  Lee  persuaileil  McLoughlin  to 
liave  William  C.  McKay  sent  to  Wilbraham  in8tea(l  of  to  Europe  as  was  in- 
tended. There  lie  remained  two  years,  and  then  entered  a  medical  college 
at  Ploaat  .iton,  Vermont,  and  subswiuently  attended  lectures  at  Albany.  Or. 
Sketch's,  MS.,  21-2;  Ten  Yiwh  in  Or.,  140. 

^*  If  men'  HM.  Or.,  31-2;  l^ce  and  Frost's  Or.,  153.  Gray  docs  not  credit 
McLoughlin  with  sending  the  message  the  entire  distance.  GrnijsHixt.  Or., 
182. 

"  Later  the  remains  were  removed  to  Salem.  '  In  the  mission  graveyard 
at  Salem,  Oregon,  is  a  grave,  on  the  head-stone  of  which  is  recorded  these 
words:  "  Beneath  this  sod,  tlie  first  ever  broken  in  Oregon  for  the  reception 
of  a  white  mother  and  child,  lie  Iniricd  the  remains  of  Anne  Maria  Pitman, 
wife  of  llev.  Jason  Lee,  and  infant  B:)n.  Slie  sailed  from  New  York  in  July 
1830,  landed  in  Oregon  June  1837,  was  married  in  July  1837,  and  <Hed  June 
20,  18.18,  in  full  enjoyment  of  that  love  which  cousti-ained  her  to  leave  all  for 
Christ  and  heathen  souls.  So  we  have  left  all,  an<l  followed  Thee;  what  shall 
we  have  therefore."'  Portland  P.  C.  Adivaitv,  Jan.  2,  1879.  It  will  be  ob- 
served that  the  inscription  is  incorrect  as  to  the  date  of  Miss  Pitman's  arrival, 
which  was  in  May. 

'"'  Ten  Years  in  Oreijon,  91. 


LEKS  EFFOHT.S. 


171 


'eyard 
these 
iptioii 
tiniin, 
July 
June 
ill  for 
:  Hliall 
ob- 
rival. 


winter.  In  his  imperfect  Engli&li  he  told  marvellous 
stories  of  the  Columbia  River,  and  the  salmon  it 
contained,  which  excited  a  desire  among  some  of  the 
young  men  to  ent^^r  into  business  there,  and  to  found 
a  city  at  the  mouth  of  that  niagnificen&  stream.  Of 
this  attempt  details  will  be  given  in  another  chapter. 

At  New  York  Lee  made  his  report  to  the  mission- 
ary society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
upon  his  information  a  call  was  published  in  the  Chris- 
tian  Advocate  and  Journal  for  five  missionaries,  and 
for  laymen,  physicians,  farmers,  mechanics,  and  young 
Avoraen  for  teachers.  This  call  was  responded  to  by 
thirty-six  i)ersons,  and  sixteen  children  increased  the 
number  to  fifty -two,  all  whom  the  missionary  society 
was  asked  to  employ  in  Oregon  in  addition  to  those 
already  there.  The  ship  Laiisanne,  owned  by  i  arn- 
ham  and  Fry  of  New  York,  and  commanded  by  Cap- 
tain Josiah  Spaulding,  was  chartered,  and  laden  with 
everything  that  an  infant  colony  could  require,  at  a 
cost  to  the  society  of  $42,000.  It  was  not  without 
effort  that  this  extraordinary  sum  was  raised ;  and 
the  talent  of  the  Oregon  superintendent  is  well  illus- 
trated in  his  success.  Hines  says  that  Lee  met  with 
warm  ojiposition  from  some  members  of  the  board, 
who  doubted  the  expediency  of  the  measure;  but  the 
superintendent,  who  had  just  come  from  the  field  of 
operations,  perseveringly  and  powerfully  urged  the 
claim,  of  tlie  Mission,  and  succeeded  in  obtaining 
more  than  he  viemanded,  for  in  his  opinion  but  two 
n)inistcrs  wen;  required,  but  in  the  estimation  of  a 
majority  of  the  board,  if  there  were  to  be  as  many 
layiren  sent  out  as  Lee  called  for,  two  ministers  would 
not  be  sufficient. "^ 

While  the  nuissionary  board  were  considering  the 
question  of  ways  and  means,  the  missionary  colonizer 

'-'  Jlixt.  Or.,  S(>-7.  '  No  inksionarieM, '  say8  Blancliet,  '  wore  ever  despatched 
ti>  ri'itruseut  tlie  varioUH  sects  hi  any  land  uiuh^r  more  favorahle  auspici-.s  than 
weni  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  belonging  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
...amidst  the  "wilds'"  of  Oregon.'     JJiit.  Cath.  Cfiurrh  in  Or,,  12.     'It  was 


i 


172 


COLONIZATION. 


I   i 


was  not  idle.  The  petition  prepared  in  Oregon  was 
forwarded  by  him  to  congress,  whereupon  Caleb  Gush- 
ing of  Mussachusetts  wrote  to  Lee,  desiring  further 
information  concerning  the  population  of  the  country, 
tlie  classes  composing  it,  and  the  objects  of  the  Mission. 
Lee  replied  from  Middletown,  Connecticut,  January 
17,  1839,  that  there  were  in  Oregon  belonging  to  the 
Methodist  Mission  25  persons  of  all  ages  and  both 
sexes,  who  would  shortly  be  reenforced  by  45  more, 
making  70.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  number  reached 
was  77.  There  were  IG  persons  belonging  to  the  mis- 
sions of  the  American  Board ;  and  about  20  settlers, 
missionaries,  and  others,  going  out  from  the  wep\.ern 
states  in  the  spring;  in  addition  to  which  there  were 
about  45  men  settled  in  the  country  who  had  Indian 
wives  and  half-breed  children.  After  declaring  the 
objects  of  the  Mission  to  be  the  benefit  of  the  Indians 
west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  by  the  establishment 
of  manual-labor  schools,  making  it  necessary  to  erect 
dwelling  and  school  houses,  to  farm,  to  build  mills, 
and  in  fact  to  establish  a  colony,  Lee  proceeded  to 
the  main  object  as  follows: 

"  It  is  believed  that,  if  the  government  of  the  United 
States  takes  such  measures  in  respect  to  this  territory 
as  will  secure  the  rights  of  the  settlers,  most  of  those 
who  are  now  attached  to  the  Mission  will  remain  as 
permanent  settlers  in  the  country  after  the  Mission 
may  no  longer  need  their  services.  Hence  it  may  be 
safelv  assumed  that  ours,  in  connection  witli  the  other 
settlers  already  there,  is  the  commencement  of  a  per- 
manent settlement  of  the  country.  In  view  of  this, 
it  will  be  readily  seen  that  we  need  two  tilings  at  the 
hand  of  government,  for  our  jirotection  and  prosperity. 

tlie  greatest  Methoilist  exodus  probobly  evor  sailing  from  an  eastern  port  to 
any  eoast. '  WUko)),  in  Or.  Skclclien,  MS. ,  "23.  '  Tliis  particular  mission  involved 
an  expenditure  of  ^2,000  in  a  single  year. .  .At  the  entl  of  G  years  there  were 
OS  persons  connected  with  this  mission,  men,  women,  and  children,  r''  sup- 
ported ))y  this  society.  How  a  number  of  missionaries  found  employment  m 
such  a  field  it  is  not  easy  to  conjecture,  especially  as  the  ureat  body  of  tlie 
Indians  never  came  under  tlie  influence  of  their  labors.  Olin'n  Worku,  ii. 
4'27-8;  M(irn/iaU\i  Chrixtian  Mixaionn,  ii.  '203-4. 


rcJLlTlC'AL  I'IIDPOkSALS. 


173 


"  First.  We  need  a  guaranty  from  government  tliat 
the  possession  of  the  land  we  take  up,  and  tiie  im- 
provements we  make  upon  it,  will  be  secured  to  us. 
These  settlements  will  greatly  increase  the  value  of 
the  government  domain  in  that  country,  should  the 
Indian  title  ever  be  extinguished.  And  we  cannot  but 
expect,  therefore,  that  those  who  have  been  pioneers 
in  this  arduous  work  will  be  liberally  dealt  with  in 
this  matter. 

"  Secondly.  We  need  the  authority  and  jirotection 
of  the  government  and  laws  of  the  United  States,  to 
regulate  the  intercourse  of  the  settlers  with  each  other, 
to  protect  them  against  tlie  peculations  and  aggres- 
.sions  of  the  Indians,  and  to  protect  the  Indians 
against  the  aggressions  of  the  white  settlers. 

"  To  secure  these  objects,  it  is  not  supposed  that 
nmch  of  a  military  force  will  be  necessary.  If  a  suit- 
able person  should  be  sent  out  as  a  civil  magistrate 
and  governor  of  the  territory,  the  settlers  would  sus- 
tain his  authority.  In  proof  of  this,  it  is  only  necessary 
to  say  that  almost  all  the  settlers  in  the  Willamette 
Valley  have  signed  a  memorial  to  congress,  praying 
that  body  to  extend  the  United  States  govermnent 
over  the  territory.  . . .  You  are  aware,  sir,  that  there  is 
no  law  in  that  country  to  protect  or  control  Ameri- 
can citizens.  And  to  whom  shall  we  look,  to  whom 
can  we  look,  for  the  establishment  of  wholesome  laws 
to  regulate  our  infant  but  rising  settlements,  but  to 
the  congress  of  our  own  beloved  country  ^  The  coun- 
try will  be  settled,  and  that  speedily,  fr-om  some 
quarter,  and  it  depends  very  nuicji  upon  the  speedy 
action  of  congress  what  that  population  shall  be,  and 
wiiat  shall  be  the  fate  of  the  Indian  tribes  in  that 
territory.  It  may  be  thought  that  Oregon  is  of  little 
importance ;  l)ut,  rely  upon  it,  there  is  the  germ  of  a 
great  state.  We  are  resolved  to  do  what  we  can  to 
benefit  the  country;  but  we  are  constrained  to  throw 
ourselves  upon  you  for  protection."" 

"~W/t  Con,,.,  a,l  Scss.,  IT.  ffept.  101,  3,  4. 


I  4 


n 


174 


COLONIZATION. 


Ill  the  1  ght  of  this  correspondence  with  Mr  'Cushiiig, 
Jason  Lee's  object  in  demanding  S(/  large  a  reenforce- 
iiient  of  laymen  is  unmistakable.  His  declarations 
present  him  unequivocally  as  a  missionary  colonizer ; 
and  though  born  a  British  subject,  and  with  no  evi- 
dence to  show  that  he  ever  became  a  naturalized 
citizen  of  the  United  States,  yet  he  talks  glibly  of 
appealing  to  '  our  own  beloved '  country  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  laws. 

In  August  1838,  at  Lynn,  Massachusetts,  the  old 
home  of  Cyrus  Shepard  and  Miss  Dov/ning,  a  society 
called  the  Oregon  Provisional  Emigration  Society 
was  organized.  The  intention  of  this  association  was 
to  send  to  Oregon  at  the  outset  not  less  than  two 
hundred  men  with  their  families,  to  be  followed  by 
other  divisions  at  intervals,  until  thousands  should 
settle  in  the  country.  The  constitution  debarred  all 
persons  from  becoming  members  who  were  not  of  good 
moral  character  and  believers  in  the  Christian  religion, 
and  the  general  exjienses  of  the  enterprise  were  to  be 
paid  out  of  a  joint-stock  fund,  no  member  to  be  assessed 
more  than  three  dollars  a  year.  The  society  published 
a  monthly  paper  devoted  to  the  exposition  of  its  ob- 
jects, called  the  Oregonian.  The  officers  were  Rev. 
Samuel  Norris,  president ;  Rev.  Sanford  Benton,  vice- 
president;  Rev.  F.  P.  Tracy,  secretary;  Rev.  Amos 
Walton,  treasurer.  The  committee  consisted  of  four- 
teen members,  ten  of  whom  were  ministers.^ 

While  Mr  Cushing  was  in  correspondence  with 
Jason  Lee,  he  received  letters  from  the  secretary  of 
this  organization,  and  in  reply  to  inquiries  as  to  its 
object,  was  told  in  a  letter  of  the  6th  of  January,  1839, 
that  it  was  designed,  first,  to  civilize  and  christianize 
the  Indians,  and  secondly,  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
advantages  offered  by  the  territory  for  agriculture, 
commerce,  and  manufactures. 

"  Having  reached  the  territory,"  says  the  secretary, 

"f5</t  Cong.,  3d  Sess.,  U.  Rept.  101,  25,  28. 


WHAT  SHOULD  BE   DONE. 


175 


"we  shall  seek  such  points  of  settlement  as  will  aiford 
the  greatest  facilities  for  intercourse  with  the  tribes ; 
for  agriculture,  manufactures,  and  commerce ;  and  also 
for  defence,  in  case  of  hostilities  from  any  quarter. 
For  the  benefit  of  the  Indians,  we  propose  to  establish 
schools  in  which  instruction  in  elementary  science  will 
be  connected  with  labor;  the  males  being  made  ac- 
quainted with  farming,  or  some  useful  mechanical  art, 
and  the  females  with  household  duties  and  economy.  .  . . 
For  our  own  emolument,  we  shall  depend  principally 
upon  the  flour  trade,  the  salmon  fishery,  the  culture 
of  silk,  flax,  and  hemp,  the  lumber  trade,  and  per- 
haps a  local  business  in  furs.  We  shall  establish  a 
regular  commercial  communication  with  the  United 
States,  drawing  supplies  of  men  and  goods  from  thence ; 
and  ultimately,  we  shall  contemplate  the  opening  of 
a  trade  with  the  various  ports  of  the  Pacific.  A 
few  years  only  will  be  required  to  fill  the  plains  of 
Oregon  with  herds  as  valuable  as  those  of  the  Spanish 
savannas,  and  various  sources  of  profit  will  reveal 
themselves  as  the  increase  of  the  population  shall 
make  new  resources  necessary.  We  shall  wish  that 
no  person  in  connection  with  us  may  have  a  claim 
upon  any  tract  of  land  unless  he  shall  actually  settle 
upon  and  improve  that  land.  .  .  .  We  shall,  of  course, 
be  very  unwilling  to  settle  in  a  savage  wilderness, 
without  first  having  obtained  a  sufficient  title  to  the 
land  we  may  occupy,  and  without  being  assured  that 
political  obstacles  will  not  be  thrown  in  the  way  of 
our  pros})erity. 

"We  are  confident  that  our  settlement,  more  than 
anything  else,  would  subserve  the  purposes  of  our 
government  respecting  the  Oregon  Territory.  Our  re- 
lations with  the  Indians  will  give  us  an  influence  over 
them  which  Americans  will  hardly  obtain  by  any  other 
means,  and  which,  at  a  future  day,  may  be  found  an 
advantage  to  the  United  States.  We  shall  by  the 
same  means,  as  well  as  by  our  local  situation,  be  pre- 
pared to  hold  in  check  the  avarice  of  a  foreign  j)ower, 


n 


-):?''■ 


t    r 


17*; 


COLONIZATION. 


and  to  establish  and  maintain  American  interests 
generally,  witli  the  leas^,  expense  to  the  nation  and 
the  best  prospec-t  of  bio  jdless  success." 

If  Jason  Le(3  had  anything  to  do  with  the  forma- 
tion of  this  society,  it  does  not  appear;  and  yet  its 
objects  and  those  of  Kelley  were  identical  with  his 
own;  it  is  possible  that  Lee's  action  with  the  govern- 
ment in  his  colonizati(»n  scheme  led  the  society  to  con- 
sider itself  forestalled,  or  possibly  it  depended  upon 
the  success  of  certain  measures  in  congress  which 
Lee  put  in  motion ;  at  any  rate,  the  society  never  sent 
out  any  persons  as  emigrants. 

On  the  28th  of  January,  1839,  the  memorial  drawn 
up  before  Lee  left  Oregon  was  presented  to  the  senate 
by  Linn  of  Missouri,  and  Ox  Jered  to  be  printed.  On  the 
11th  of  December,  1838,  Linn  introduced  a  bill  in  the 
senate  authorizing  the  occupation  of  the  Cv,lumbia  or 
Oregon  river ;  organizing  a  territory  north  of  latitude 
42°  and  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  to  be  called 
Oregon  Territory ;  providing  for  the  establishment  of 
a  fort  on  the  Columbia,  and  the  occupation  of  the 
country  by  a  military  force  of  the  United  States; 
establisliing  a  port  of  entry,  and  requiring  that  the 
country  should  be  held  subject  to  t^^e  revenue  laws 
of  the  United  States.  On  the  22d  of  February  he 
made  a  speech  in  the  senate  supporting  a  bill  to  pro- 
vide protection  for  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
in  the  Oregon  Territory,  or  trading  on  the  Columbia 
River. "^^  It  is  not  necessary  to  follow  the  action  of 
congress  further,  in  this  place.  The  reference  is  here 
made  to  point  out  the  agency  of  Jason  Lee  in  direct- 
ing that  action,  and  the  strong  influence  he  seems  to 
have  wielded  in  Washington  as  well  as  with  the  mis- 
sionary board.  How  much  his  suggestions,  especially 
concerning  land  matters,  moulded  subsequent  legisla- 
tion will  be  made  evident  in  considering  the  action  of 
the  government  at  a  later  period.  A  proof  of  the 
favor  with  which  his  designs  were  regarded  by  the 

'"  I/mni*  Lijc  oiiif  fSi'rricfs,  224. 


THE  MISSION    FA.MILY. 


177 


cabinet  is  furuishod  by  the  appropriation  of  consid- 
erable money  from  the  secret-service  fund,  for  the 
charter  of  the  Lausanne,  as  related  by  one  of  her 
passengers."'"  Lee  kept  the  secret,  and  so  did  those 
who  gave  him  the  money,  until  the  boundary  ques- 
tion was  settled  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain. 


e 
e 


Everything  being  finally  arranged,  the  mission  fam- 
ily, a  term  by  which  this  emigration  was  more  par- 
ticularly designated,  assembled  at  New  York,  whence 
the  Lausanne  was  to  sail.  Jason  Lee  had  certainly 
improved  his  tune  in  several  respects ;  for  the  so  lately 
bereaved  husband  was  returning  comforted  with  a  new 
wife.  Following  are  the  names  of  the  members  of 
this  reenforcement :  Mr  and  Mrs  Jason  Lee ;  Rev. 
Joseph  H.  Frost,  wife  and  one  child ;  Rev.  William 
W.  Kone  and  wife ;  Rev.  Alvan  F.  Waller,  wife  anti 
two  children;  Rev.  J.  P.  Richmond,  M.  D.,  wife  and 
four  children  ;  Ira  L.  Babcock,  M.  D.,  wife  and  one 
child ;  Rev.  Gustavus  Hines,  wife  and  one  child  ; 
George  Abernethy,  mission  stew- art,  wife  and  two 
children  ;  W.  W.  Raymond,  farmer,  and  wife ;  Henry 
B,  Brewer,  farmer,  and  wife ;  Rev.  Lewis  H.  Judson, 
cabinet-maker,  wife  and  three  children  ;  Rev.  Josiah 
L.  Parrish,  blacksmith,  wife  and  three  children; 
James  Olley,  carpenter,  wife  and  children ;  Hamilton 
Campbell,  wife  and  children ;  David  Garter,  Miss 
Chloe  A.  Clark,  Miss  Elmira  Phillips,  Miss  Maria  T. 
Ware,  Miss  Almira  Phelps,  teachers;  Miss  Orpha 
Lankton,  stewardess;  and  Thomas  Adams,  the  Chi- 
nook whom  Mr  Lee  had  brought  with  him  from 
Oregon.     The  other  Chinook,  Brooks,  had  died. 

It  was  on  the  10th  of  October,  18."39,  that  the  Lau- 
sanne sailed.     The  mission    family  gath<  red    on    the 

''"  Fry  and  Farnham  not  being  able  to  furnisli  a  ship  to  bring  out  the  mis- 
sionaries for  the  price  offered  by  the  soeiety,  thi;  government  paid  fifty  tlol- 
lars  adibtional  for  each  person.  Parrish,  who  relates  this,  says  also  that  lie 
waa  not  aware  of  this  assistance  by  the  government  until  he  had  been  seven 
years  in  Oregon.  Or.  Anecdotes,  MS.,  8. 
Hist.  Ok.,  Vol.  I.    12 


178 


COLONIZATION. 


I 

H 
1. 1 


steamer  which  was  to  convey  them  to  Sandy  Hook, 
where  the  ship  was  anchored.  Assembled  there  were 
many  friends,  and  some  strangers  drawn  thither  by 
curiosity  regarding  so  unprecedented  a  missionary 
exodus.  ReHgious  services  were  held  conducted  by 
tlie  reverend  doctors  Bangs  and  Anderson,  secre- 
taries of  the  American  Board.  Stronger  to  move  the 
heart  than  sound  of  brass  or  stretclied  strings  is  tlie 
music  of  the  human  voice;  and  as  prayer  and  song 
fell  upon  the  ears  of  those  excited  by  hopes  and  fears, 
their  souls  were  stirred  within  tlieni,  and  sobs,  tears, 
and  embraces  mingled  with  the  farewell  benedictions, 
as  the  travellers  stopped  from  the  steamer  to  the 
ship.  No  company  ever  sailed  from  that  port  whose 
departure  was  watched  with  more  interest  by  reli- 
gious and  political  circles. 

The  ship  reached  the  harbor  of  Honolulu  on  the  1  Itli 
of  April,  1840,  where  all  disembarked,  and  were  hos- 
j)itably  entertained  until  tltc  28th,  when  they  set  sail 
for  the  Columbia  River.  During  their  sojourn,  Lee 
held  a  conference  with  Kamehameha  III.,  relative 
to  an  exchange  of  productions  between  the  Islands 
and  Oregon,  and  an  informal  treaty  of  commerce  was 
entered  mto,  to  the  manifest  pleasure  of  the  king.-^ 

Before  the  Lausanne  reached  its  destination,  it  may 
be  well  to  glance  over  the  condition  of  things  at  the 
Mission  during  Lee's  absence.  In  June  had  occurred 
the  death  of  Mrs  Lee,  as  previously  related ;  in  A  u- 
gust  White's  hifant  son  was  drowned,  the  first  boy-' 

•^nUnes'  Hkt.Or.,m. 

■•"  From  a  comparison  of  dates,  it  appears  that  the  first  cliihl  of  white 
parentage  born  ui  Oregon  was  Alice  Clarissa  Whitman,  born  at  Waiilatpu, 
March  4,  1837,  and  drowned  in  the  Walla  Walla  River  June  22,  1838.  .lason 
Lee  White  was  born  in  July  183();  he  was  eleven  months  old  at  the  time  of 
his  death.  Lfeaiid  Frwt's  Or.,  212.  While  canoes  were  the  only  means  of  trav- 
elling by  water,  fatal  accidents  were  not  infre(iuent,  which  makes  the  coinci- 
dence in  the  mode  of  death  of  the  first  two  infants  less  notable.  On  the  15th 
of  September,  1837,  Joseph  Beers  was  I)orn,  and  in  1882  resitled  in  Marion  Co., 
the  oldest  American  native  of  Oregon.  On  the  15th  of  November,  18.37,  a 
daughter  named  Kliza  was  born  to  Mr  and  Mrs  Spalding  at  Lapwai,  and  she 
afterward  married  a  Mr  W^arren  of  Brownsville,  Linn  County.  The  next  birth 
was  that  of  Jason  Lee's  son,  June  G,  1838,  who  died  soon  after,  and  who  was 


THE  LCXilC  OF  RELKilON. 


179 


borii  ii  the  Willamette  ValU-y  of  AvJiite  parentage. 
This  accident  occurred  at  tlie  cascades  of  the  Colum- 
bia, a  canoe  containing  Mr  and  Mrs  Leslie  and  Mrs 
White  and  her  infant  being  upset.  Mrs  White  and 
Mr  Leslie  escaped  witli  great  difficulty. 

The  house  occupied  by  Mr  Leslie  was  burned  in 
December,  with  all  the  personal  effects  of  the  family, 
a  loss  the  more  severe  on  account  of  his  wife's  serious 
illness.     Their  pecuniary  loss  was  met  by  the  board. 

An  event  of  this  year  was  the  forming  of  the  second 
cattle  company,  numbering  twenty-seven  nien,  under 
the  connnand  of  T.  J.  Hubbard.  Its  object,  like  that 
of  the  first,  was  to  bring  cattle  from  California.  In 
pursuance  of  this  plan,  a  party  proceeded  as  far  south 
as  Rogue  River,  where  they  were  attacked  by  natives. 
The  men  scattered  in  the  mountains,  some  wounded 
and  suffering  many  hardships,  but  all  finally  reaching 
the  settlements. 

Late  in  December  protracted  revival  meetings  were 
held  at  the  Mission,  Mr  Leslie  preaching  with  earnest- 
ness and  power ;  and  besides  his  own  daughters  and 
White's  adopted  son,  there  were  added  to  the  church 
a  number  of  the  settlers  and  many  of  the  natives.^ 

At  the  Dalles,  Lee  and  Perkins  found  the  effect  of 
their  teachings  very  different  from  what  they  had 
expected.  It  was  easy  for  an  Indian  to  believe  in 
miraculous  power ;  old  superstitions  concerning  spirits 


u- 


lite 

[HI, 

son 

of 

iv- 

ci- 
ith 


the  fifth  child,  and  third  boy — though  J.  L.  Parrish  claims  him  for  the  first. 
See  an  article  in  tl»e  Riifrmle,  a  weekly  newspaper  published  at  Independence, 
Oregon,  June  1.3,  1879.  On  tlie  7th  of  December,  1838,  a  son  was  born  to  Mr 
and  Mrs  Walker,  at  Waiilatpn,  the  first  boy  of  white  parentage  in  eastern 
Oregon,  or  what  is  now  Washington.  Olynipia  Travxrr'qH,  Dec.  10,  1870; 
Seattle  Piirific  Tribune,  Dee.  1,  1870;  CorndliH  Gazette,  June  23,  1876.  A  son 
was  l)orn  to  Mr  and  Mrs  W.  H.  (Jray  about  this  time.  In  the  autumn  of 
1838  a  daughter  was  born  to  Mr  and  Mrs  8hepard,  named  Anna  Maria  Lee, 
and  a  son  to  Mr  and  J  Irs  Perkins. 

'■"*  Among  the  converts  were  James  O'Neal,  Cliarles  Roe,  S.  < }.  Campbell, 
Baptiste  Desportes  McKay,  J.  P.  Edwards,  and  Solomon  Smith.  Daniel  Lee 
.says:  'The  scene  was  awful.  Poor  C.  felt  as  if  he  was  just  falling  into  liell, 
and  with  great  earnestness  besouglit  the  prayers  of  all  present.  Prayer  went 
up,  and  shouts  of  praise  followed,  for  the  soul  of  the  i)risoner  was  soon  re- 
leased. About  nine  o'clock  several  of  tlie  boys  and  girls  came  rushing  into 
the  room,  fell  upon  their  knees,  and  began  crying  aloud  for  mercy.'  Lee  owl. 
Frost's  Or.,  107-8.     Tlie  excitement  continued  for  some  weeks. 


i, 


11 


180 


COLUNIZATION, 


of  good  and  i\\\],  and  their  intlucnco  on  liuinan  affairs, 
]>r(.'pared  them  to  aceept  tlie  Christian  belief,  hut  in  a 
sense  surprising  to  their  teaehers.  The  })rinei])al  point 
in  the  Metliodist  faith  is  tlie  etticaey  of  prayer,  whieli 
was  ini})ressed  upon  the  minds  of  tlie  Indians  in  their 
first  lessons,  causing  them  earnestly  and  sincerely  to 
strive  for  tliat  state  whicji  they  inmgined  necessary  to 
the  working  of  the  spell  which  was  to  hring  them 
their  hearts'  desires.  On  being  disappointed,  they 
lost  faith,  antl  reproached  their  teachers. 

Said  an  Indian  to  Perkins,  "I  want  a  coat.  Per- 
kins replied,  "You  nmst  work  and  earn  one."  "Oh," 
says  the  neophyte,  "  I  was  told  if  I  took  your  religion, 
and  prayed  for  what  I  wanted  to  have,  I  should  get 
it.  If  I  am  to  work  for  it,  1  can  earn  a  coat  at  any 
time  of  the  Hudscm's  Bay  Company."'" 

On  one  occasion  a  chief  at  the  Cascades  set  adiift 
a  canoe  belonging  to  Daniel  Lee  in  order  to  sell  him 
one  of  his  own.  To  secure  his  friendship  and  i)revent 
a  repetition  of  the  theft,  Lee  presented  him  a  musket, 
which  so  affected  the  chief  that  when  he  met  another 
of  the  missionaries  at  Fort  Vancouver  he  assured  him 
that  his  people  now  all  obeyed  Lee's  instructions,  and 
as  for  himself,  "his  heait  was  full  of  pray."^"  They 
often  stopped  in  the  midst  of  their  supplications  to 
demand  pay  for  praying.  ^^ 

In  the  autunm  of  1831)  the  natives  at  the  Dalles,  by 
this  time  convinced  that  prayer  did  not  place  them  on 
an  equality  in  worldly  goods  with  their  teachers,  be- 
came so  intrusive  and  connnitted  so  many  thefts  that 
the  missionaries  began  to  fear  for  their  lives ;  and  Dan- 
iel Lee  took  the  precaution  to  provide  himself  with 
arms  and  annnunition  from  Fort  Vancouver,  intending 
to  garrison  the  mission  house,  and  to  resist  any  hostile 
attempts.  To  his  relief  and  astonishment  on  return- 
ing to  the  Dalles  he  found  Mr  Perkins  in  the  midst 
of  a  "work  of  God,"  among  the  Indians.     Several  of 

'^  /{(n/moiii/'.-)  yof.cM,  MS. 
•'«  Lee  and  Froxt's  Or.,  2:V). 
^^Oriyon  City  Ar<nt»,  April  18,  1S.")7. 


PKRKINS  AT  THE  DALLES. 


IHI 


hth 
illii' 

Irii- 

dst 

of 


the  natives  had  begun  to  pray,  and  one  was  conveiied, 
wliicli  greatly  encouraged  Mr  Perkins. 

The  meetings  were  continued  all  winter,  Mr  and 
Mrs  Perkins  following  up  the  good  beginning  and 
visiting  all  the  tribes  along  the  river  in  their  neigh- 
borhood. In  the  spring  a  canip-nieeting  was  held 
among  the  Kliketats,  when  twelve  hundred  Indians 
were  present,  and  during  the  winter  and  spring  several 
hundred,  thought  to  be  converted,  were  baptized  and 
admitted  to  connnunion. 

The  account  of  a  large  Indian  church  at  the  Dalles, 
shortly  afterward  published  in  the  east,  ci'eated  great 
enthusiasm  among  religious  people.  But  this  was 
hardly  written  before  the  converts  began  to  fall  fi-om 
grace.  A  chief  was  killed  by  an  enemy,  and  the 
hearts  of  the  Indians  were  cast  down.  "What  was 
the  good  of  praying?"  they  asked.  Their  chief  had 
})rayed,  and  now  he  was  dead.  If  prayer  would  not 
avert  death,  why  pray  ?  If  they  remained  Christians 
they  would  not  be  jiermitted  to  avenge  the  nmrder  of 
their  relatives,  or  to  fight  their  enemies;  and  though 
Perkins  restrained  them  at  that  time  from  violence, 
they  were  not  satisfied  that  it  was  the  better  way. 
They  assumed  an  importance,  too,  now  that  they  were 
Christians.  Perkins  sent  away  a  native  boy  for  some 
misconduct,  soon  after  which  the  boy  died.  This 
became  the  occasion  for  demanding  pay,  as  Perkins 
was  held  responsible  for  the  death  of  one  of  the 
tribe.  Their  demands  not  being  complied  with,  the 
savages  became  insolent,  and  indemnified  themselves 
by  stealing  horses.  They  even  pretended  to  be  offend- 
ed because  they  were  not  honored  by  a  visit  from  the 
superintendent  cf  the  missions,  from  whom  they 
})r()babl3'  ho})ed  to  receive  presents  for  their  efforts  at 
good  behavior.  To  control  these  capricious  natures 
was  beyond  the  power  of  any  missionary. 


nil 


Elijah    White    was   again    afflicted   by  the  death, 
the    l()th   of  August,    1839,   of  his   adopted   son, 


182 


COLONIZATION. 


Goor^i'  St()U«:flit<;nl)ur«^,  who,  while  attomntiiijj^  to  ford 
the  WiUainotto  on  horseback,  about  a  nnlc  bi'low  the 
Mission,  was  drowned.  Tliat  autumn  Sliepard  was 
seriously  ill  with  a  scrofulous  trouble,  which  necessi- 
tated the  amputation  of  Jiis  lejy^;  he  did  not  lon^  sur- 
vive the  oi)eration,  his  death  occurring  on  the  1st  of 
January,  1H40.  For  two  years  he  had  suffered  from 
the  disease.  He  It^ft  a  wife  and  two  infant  dauj^hters."*'' 
Thus  passed  away  from  his  work  in  the  Methodist 
Mission  its  most  faithful  and  successful  servant,  whose 
gentleness  had  won  inm  the  hearts  of  all  his  asso 
ciates.  He  was  a  larj^e,  fine-looking  man,  but  little 
( )ver  forty  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  Ins  death.  With 
Shepard  died  all  interest  in  tlie  ho|)eless  scheme  of 
educating  the  native  children  of  the  Willamette.  We 
cannot  l)lame  his  associates  for  feeling  its  ho})elessness  ; 
to  them  it  was  a  rootless  Sahara,  upon  which  the  sun 
miirht  beat  for  centuries  without  bringing  forth  fruit 
enough  to  feed  a  whii)p()orwill.  And  yet  his  was  a 
self-sacrificing,  generous  nature,  that  never  lost  faith 
in  the  power  of  love  to  redeem  the  lowest  humanity. 

Such  was  tlie  conditit)n  of  afiairs  in  tlie  spring  of 
I  840.  The  Lausanne  not  arriving  as  early  as  was  ex- 
pected, Daniel  Lee,  wlio  had  been  waiting  a  few  days 
at  the  Willamette  Mission,  grew  impatient,  for  his  be- 
trothed was  among  the  passengers,  and  he  hastened 
forward  to  meet  tlie  ship  at  its  anchorage.  Solomon 
Smith  accompanied  him  with  his  Clatsop  wife,  who 
wislied  to  return  to  hei  vwn  ]>eople  ns  a  missionary, 
having  experienced  p  danxtie  of  heart;  and  on  the 
IGth  of  May  they  startc ''  on  their  trip,  and  held  re- 
ligious services  with  the  Indians  wherever  they  found 
it  convenient  to  land.  They  had  just  encamped  on 
the  21st  of  May  at  Chinook,  when  a  vessel  was  seen 
coining  up  the  channel  under  Cape  ])isappointinent, 
and  anchoring  in  Baker  Bay.  Lee  lost  no  time  in 
going  on  board,  and  in  meeting  his  uncle  and  the 

'-He  was  born  in  Pliillipston,  Massachusetts,  August  hi,  179'.). 


SILENT  CENSUKK.  *88 

srreat  reenrorcomont.  Miss  Maria  T.  Ware  was  the 
one  ahovo  all  others  whom  he  soui^ht;  for  to  her  he 
had  been  eii«^agecl  for  some  time,  and  on  the  1 1th  of 
June  following  they  were  married. 

Jason  Lee,  impatient  over  the  necessary  delay,  and 
anxious  as  to  the  acconnnodation  of  so  larjjfe  a  company, 
took  a  canoe  and  went  in  advance  to  the  Mission. 
When  there  he  handed  over  the  shi[)'8  list  of  passen- 
}ifers,  headed  by  the  name  of  Mr  and  Mrs  Jason  Lee, 
that  he  might  notify  liis  old  companions  that  he  had 
returned  with  another  wife.  He  made  no  remark  on 
the  subject,  and  nothing  was  said  to  him.  Deeply 
stirred  had  been  the  sympathies  of  his  old  associates 
as  they  thought  of  his  return  to  his  desolate  home; 
and  now  the  revulsion  of  feeling  was  so  great  that  the 
suprenviicy  of  Jason  Lee  in  their  hearts  was  thence- 
forth a  thing  of  the  past. 


on 

lO 


•e- 
id 
m 
ni 
t, 
\n 
le 


9  ^ 

I; 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

t'LOSE  OF  THE  METHODIST  REGIME. 

1840-1841. 

Settlement  of  CLATaop  Plains — The  Nisqually  Mi.ssion  Site — Daniel 
Lee  Returns  East — T);e  Willamette  Station — Trials  of  Inex- 
perienced Pioneers — Exploration  of  the  Umpqua  Valley — White 
Determines  to  Leave  Oueoon — Accident  at  the  Falls — The  Oregon 
Institute — Plan  to  Drive  McLouohlin  from  the  Falls — Conduct  of 
Waller — Parts  Played  by  Hastings  and  Abernethy — Ingratitude 
and  Trickery — Legality  of  Claimants  to  Oregon  City — Lee  Super- 
seded BY  George  Gray — Progress  of  Colonization. 

As  soon  as  information  of  the  arrival  of  the  Lau- 
sanne reached  him,  McLoughHn  sent  fresh  bread, 
butter,  milk,  and  vegetables  to  meet  the  vessel  in  the 
river;  and  on  her  arrival  at  Fort  Vancouver,  he  in- 
vited the  whole  ship's  company  to  take  tea  with  him. 
The  invitation  was  accepted  by  Captain  Spaulding  and 
several  others.  On  the  following  day  rooms  were 
made  ready  for  the  whole  fifty-three  persons,  who  were 
quartered  and  fed  at  Fort  Vancouver  during  the 
several  weeks  unavoidably  spent  before  places  could 
be  assigned  them.^ 

Having  acquainted  himself  with  the  existing  con- 
dition of  the  Mission  and  the  territory,  Jason  Lee 
allotted  to  tlu*  colonists  their  several  fields  of  labor. 
The  j)oints  selected  covered  the  places  likely  to  be 
of  most  importance  in  the  country  when  the  "United 
States  should  extend  jurisdiction  t)ver  it. 


^  Journal  of  Spniirdiiiti,  in  ('.  S.  If.  idpt.  SSO,  27th  Con;/.,  2<1  Scmk.: 
^nnn  Norfhwi'Mf  ('(vi.it,  MS.,  203;  Mrljomihliit'-i  I'rh'dti'  I'lqx'fK,  MS.,  2(1 
Ifini'M  Omjon  I  {hi.,  IM>, 


A  miff- 
Hcr  9; 


ON  THE  CLATSOP  Pl^AINS. 


186 


Before  returning  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  Daniel 
Lee  had  already  accompanied  Solomon  Smith  and 
wife  to  Clatsop  plains,  where  were  good  farming  and 
pasture  lands,  though  not  conveniently  situated,  being 
eighteen  miles  from  Astoria,  and  reached  by  eight 
miles  of  rather  routrh  water  in  Meriwether  Bav,  or 
as  it  is  now  c^alled.  Young  Bay,  and  ten  miles  of  land 
journey  among  alternate  marshes  and  sand-dunes. 
But  as  Americans  foresaw  that  a  city  would  be  built 
at  the  entrance  of  the  Columbia,  few  considerations 
would  weigh  against  the  importance  of  securing  this 
location.  Daniel  Lee  and  Frost  were  accordingly  de- 
tailed to  erect  a  station  on  the  Clatsop  plains.  Lee 
seems  to  have  preferred  staying  at  the  Dalles,  and 
Frost  spent  most  of  the  summer  between  the  missions 
and  the  forts  of  the  fur  company,  apparently  waiting 
for  some  one  to  provide  a  pleasant  place  for  him. 

At  length,  after  his  family  had  been  a  long  time 
the  guests  of  Mr  Birnie^  at  Astoria,  Kone  was  sent 
as  associate,  and  they  set  to  work  with  the  aid  oi 
Solomon  Smith  to  prepare  a  residence  among  the 
Clatsops ;  but  having  only  Smith  to  assist  them,  and 
Frost  being  afraid  of  canoes,  bears,  savages,  and,  in 
a  general  ANay,  of  everything  not  to  his  liking,  they 
made  little  progress,  and  the  autunni  rains  came  on 
before  the  green  log  house  was  ready  for  use,  or 
the  Mission  goods  Iiad  been  brought  from  Astoria. 
However,  by  tl.  j  time  the  Decembor  storms  had  set 
in,  with  the  st;  ong  south-west  winds  and  Hoods  of 
rain,  they  h.'d  ct)mfortable  covering;  but  at  night 
their  floor  was  often  covered  with  sleeping  Indians  of 
the  filthiest  habits,  and  through  the  leaky  roof  the 
water  came  down  upon  their  beds.  Tliese  trials  wore 
increased  by  the  difficulty  of  getting  to  Astoria  i'or 
supplies,  the  marshes  being  overflowed  and  the  }>laiMs 
a  quagmire  Fortunately,  about  Christmas  they  were 
reenforced  by  Calvin  Tibbets,  wlio  had  determined  to 
.settle  near  the  sea-coast,  and  l>v  a  negro  named  Wal- 

•See  Porlhii'l  lUiHn  0)-fijnv!»».  T)nr.  >2\)    ISU:  n^lifrU'  Ih-c,  MS.,  100. 


186 


CLOSE  OF  THE   METHODIST  REGIME. 


lace,  a  deserter  from  the  American  brig  Maryland, 
then  in  the  river. 

With  this  help  the  missiona^'es  began  to  explore 
for  a  road  to  the  landing  which  should  be  on  firm 
ground ;  instead  of  which,  they  found  upon  the  shore 
of  the  Columbia,  about  half-way  between  Young 
Bay  and  Point  Adams,  four  miles  from  their  house, 
a  convenient  place  for  building ;  and  it  was  decided 


The  Clatsoi*  Ccjstry. 

that  it  would  be  better  to  remove  to  this  place,  where 
supplies  could  be  brought  all  the  way  in  boats,  than 
to  make  a  road  to  the  locality  first  selectetl.  Upon 
this  idea  Frost,  Kone,  Smith,  and  Tibljets  at  once 
counnenced  preparations  for  building.  By  the  lOtli 
of  February,  1841,  a  one-story  log  hous  \  twenty  by 
thirty  feet,  floored  and  roofed  with  rougli  lumber  from 
the  Fort  Vancouver  mill,  was  ready  tor  oocujiation, 


AFFAIRS  AT  CLAT80P. 


187 


and  thither  the  families  and  goods  were  removed. 
Mrs  Kone,  wlio  had  been  ill,  wa.s  carried  in  a  chair 
the  greater  part  of  the  way,  while  Mrs  Frost  and 
the  children  walked,  there  being  as  yet  no  horses  or 
cattle  on  the  plains,  and  the  distance  by  the  beach, 
tlie  only  practicable  route,  being  seven  miles. 

As  soon  as  the  household  goods  were  transported 
to  the  new  place,  Smith  and  Tibbets  put  up  cabins 
near  the  mission  house,  and  the  settlement  of  Clatsop 
may  be  said  to  have  begun,^  especially  as  Smith  set 
about  cultivating  a  vegetable  garden  on  tlie  plains 
as  soon  as  spring  opened;  and  with  much  difficulty 
l)rought  down  two  horses  by  boat  from  tlie  V/illa- 
mette  settlements. 

During  tlie  sunnner,  Frost  and  Solomon  Smith 
explored  a  route  to  the  Willamette  l)y  way  of  the 
coast  and  the  Tillamook  country.  So  far  as  known, 
no  white  men  had  visited  this  part  of  the  coast  since 
180(),  when  Captain  Clarke  partially  exploretl  it,  and 
the  trail  from  Tillamook  Bay  to  the  Willamette  Val- 
ley was  then  known  to  the  Indians  only.  But  Smith 
and  Frost,  with  an  Indian  guide,  reached  the  settle- 
ments in  safety  at  the  end  of  two  weeks,  and  drove 
back  to  Clatsop  by  the  same  route  some  cattle  and 
horses,  to  stock  the  plains  of  that  excellent  grazing 


region. 


'->  In  November  of  this  vcar,  in  view  of  his  wife's 
iiealth,  Mr  Kone  applied  for  permission 'to  return  to 
tlie  states,  which  was  granted,  and  he  took  leave  of 
Oregon  I  "ter  a  residence  of  a  ycuir  and  a  half,  leaving 
i:<)  grand  acliieveinent,  and  harboring  in  his  breast  no 
regrets  for  his  lost  occupation.  Before  leaving,  he 
had  been  detailed  to  superintend  tlie  mission  farm 
opened  at  (^latsop,  and  a  lionse  was  in  process  of 
erection  for  liim,  at  the  original  spot  cliosen  by  Lee 
and  Frost,  on  the  plains.  In  1842  Mr  Raymond  and 
family,  with  Miss  Phillips,  occupied  this  house,  and 
took  charge  of  the  farm.      Frost  also  nniioved  thither 

'  niaW  Xar.,  U.  S.  K-rplor.  Ex.,  W.  'MX. 


ibS 


CLOSE  OF  THP:  METHODIST  RECJIME. 


u;  V 


in  August  of  uliis  year.  Auotliei  settler  at  Clatsop 
arriving  about  this  time  was  Peter  Braiiiard,  a  young 
man  who  canie  from  California  with  Calvin  Tibbets, 
who  brought  thence  a  small  band  of  cattle  which  was 
driven  to  Clatsop  plains.*  This  was  the  second  cattle 
expedition  in  which  Tibbets  had  been  concerned,  and 
it  added  much  to  the  prosperity  of  that  portion  of 
the  country.  Tibbets  and  Smith  now  built  themselves 
houses  on  the  plains,  which  with  the  farming  improve- 
ments gave  the  j)lace  an  air  of  permanent  occupation. 

In  February  1843,  Frost  requested  and  received 
his  discharge  from  the  Mission.  He  was  suffering 
from  a  d  H.as?e  of  the  throat  which  unfitted  him  foi' 
exposure,  ..i  .  which  Mrs  Frost,  a  kindly  and  cheer- 

ful woman  b ,  ture,  was  much  broken  down  and  dis- 
couraged. They  sailed  for  California  and  the  island  of 
Oahu,  August  14,  1843,  on  the  bark  Diamond,  Captain 
Fowler,  of  Scarborough,  England,  leaving  J.  L.  Par- 
rish  as  principal  of  the  Clatsop  mission. 

The  actual  mission  work  performed  among  the 
Clatsops  was  small,  for  what  has  been  said  of  the 
Willamette  people  is  true  of  the  Clatsops,  nothing- 
could  exceed  their  degradation.  When  Frost  and 
Kone  had  been  long  enough  among  them  to  discover 
their  character,  they  were  glad  to  avoid  them,  though 
when  they  came  in  the  way,  which  was  sekU)m,  they 
"Vvore  instructed  for  conscience'  sake.^' 


During  the  previous  year  a  mission  station  had 
been  begun  near  Fort  Nisqually,  on  Puget  Sound,  by 
Willson.  And  now  Kichmond  and  family  are  sent 
thither,  Miss  Clark  accompanying  them.  It  is  meet 
that  Miss  Clark  and  Willson  should  marry,  therefore 
they  marry.  The  site  of  the  Nisqually  mission  was 
well  chosen  for  an  American  settlement  north  of  the 


*  Lee  ami  FroH'x  Or. ,  'A'2i. 

■'  Wilkin'  A'<ii:,  U.  S.  E.rphr.  Kr.,  iv.  ."^4.  Piirrish,  who  succeeded  Frost, 
Imt  who  is  an  oxtreiiie  fidvocate  of  tlie  excellence  of  aboriginal  character,  says: 
'  I  liave  seen  as  bright  converts  among  the  Indians  as  the  whiter,  and  that, 
too,  among  the  Clataoiis."  Or.  Amritotcx,  MS.,  'M. 


THE  NISQUALLY   MISSION. 


189 


Columbia,  particularly  if  the  primary  object  was  to 
curb  the  pretensions  of  the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural 
Company. 

A  comfortable  log  house  was  ready  for  the  reception 
of  Richmond's  family,  and  a  tract  of  land  was  claimed 
on  the  creek  between  the  fort  and  the  sound.  The 
place  had  many  attractions,  lying  on  the  l^orders  of 
a  beautiful  prairie  skirted  with  flowering  wild  shrub- 
bery, and  divided  from  the  sound  by  a  belt  of  magnifi- 
cent timber.  In  the  vicinity  was  a  picturesque  lake 
where  Wilkes  celebrated  the  Fourth  of  July  in  1841, 
and  gave  it  the  name  of  American  Lake,  which  it 
still  be  rs.« 

The  neighborhood  of  the  fort,  and  of  the  large 
Steilacoom  farm,  held  for  sheep-raising  by  an  English- 
min  named  Heath,  under  a  lease  from  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  redeemed  the  spot  from  the  loneliness 
and  savagery  which  made  the  Clatsoj^  plains  at  first 
such  an  uninviting  field.  But  for  agricultural  purposes 
the  plain  on  which  the  mission  was  situated  wns  almost 
worthless,  being  a  bed  of  gravel  covered  with  a  light 
soil,  soon  exhausted,  and  requiring  more  rain  to  bring 
a  crop  to  maturity  than  fell  there  during  the  summer. 

It  was  not  the  want  of  success  in  farming  which 
caused  Richmond  to  ask  for  his  discharge  at  the  end 
of  two  years ;  but  because  the  })rospect  of  usefulness 
amonjjf  the  natives  would  not  warrant  his  remainint>- 
as  a  missionary,"  and  he  had  not  enlisted  to  spend  his 
time  and  talents  as  a  fa^-nur.  His  family  had  suffered 
from  the  acclimatizing  process,  aggravated  by  the  in- 
conveniences of  their  rude  manner  of  living;  and  on 
the  1st  of  September,  1842,  he  left  for  home  in  the 
American  vessel  Clioiatnai^,  bound  for  Newl)uryp()rt, 
and   the   Nisqually  mission  was  not  long  afterward 


*The  lake  \v;»a  never  formally  named;  but  on  account  of  the  American 
eolebratiou  ami  the  residence  of  the  missionaries,  wjw  callotl  Aniericau^Lake, 
and  sometimes  Kichmoiul  liake,  by  the  settlers  of  the  I'uget  Sound  Comiiany. 
The  prairie  was  also  called  the  American  Plains;  and  by  the  natives,  'Boston 
lUehee  '  Kiyiiis'  PtiyoUiip  Ailt/n-sx,  in  Xi'tr  Tucoma  Lidijvr,  .July  l*,  1880. 

'/,('(;  (i)nl  Front's  Or.,  W'lW. 


190 


CLOSE  OF  THE   METHODIST  RECilME. 


abandoned.  In  tlie  same  vessel  sailed  Mr  Whitconib 
and  family  of  the  Willamette  mission,  liis  health  being 
so  broken  that  it  was  doubtful  if  he  would  live  to 
finish  the  voyage. 

At  the  Dalles,  Lee,  Brewer,  and  Mrs  Perkins  con- 
tiimcd  to  labor  at  mission  work  and  farmini;  for  three 
years  after  the  arrival  of  the  great  reenforcement ;  but 
in  August  1848,  Daniel  Lee  with  his  wife  went  east 
in  the  same  vessel  with  Frost.  At  the  same  time  Di' 
Babcock  dissolved  his  connection  with  the  Mission, 
and  went  with  his  family  on  a  voyage  to  the  Hawaiian 
Islands.  Toward  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1844 
Perkins,  after  Shepard  the  most  faithful  missionary 
of  the  Methodists  in  Oregon,  also  returned  to  the 
UniteJ  States,  and  the  station  at  the  Dalles,  now  no 
longer  byany  construction  worthy  to  be  called  a  mission, 
was  pliced  in  charge  of  the  Rev.  A.  F.  Waller. 

Mrs  Shej)ard,  after  a  year  or  more  of  widowhood, 
married  J.  L.  Whitcomb,  superintendent  of  the  niis- 
r.ion  farms,  a  worthy  man.  Mrs  Leslie,  who  had  had 
two  daughters  since  her  arrival  in  the  country,  lingered 
in  a  feeble  condition  until  February  1841,  when  she 
died,  leaving  to  her  husband  the  care  of  five  girls,  the 
oldest  of  who'n  was  fourteen.  Had  the  missionaries 
been  as  well  acquainted  with  the  needs  of  their  bodies 
as  they  were  with  those  of  their  souls,  it  would  have 
been  better  for  themselves,  their  families,  and  their 
undertakings  altogether.  But  they  knew  no  more  of 
hygiene,  and  its  infiuence  on  the  human  spirits,  than 
most  other  excellent  people  of  the  same  day  and  cul- 
tivation, and  they  suffered  accordingly. 

Let  us  now  return  to  tlie  parent  Mission,  and  follow 
its  fortune  from  tlie  year  1840  It  was  soon  evident 
to  the  mind  of  Jason  Lee  that  a  better  locality  than 
French  Prairie,  for  both  missionary  and  colonization 
purposes,  might  be  found.  The  French  Canadians  still 
owed    allegiance  to   Fort  Vancouver.     A   society  ot 


CHEMEKETA  PLAIN. 


191 


low,  illiterate  half-breeds  was  not  the  best  soil  in 
which  to  plant  American  institutions.  Let  him  have 
something  apart  from  all  the  world,  plenty  of  room, 
plenty  of  agricultural  land,  with  some  commercial 
facilities  if  jDossible,  and  he  would  clear  the  ground 
for  a  commonwealth  of  intelligent  freemen  such  as 
God  would  delight  to  prosper.  If  there  were  another 
Columbia  River  that  he  might  occupy  like  McLough- 
lin,  placing  the  natives  under  tribute,  temporal  and 
spiritual,  holding  the  key  to  the  interior  by  means  of 
a  metropolis  on  the  bank  of  a  stream  into  which  ocean 
vessels  might  easily  enter  and  depart,  with  a  nobler 
ambition  than  to  collect  the  skins  of  wild  beasts,  with 
loftier  aims  than  to  keep  the  country  and  its  inhabi- 
tants wild  and  primitive,  and  stay  the  hand  of  progress 
— in  such  a  case,  on  this  western  shore  he  might  rivjd 
Raleigh,  Smith,  Penn,  or  any  &f  the  great  founders 
of  empire  on  the  eastern  seaboard. 

But  unfortunately  the  River  Umpqua  was  not  like 
the  Columbia;  it  offered  no  safe  refuge  for  the  tieets 
of  nations,  no  site  suitable  for  a  commercial  metropo- 
lis. It  is  true,  there  were  savages  present,  however 
averse  to  conversion,  and  these  might  serve  as  capital 
in  enlisting  money  and  recruits  among  the  religious 
people  of  the  east.  But  something  more  than  money 
and  recruits  was  needed  if  success  was  to  attend  his 
efforts;  there  must  be  good  land,  and  pleasant  sur- 
roundhigs,  and  all  the  conditions  stimulating  to  prog- 
ress. Thus  in  pursuance  of  the  grand  scheme,  more  and 
more  2)ossessing  him,  prior  to  his  departure  for  the  east 
Jason  Lee  had  selected  his  position  where  there  was 
land  enough,  and  all  other  absolute  requirements  of  the 
ambitious  superintendent,  the  fine  harbor,  the  magnifi- 
cent river,  alone  forgotten  by  nature,  being  wanting. 

The  spot  thus  chosen  was  a  large  and  fei-tile  plain, 
south  of  the  original  site,  and  only  ten  miles  tlistant. 
The  place  was  called  by  the  natives  Chemeketa,  that 
is  to  say,  'Here  we  Rest.'^     In  front,  on  the  west, 

^BrotvH'n  Willamette  Vol.,  MS.,  I'J 


I 


192 


(LOSE  OF   THE  METHODIST  REdlME, 


fiowed  the  Willamette  between  banks  verdant  with 
lowland  vegetation.  Beyond  rose  the  beautiful  Polk 
county  hills,  while  to  the  south-east  was  the  line  of  the 
Waldo  heights,  whose  softer  crests  melted  into  the  hori- 
zon. On  the  east  a  forest  stretched  away  toward  the 
purple  shadows  of  the  Cascade  Range,  overtopped 
here  and  there  by  a  snowy  peak ;  groves  of  ^r  and 
oak  at  intervals  studded  the  great  plain  toward  the 
north.  A  stream  furnished  mill  privileges;  and  the 
whole  was  central  to  the  great  Valley  Willamette. 
The  late  reenforcenient,  except  the  portion  detailed 
elsewhere,  as  hereinbefore  narrated,  had  been  reserved 
for  service  at  French  Prairie,  and  to  his  new  and 
charming  Place  of  Rest,  on  his  return  from  the  east, 
Jason  Lee  immediately  removed  his  people.  Between 
two  thousand  and  three  thousand  acres  were  selected, 
and  a  part  put  un^er  cultivation,  but  owing  to  the 
scarcity  of  men  accustomed  to  farm  labor  and  to  the 
inexperience  of  those  present,  they  were  obliged  to 
leave  the  larger  part  untouched.  A  mill  was  greatly 
needed,  and  nearly  the  whole  summer  was  ct)nsumed 
in  getting  milling  and  farming  machinery  on  the 
ground.^  And  when  the  mill  was  there,  the  mission- 
aries could  not  put  it  together.  The  stones  were  set 
running  the  wrong  way,  and  when  at  work  threw  out 
all  the  wheat.^"     The  sagacious  sui)erintendent  had 

^ '  We  were  three  or  four  months  before  we  had  finy  of  the  conveniences  of 
living,  tliough  we  lia<l  a  tieet  of  five  canoes  plying  between  the  Mission  an<l 
Fort  Vancouver,  where  the  cargo  of  the  Laii-taiuie  was  lying.  There  were  so 
many  of  us,  and  the  cargoes  had  to  be  so  light  in  tlie  canoes,  that  it  was  a 
little  for  this  family  and  a  little  for  that  family,  and  a  little  for  the  other. 
We  did  not  fetch  any  furniture  of  any  amount,  because  we  brought  a  cabinet- 
maker, a  cliair-maker,  and  such  like.  There  was  not  a  board  in  the  ccmntry. 
Everything  liad  to  be  takcsn  out  of  the  fir-trees.  Our  supplies  were  brought 
in  the  canoes  to  t'hampoeg,  and  then  we  had  to  get  them  up  by  horses  and 
wagons  to  tlie  Mission,  twenty  miles  above.  Well,  you  start  one  of  those  men 
down  with  a  team  toC'hampoeg,  and  if  after  loading  up,  a  whipple-tree  broke, 
or  the  hol^l-back  to  the  M'agon,  or  anything  of  that  kind,  he  had  not  the  fir.st 
idea  of  how  in  fix  it  up,  and  abandoned  the  whole  thing  on  tlie  prairie.'  Par- 
i-i.i/i'.i  Or.  A  iii'rt/offs,  ^IS.,  10,  til).  Wilkes  reporte<l  finding  farm  machinery 
and  other  valuable  property,  which  the  society  in  tlie  east  had  paid  for,  ex- 
posed  to  the  weather  and  uncared  for  about  the  Mission  premises. 

'"  Parrish  says  further,  that  for  a  long  time  he  used  to  get  as  good  flour  out 
of  a  large  coffee-mill  he  had  brought  with  him  as  could  be  made  at  the  mill; 
and  that  '  half  the  mcu  who  came  to  Oregon  ought  to  have  btayed  at  home.. 


LEE  AMON(i  THE   UMPtjUAS. 


iit:{ 


the 


ight 
and 
ineii 
)ke, 
first 
\ir- 
lery 
ex- 
out 
lill; 


leared  some  such  results  from  t)ie  employineiit  of 
preac'lier-mechanics,  and  had  insisted  on  bringing  out 
a  majority  of  laymen ;  but  the  board  had  thought 
preachers  were  wanted  for  missionary  work,  and  mis- 
sionary work  was  their  first  consideration,  while  the 
dominant  idea  in  the  mind  of  Jason  Lee  was  now 
material  develoj)ment. 

As  soon  as  possible  the  manual-labor  school  was 
removed  to  the  new  location,  that  the  Indian  boys 
might  be  made  useful  on  the  farm.  This  8cht)ol  now 
numbered  twenty-five,  and  the  colonists  were  too  busy 
to  instruct  these  young  natives,  had  they  so  desired.'^ 

It  was  impossible  to  complete  the  work  of  removal 
the  first  year,  or  even  the  second,  or  until  a  saw-mill 
should  be  in  operation,  it  behig  the  intention  to  build 
larger  and  better  houses  than  those  at  French  Prairie. 
Of  those  at  the  latter  place  the  largest  and  the  best 
was  the  hospital,  now  completed,  a  frame  edifice  two 
stories  high,  with  a  double  piazza,  in  which  the  Mis- 
sion steward,  Abernethy,  and  three  other  families, 
were  comfortably  domiciled. 

After  starting  the  new  settlement  of  Chemeketa 
plain,  which  went  by  the  name  of  "The  Mill,"  for  want 
of  a  better,  Jason  Lee  set  out  to  select  a  location  among 
the  lTmp{|uas,  intending  even  yet  to  make  a  settle- 
ment at  the  mouth  of  their  river.  In  company  with 
White  and  Hines  he  proceeded  without  difficulty  or 
adventure  as  far  as  Fort  Um])qua,  at  the  junction  of 
Elk  Creek  and  the  Umpqua  lliver,^^  where  they  were 
entertained  at  the  house  of  Gagnier,  agent  in  charge 

They  knew  nothing  about  tlie  liardsliips  of  a  new  country  ;  and  the  hardsliips 
WL'i'e  sucli  that  they  oould  not  endure  tlieni.'  He  pays  i  handsome  tribute  to 
tlie  women,  saying  that  they  were  'noble,  splendid  woirien,  who  stootl  right 
U[)  to  their  duties  as  well  ;is  the  men.'  Having  to  eat  boiled  wheat  for  a 
year  was  nothing  compared  to  the  loss  of  society,  which  waa  their  greatest 
trial.     Or.  Anecdoh'.t,  MS.,  2(). 

"Wilkes  saj's  that  in  1841  no  tixed  plan  c>f  operations  had  yet  been 
digested,  and  tliat  the  boys,  nearly  grown  up,  were  ragge<l  and  half-clothed, 
lounging  about  under  the  trees.    IVilkcn'  N<ir.,  U.  S.  E.rplor.  Ex.,  iv.  ^iTS-D. 

^^  White  relates  that  on  arriving  at  the  top  of  Elk  Mountain,  a  vm-y  sharp 
and  rough  ridge,  Hines  arose  in  his  stirrups,  and  exclaimed  in  a  very  earnest 
manner  :  '  My  wife  never  climbs  this  mountain  !'  W/u/v'd  Tea  Ycar^  In  Or,,  127. 
Hist.  On.,  Vol.  I.    i;i 


_-.uq^4-  ^ 


'('? 


f 


l\)i 


CLOSE  OF  THE    METHODIST  RE(iIME. 


of  the  fort.'"'  From  this  point  White  returned  to  the 
Mission,  and  Lee  and  Hincs  continued  their  journey 
toward  the  coast, 

Hines,  who  is  the  journahst  of  this  expedition,  par- 
ticularly mentions  that  Gagnier  was  unwilling  that 
they  should  go  alone  amongst  the  coast  tribes,  telling 
them  of  Jedediah  Smith's  adventure  near  the  mouth 
of  the  river.     It  happened,  however,  that  while  the 


The  UiaryUA  Kivkk. 

subject  was  under  discussion,  a  party  of  natives  ar- 
rived at  the  fort  from  the  coast,  in  charge  of  a  brother 
of  Gagnier's  Indian  wife ;  and  Lee  proposed  that  this 
bellow  should  go  with  them  as  guide,  and  to  explain 
the  object  of  their  visit.  It  was  finally  agreed  that 
the  wife  of  Gagnier  should  also  be  of  the  party ;  and 

i^Fort  Umpqua  at  this  period  was  a  substantial  stoiv.house  of  hewr  slabs, 
a  miserable  dwelling,  .and  a  barn  eiielosed  in  a  stockade.  About  eighty  acres 
of  land  were  enclosed,  l)nt  very  little  improvement  of  any  kind  was  ever  made 
at  this  post,  the  farming  being  confined  to  cultivating  a  few  vegetables  and 
raising  cattle.   C.  S.  Eo.,  II,  B.  Co.  Claims,  12-?4,  21-3. 


KOUT   U.Ml'QUA. 


193 


with  these  two  guides  and  interpreters  Lee  and  Ilines 
proeeeded. 

Tlie  oliservations  ujion  the  river,  the  st-enerv,  and 
tlie  facilities  for  settU'n»ent  in  Hines' journal  are  clear 
and  to  the  j)oint.  No  difficulties  were  found  in  reach- 
ing their  destination,  the  natives  seeming  well  disposed 
toward  their  visitors,  who  held  their  devotional  ser- 
vices with  the  hands  among  whom  they  encamped, 
and  found  them  easily  impressed,  and  apt  at  imitating 
the  forms  of  devotion. 

On  aniving  at  the  coast,  where  were  three  small 
villages,  they  i)itched  their  tent  at  a  little  distance 
from  the  larger  one,  and  through  their  interpreter 
asked  an  audience.  Mrs  Gaijfnier  delivered  the  ad- 
dress  of  Lee,  explaining  the  character  and  pur])()se  of 
his  mission  to  them,  and  asked  for  an  expression  of 
their  wishes  in  the  matter.'^ 

Hines  says  the  natives  appeared  solemn  and  showed 
a  desire  to  learn;  hut  he  hardly  danxl  hope  they 
understood  nmch,  tliough  they  appeared  interested. 
The  prayers  impressed  them,  and  the  singing  of 
Heber's  missionary  liynm  drew  fixed  attention.  Lee 
promised  them  a  teacher  in  the  following  summer, 
and  the  two  missionaries  then  returned  to  Fort 
Umpqua,^''  where  they  found  Gagnier  much  alarmed 
for  their  safety. 

A  chief  of  the  tribe  at  the  fort  had  seen  a  patent 

**  The  chief's  troubled  conscience  seems  to  present  itself,  as  he  says:  '  ( ireat 
chief!  we  are  very  much  pleased  with  our  lands.  We  love  this  world.  Wo 
wish  to  live  a  j^reat  wliile.  We  very  much  desire  to  hucome  old  men  before 
we  die.  It  is  true  we  have  killed  many  people,  but  we  never  have  kdled  any 
but  bad  people.  Many  lii^s  have  been  told  about  us.  We  have  been  culled 
a  bad  people,  and  we  are  glad  you  liave  come  to  see  for  yourselves.  We  liave 
seen  .some  wlnte  people  before,  but  they  came  to  get  our  beavr  "one  ever 
came  before  to  instruct  us.  We  are  glad  to  see  you.  We  wan'  1-  i;'n.  We 
wish  to  tlirow  away  bad  things  and  become  good.'  This  wius  spoken  with 
violent  gestures  and  genutlections,  rising  on  tiptoe,  and  stretching  his  lumdM 
;.l)ove  liis  liead,  then  bending  almost  to  the  earth.   J/ini:t'  Orcijnii  Hist.,  ]()4-r). 

'■*  Hines  remarks  upon  the  counti'y:  'We  found  but  little  land  ah)ng  the 
river  wliieh  liolds  out  any  inducement  to  emigrants,  the  country  on  both  sides 
becoming  more  ami  more  mountainous.  Whatever  the  country  may  be  back 
from  the  river,  it  is  certain  that  along  the  stream  it  can  never  sustain  nmch 
of  a  population.  Hills  upon  lulls  and  rocks  piled  u})oi>.  rocks  characterize 
almost  tlie  whole  distance  from  Fort  Umpipui  to  the  I'acitic  Ocean. '  lliiici' 

omjoii  Hist.,  mi 


I'.Mi 


CLOSH  01"  THK   .MKTHOKlST   UKCI.MK. 


shot-poudi  wliirli  Loo  woro  aUout  liis  luick,  and  l>o 
lievod  it  a  had  uiodioino  with  which  ho  intondod  t(» 
kill  thoni  all.  (laj^iiior's  wit'o  know  this,  and  with 
hor  hrothor  kopt  watch  throu^ifh  the  wholo  nit^ht, 
novor  porniittini^  tho  canip-firo  to  y^o  out,  or  hor  eye- 
lids to  closo.^"  It  was  not  strange  that  those  savajj^es 
should  he  ahirniod  at  the  shoi-|)ouoh.  Like  tho  trihes 
of  the  Columbia,  they  hnd  suflerod  from  such  fatal 
tliseases  since  white  nu^u  came  as  to  liavo  heen  nearlv 
sw(;pt  from  tho  earth.  Hines  tells  us  that  all  ho  could 
obtain  knowlodi^e  of  in  that  part  of  the  country  wore 
no  inore  than  three  hundred  and  soventy-fivt!  souls, 
and  ox})resses  his  conviction  that  tho  doom  of  extinc- 
tion is  over  this  wretched  race;  and  that  the  hand  of 
Providence  was  removin*^  them  to  oivo  place  to  a 
])oo})le  more  woi-thy  of  so  beautiful  and  fertile  a  coun- 
try— a  doctrine  comfortinj^'  to  tho  missionary  who 
fails  to  perceive  its  unfair  roHection  on  Providence. 

With  such  convictions,  it  was  scarcely  to  be  expected 
that  a  mission  should  prosper  anywhere;  so  after 
hasty  exploration   of  the   Ump(|ua  Vallo}',  the   ff 
sionaries  returned  home,  and  the  subject  of  a  statL 
in  that  quarter  was  droj^ped.'' 

Soon  after  his  return  from  the  Umpqua  country,  a 
misundorstandinti^  arose  between  Jason  Lee  and  Elijah 
White.  The  reason  of  the  rupture  remains  some- 
what of  a  mystery.  White  himself  said  it  was  an 
honest  difference  of  opinion  in  relaticin  to  the  best 
way  of  carrying  on  the  Mission  work.^^     The  truth  is, 

'*  Gray,  iliat  most  mendacious  missior.ary,  makes  f tagnior  an  jigent  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  (.'ompany  for  the  killing  of  Hines  and  Leo,  ami  to  render  more 
plausible  his  horrible  hypothesis,  he  twice  falsely  cpiotes  from  Hines. 

"  A  newspaper  at  the  Sandwieii  Islands,  commenting  on  the  secular  nature 
of  the  work  m  the  Willamette  Valley,  said:  'As  settlers  we  wish  theni  every 
success,  but  advise  them  to  drop  the  missionary  in  their  connnunications, 
nowadays.'  /'oli/>ics!iiii,  Nov.  '21,  1S41. 

"*  Whiten  Tt'ii  Yciirt  ill  Or.,  l.'?!.  Parrishimore  pointetlly  ascribes  it  to  a 
misappropriation  of  the  Mission  funds  in  Lee's  absence.  Or.  Anecdotes,  MS., 
108.  ( Jray,  who  hated  White,  assigns,  dishonesty,  treachery,  libertinism,  etc., 
as  the  reasons  which  brought  about  the  difference.  Jii.^l.  Or.,  175;  and  Ray- 
mond accuses  him  of  improper  relations  with  the  Indian  girls  of  the  Mission 
school.  Soks  of  a  Talk;  MS.,  4.     AVilkes  says  that  he  was  told,  when  in  Ore- 


LKE  AND  WHITES  yLAUKEL. 


1D7 


tliat  White,  wlu)  was  prono  to  take  tho  upper  hand, 
led  L(\><lie,  tho  superintendent  of  tho  work,  to  spend 
nioro  money  in  l)uikUn<^  the  hospital  than  was  ap- 
proved of  hy  Lee,  who  had  otiier  uses  for  tho  nu)noy. 
The  disa<?reenient  ended  in  tho  resignation  of  White," 
who  took  j)assa<:;'e  for  homo  in  the  Lausaime,  in  the 
summer  of  1840.  As  a  penalty  for  being  too  nmeh 
influenced  by  White,  Leslie  was  left  without  an  ap- 
pointment, and  consequently  without  a  salary,  when 
tlie  next  annual  meetin<(  of  the  society  came  round. 
The  affair  was  unfortunate  for  the  superintendent. 
White  presented  himself  to  the  board,  and  pleaded 
his  cause,  which  resulted  in  having  liis  expenses  paid, 
though  he  was  censured  for  deserting  his  i)ost  without 
leave  from  the  board.  Then  he  quietly  resumed  his 
former  practice.  Letters  received  by  the  Ijxusanne 
from  Kichmond,  Kone,  and  others,  comfirmed  the  un- 
favorable impression  which  >  hite  was  able  to  give 
of  the  superintendent's  course. 

In  these  dissensions,  which  arose  soon  after  the 
assignment  of  the  reiinforcement  to  their  several 
])laces,  Hines,  Waller,  Abernethy,  and  Parrish,  with 
the  laymen  (nnployed  in  the  Willamette  Valley  and  in 
the  more  favorable  locations,  appeared  on  the  side  of 
the  superintendent,  while  the  others  arrayed  them- 
selves against  him.  Probably  dissatisfaction  with 
their  circumstances  had  much  to  do  with  this  ill  feel- 
ing. Some  complained  that  they  were  not  allowed  to 
visit  the  Missicm  in  the  Willamette,  or  their  missionary 
predecessors,  before  being  sent  to  the  wilderness  to 
hew  out  uncomfortable  homes.  But  Lee  knew  t!>e 
value  of  time,  and  the  necessity  of  providing  shelter 
and  getting:  established  before  winter,  and  had  cause, 
besides,  to  fear  that  if  they  saw  the  Willamette 
Valley  they  might  Jiot  go  so  willingly  to  another 
quarter.      The    misunderstandings    which    disturbed 


fjon,  that  White  had  been  of  iimch  service  to  the  countrj'.    WUh's'  Xar.,  U.  S. 
JC.rphr.  Ex.,  iv.  375. 

'"-(  Coyy  of  a  Document,  in  Or.  Plonvr  Aaxoc.  Tntnx.,  1880,  50. 


198 


CLOSE  OK  THE  METllOmST   REAilME. 


the  liarnioiiy  of  the  Mctliodist  colonists  arose  to  a 
i^reat  degree  from  the  unavoidable  tiials  (*f  a  new 
settlement  in  the  hands  of  inex[)erienced  persons. 

It  does  not  appear,  from  anything  discovei-ed  in  the 
writings  of  the  missionaries,  that  Jason  Lee  told  his 
{issooiates  of  his  correspondence  with  agents  of  the 
government.  Had  the  disaffected  members  of  the 
Mission  known  that  they  had  been  used  to  carry  out 
a  colonization  project,  some  expression  of  their  resent- 
ment on  finding  themselves  the  victims  of  so  worldly 
an  artifice  would  somewhere  appear.  But  the  colo- 
nization scheme  is  never  alluded  to  as  a  cause  of  their 
disappointment.^" 


White  hr.vinu:  resitrned,  Babcock  was  called  from 
the  Dalles  to  the  Willamette,  where  the  usual  summei- 
sickness  was  dioabling  the  Mission.  Chills  and  fever, 
ending  in  a  low  typhoid,  prostrated  the  white  popula- 
tion and  carried  off  the  nativcs.^^ 

'-■"  Frost  ,.iiy;!  tliat  lie  does  not  in  tlio  ioast  regri't  that  ho  etiihark'Ml  in  the 
enterprise,  iiltliough  in  the  three  jears  lie  remained  in  Orej^on  lie  nuijed  his 
healtli  for  life,  for  he  believes  he  aeconii>lisheil  some  go<>(l  to  the  Imliaiis  by 
preventing  murders,  which  were  formerly  freijuent  amongst  the"i.  Arc  din/ 
/''/•(Mt'.i  Or.,  .S31-2.  Hines,  who  wrote  later,  when  more  was  known  ab'.iit  the 
facts,  excuses  the  fraud  on  the  missionarv  society  l>y  explain!. ig  that  the 
Indians  Lee  expected  to  teach  nearly  all  dieil  during  his  visit  east.  Orm/oii 
lliM.,  '2'M\. 

■-' I'arrish  says  500  Indians  died  in  the  Willamette  Valley  in  1S40.  Un- 
doubtedly an  over-estiiii.i.t-j,  as  this  nundier  of  Iniliana  enuld  not  bi  found 
within  the  range  of  observation  of  t!?"  missionaries  in  that  valliiy.  ih\  Aiivr- 
i/i)/(K,  MS.,  ;<,■).  Of  the  personal  atl'airs  of  i,!'.'^  missionaries  from  1S40  to  1S4S, 
I  have  gleaned  the  following:  In  the  summer  of  1840  .f.  L.  I'arrish  lost,  his 
il'lest  son  by  the  prevailing  fever.  On  the  ISth  of  January,  1841,  a  daughter 
was  born  to  Mr  and  Mrs  Perkins.  On  the  Kith  of  February  of  the  same  year 
l>avid  CartiT  of  the  late  reeiiforeement  married  Miss  ()r]iha  Lankton  of  the 
lianie.  Miss  l..ankton  was  daughter  of  Abra  and  Tiiankful  Lankton  of  IJur- 
lington,  Connecticut,  i)ora  ()i:tober  '2,  ]80().  Mr  Carter  died  in  18411  or  KSoO, 
and  Mrs  Carter  again  marrieil  Rev.  John  McKiiniey  of  tlu'  .Methoilist  eliurch. 
.She  liad  three  sons  by  ]h\v  lirst  husband,  oiie  died  at  So  lavill  j,  Linn  ( 'ounty, 
Septend)er 'JC,  1873.  I'ortiuiil  I'.  C.  Ai/mnif,;  Nov.  V.i,  IST,'?.  On  the 'JlJd  of 
March  Mrs  Oaniel  Lee  presented  lu'r  husband  with  a  son,  who  was  named 
\Vilb\ir  Fisk.  It  was  about  this  time  that  Mi'  Wliiteomb  married  Mrs  Slicp- 
ard.  On  the  Ctli  of  .May,  a  young  man  named  .biseph  Holiiian,  whom  I  shall 
have  occasion  to  mention  in  another  place,  and  whoarrivi.'il  ;it  Fort  Vaneomer 
on  the  ihiy  the  rceiiforeeiiielit  laiKled,  iiiarritNl  .Miss  .Uinira  lMiel])s  of  the 
mission  family.  Miss  I'iielps  was  born  July  '_",),  1814,  at  S[iringlield,  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  ediieated  at  \Vilbraliani  Academy  in  that  .^tate.  .Mrs  Kolman 
died  at  Salem,  Oregon,  t)etober  '2;\,  1874.  Su'lcin  Mcrriin/,  Oct.  '2'A,  1.S74; 
IWtbuid  Adivciiiv,  Nov.  1,'i,  1874.     On  the  'J8th  of  Fel  r.iary,  1S4U,  Mrs  Jason 


I 


A  SAD  CALAMITY. 


109 


Jii- 
11(1 

".*• 
lis 

Ut 

ar 

lu' 

ir- 

r.(i, 
ii. 

y. 
(if 


About  the  1st  of  September  of  this  year,  CorneHus 
Rogers,  who  had  reiiioved  from  the  Presbyterian  mis- 
sions of  eastern  Oregon  to  the  Willamette  Valley, 
married  Satira  Leslie,  a  girl  of  fifteen  years,  eldest 
daughter  of  David  Leslie.  The  marriage  took  })lace 
under  circumstances  at  once  trying  and  romantic. 
Mr  Leslie,  having  lost  both  his  wife  and  his  salary  as 
a  member  of  the  Mission,  was  nmch  conc(?rned  about 
his  future,  and  thinking  that  in  st)me  way  a  voyage  to 
the  Islands,  where  ho  would  place  his  elder  daughters 
in  school,  would  help  to  settle  matters  for  him,  made 
arrangements  to  embark  with  his  family  in  the  brig 
Chenamas,  the  same  vessel  in  which  Richmond,  Whit- 
comb,  and  Bailey,  with  other  families,  left  Oregon  in 
Sopteml)er  1842.  Rogers'  jn'oposal  came  at  the  last 
moment,  and  the  marriage  took  place  on,  board  the 
(lienamas;  and  it  was  there  arranged  that  the  two 
older  girls  should  accompany  their  father,  while  the 
two  younger  should  remain  in  the  country  with  their 
married  sistei 

Rogers  returiiod  to  +he  Mission  with  his  wife  and 
the  two  children,  and  prepared  tt)  remove  to  the  Wil- 
lanjotte  Falls.  During  the  winter  Raymond  arrived 
from  Clatsop  to  ])roeure  sui)plies  for  that  station,  whicli 
were  to  be  carried  in  a  large;  canoe  belonging  to  the 
^Mission,  and  in  which  Rogers  determined  to  emlniik 
for  the  falls,  with  his  wife  and  her  youngest  sister. 
Dr  White,  who  liad  lately  retui-ned  to  ()reg()n,  and 
Nathaniel  Crocker,  of  Lansingville,  New  York,  who 

Lt'(.'  gave  liirtli  to  a  (laughter,  siion  after  wliicli  .><l)c  died,  leaving  to  the  stiper- 
iiiteiideiit  only  his  infant  girl  as  the  fruit  of  two  marriages.  I'his  child  was 
named  Luey  Anna  Afaria,  after  hoth  of  Jjee's  wives,  and  was  taken  ehiirue  of 
liy  Mrs  nines,  to  whom  she  heeame  as  a  daughter.  Her  own  mother,  w^iosc 
maiden  name  was  Liuy  Thompson,  and  who  was  from  liiirre,  X'ermont,  W'as 
huried  in  tiio  eenietry  at  t'.ie  new  mission,  to  wliieii  plaee  and  to  tiie  same 
grave  were  removed  the  remains  of  that  Anna  Maria  after  wlio."  tiie  eiiild  M'as 
named.  Miss  Ijce  was  edueated  at  tiie  Oregon  Institute  and  Willamette  Uni- 
versity, in  whieli  she  was  emjjloye  1  as  a  teaelu^r  for  several  years.  When  ahout 
twenty-two  years  old  she  marrie(i  Francis  M.  (iruhlis,  another  teacher,  and 
taught  with  him  in  the  university  and  ;''>eral  other  Methodist  scliools.  Her 
constitution  was  delicate,  and  she  died  in  1S81  at  t!ie  l)alles,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-nine  years.  J/iinn'  Or.  I/ixf.,  Itlil;  Umix'  Or.  uml  /iis/i/ii/ii>ni,  240,  '247, 
-.")7;  Iiuli'iK-ndrniri',  Or.,  Riwrsidv,  June  !.'{,  187',t;  S.  1.  Fri'wl,  iv.  iui. 


f 


200 


I  l-OSK   OF  THE   METHODIST   REGIME. 


Iiad  also  lately  arrived  in  the  country,  l)eing  desirous 
of  seeing  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  decided  tt) 
accompany  Raymond  to  Clatsop. 

A  sad  calamity  awaited  them.  The  Willamette 
was  running  with  great  force,  the  winter  rains  having 
swollen  its  flood.  On  coming  to  the  rapids  above 
the  falls  the  passengers  all  left  the  canoe,  which 
was  thereupon  let  down  with  a  rope  to  a  point  near 
the  landing,  where  Mr  and  Mrs  Rogers,  Aurelia 
Leslie,  White,  and  Crocker,  with  four  Indians,  again 
entered  it.  Raymond  and  three  Indian^  lemained 
on  shore  to  hold  the  line  while  the  canoe  dropped 
down  to  the  proper  landing.  It  passed  this  by  a  slioi-t 
distance,  and  was  brought  alongside  a  large  log,  used 
us  a  landing.  As  White  touched  the  shore  v/ith  one 
foot  he  endeavored  to  hold  the  canoe  with  the  other, 
but  the  slight  impetus  given  it  by  his  fir-st  movement, 
and  the  force  of  the  current  catching  the  l)ow,  wJiich 
Avas  up  stream,  threw  the  canoe  out  into  tlie  river, 
which  was  moving  on  toward  the  cateract  with  resist- 
less power. 

It  was  in  vain  that  those  on  shore  endeavored  to 
cling  to  the  ro])e.  They  were  drawn  into  the  water, 
and  forced  to  relinquish  their  hold  to  save  them- 
selves. Then  the  freed  craft  darted  like  an  arrow 
toward  the  fatal  verge;  a  cry  of  anguish  went  u[) 
from  the  doomed,  the  plunge  was  made,  and  five  white 
[)ersons  and  two  Indians  descended  hito  the  rocky 
vortex  from  which  none  of  them  ever  issued  alive. 
Only  two  of  the  bodies  were  recovered,  those  of 
Rogers  and  Crocker.  Two  of  the  Indians  sprang 
into  the  water  wlusn  the  danger  wan  first  })erceived, 
and  gained  the  shore. 

Tliis  event  occurred  February  4,  1843,  and  threw 
a  gloom  over  the  whole  Mission  colony.  The  previous 
December  James  Olley,  local  preacher  and  carpenter 
to  the  ^lission,  while  endeavt)ring  to  raft  some  logs  to 
the  mill,  to  make  lumlKT  for  finishing  his  house,  had 
been  drowned  in  the  Willamette.     The  loss  of  life  bv 


ORK(;ON    IN.STITUTK 


201 


sickness  and  accident  in  the  Mission  circle  in  the  space 
of  five  years  was  thirteen,  ten  being  in  the  Hush  of 
youth  and  prime  of  hfe,  while  three  of  them  were  chil- 
dren. When  to  these  is  added  the  mortality  among  the 
Indians  and  half-breeds,  the  impression  might  be  that 
the  climate  was  deadly.  Yet  the  climate  of  Oregon 
has  since  been  ])roven  exceedingly  salubrious ;  and  to 
the  causes  of  disease  already  enumerated,  there  seems 
nothing  more  to  add  except  the  theory  advanced  b}' 
some  writers,  that  a  disease  when  newly  introduced 
into  a  country  is  most  virulent.'^ 

Meanwhile  tlie  superintendent  is  perfectino'  his 
plans  for  the  foundation  of  a  Methodist  state.  At 
the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Methodist  society  in 
May  1841,  a  committee  is  appointed  to  select  a  loca- 
tion for  the  manual-labor  school,  which  is  chosen 
not  far  from  the  Mission  mills,  on  the  southern  bor- 
der of  the  Chemeketa  plain.  Here  a  building  costing 
ten  thousand  dollars  is  erected,  in  which  an  Indian 
school  is  kept  for  about  nine  months,  begiiming  in  the 
autumn  of  1842,  which  comes  to  a  clos^  through  the 
causes  long  tending  in  this  direction.-" 

The  education  of  the  children  '"f  the  missionaries 
and  settlers,  now  twenty  in  number,  is  a  subject  more 
pleasing  to  contemplate  than  tli<i  education  of  the 
natives.  On  the  17th  of  January,  1842,  a  meetiny:  is 
held  at  the  house  of  Jason  Lee,  who  is  now  living  at 
the  new  settlement,  to  pre[)are  for  the  establishment 
of  an  educational  institution  for  the  benefit  of  whitr 
children,  and  a  committee  appointed  to  call  a  public 
meeting  and  prepare  the  way;  the  committee  to  con- 
sist of  J.  L.  Babcock,  Gustavus  Hines,  and  Davit! 
Leslie,  the  last  named  having  returned  from  tlie 
Islands  in  April,  by  the  fur  company's  vessel  IJavut. 
Captain  Nye.  The  meeting  is  held  on  tlie  1st  of 
Februai'v    followiiii'',    at    the    t)ld    mission    house    on 

'" /htnriii's  I'oi/tti/)'  roiiii(f  t/ic  W'orlil,  i.SI -(>. 

'^  Craii'J'or(/'/i  MinKioiKiricx,  MS.,  4;  J/iiicn' fh\  nii'l  lustitutmiis,  ItiO. 


202 


CLOSE  OF  THE  METHODIST  REGIME. 


French  Prairie,  and  it  is  decided  to  begin  at  once  to 
lay  the  foundation  of  this  institution.  The  name 
selected  is  the  Oregon  Institute ;  and  the  first  board 
of  trustees  are  Jason  Lee,  David  Leslie,  Gustavus 
Hines,  J.  L.  Parrish,  L.  H.  Judson,  George  Aber- 
nethy,  Alanson  Beers,  Hamilton  Campbell,  and  J.  L. 
Babcock, 

Present  at  this  meeting  is  the  Rev.  Harvey  Clark, 
an  independent  Presbyterian  missionary,  who  is  then 
living  on  the  Tualatin  plains,  and  about  whom  more 
will  be  said  by  and  by.  This  gentleman  exhibits 
nuieh  interest  in  education,  and  is  put  upon  a  com- 
mittee with  Lee,  Hines,  Leslie,  and  Babcock  to  select 
a  location.  Their  choice  falls  on  a  beautiful  situation, 
at  the  southern  end  of  French  Prairie ;  but  owing  to 
a  deficiency  of  water,  this  spot  is  abandoned  for  a 
plain  known  s  the  Wallace  Prairie,  about  three  miles 
north  from  the  mill,  on  an  eminence  half  a  mile  south 
of  the  farm  of  one  Baptiste  Delcour,  and  near  a  fine 
spring  of  water. 

Having  |)roceeded  thus  ftir,  a  prospectus  is  drawn 
up  on  the  Dth  of  March,  and  a  constitution  and  by- 
laws on  the  15th."*     Soon  $4,000  is  pledged,  in  sums 


-*  This  constitution  and  by-laws  may  be  found  in  full  in  Jlhics'  Oreijon  and 
il.1  liixtiliilioiix,  143-51,  a  work  of  SOO  pages,  duvoted  to  .'vdvcrtising  the  Wil- 
lamette University.  It  was  puldished  in  New  York  in  1808.  By  the  first 
article  the  institute  is  j)lai:ed  forever  under  the  supervision  of  some  religious 
denomination.  By  tlie  second  it  is  maile  an  academical  boarding  school,  until 
it  sliall  be  expedient  to  make  it  a  university.  Tho  thinl  declares  that  tlio  ob- 
ject of  the  institution  is  to  educate  tiie  children  of  white  men ;  but  no  persori 
shall  be  excluded  on  account  of  color  wlio  possesses  a  good  moral  character, 
and  can  read,  write,  and  speak  tlie  English  languiige  intelligibly.  The  re- 
ligious society  whicli  shall  first  pledge  itself  to  sustain  tiie  institution  is  by 
article  fourth  entitled  to  elect  once  in  three  j'ear.s  nine  directors,  two  thirds 
of  whom  shall  bo  members  of  this  society,  whose  duty  it  shall  bo  to  hold  in 
trust  tlie  projierty  f)f  the  institution,  consisting  of  real  estate,  notes,  bonds, 
securities,  goods,  and  cliattels  ;  and  any  person  siibscrilnng  Sr>0  or  more  shall 
lie  entitled  to  a  vote  in  the  business  meetings  of  the  society  relating  to  tlie 
institution.  The  scliool  is  divided  into  male  and  fenialo  departments,  to  be 
taught  and  controlled  by  male  and  female  teacliers  ;  and  placed  in  charge  of 
a  steward,  whose  duty  it  is  to  provide  lioard  and  to  direct  tho  condnct  of  the 
resident  pujiils  ;  besides  which  a  visiting  committee  of  the  society  shall  ex- 
amine all  the  departments,  and  make  public  reports.  Annual  meetings  are  to 
be  held  to  fill  vacancies  in  the  board  ot  trustees,  appoint  visiting  coinmittees, 
ami  transact  other  business.  Should  no  society  pleili;e  itsilf  liefore  tb.e  last 
of  May  1842  to  sustain  tjie  institution,  then  the  busin  .ss  shall  be  transacted 


VERY   SHAKP  rRACTlL'E. 


203 


ranjTfing  from  5?  10  to  .$500,  all  but  $350  beiiii^  sub- 
.scribod  by  the  inissioiiarios.  On  the  2Gtli  of  ()etober 
it  is  resolved  at  a  meeting  of  the  Methodist  society 
of  Oregon,  to  make  the  pledge  required  by  the  con- 
stitution of  the  proposed  institution  of  learning,  and 
assume  prf)prietorship  of  the  jiroperty  in  the  hands 
of  the  board,  which  is  done.  A  building  is  connnenced 
soon  after,  under  the  superintendence  of  W.  H.  Gray, 
formerly  of  the  Presbyterian  mission  ;  and  in  tlie  course 
of  the  year  following  $3,000  has  been  expended  in 
its  construction. 


There  was  one  more  scheme  in  which  the  superin- 
tendent of  the  Oregon  missions  was  deeply  interested, 
but  to  which  he  did  not  care  j)ublicly  and  personally 
to  commit  himself  This  was  no  less  than  the  acquisi- 
tion for  the  Methodist  colony  of  the  water-power  at 
the  falls  of  the  Willamette.  To  this  place,  as  we 
have  seen,  John  McLoughlin  held  the  })rior  claim, 
and  the  unsettled  condition  of  tlie  Oregon  boundary 
allowed  him  to  maintain  it;  but  from  this  the  Metho- 
dists were  plotting  to  drive  him,  standing  ready  to 
take  his  place  when  he  should  have  been  forced  to 
abandon  it. 

It  was  a  plan  worthy  of  persons  who,  ])rofessing 
piety,  had  turned  the  sanctified  gold  of  their  sup- 
porters into  personal  profit. 

Their  intention  was  made  known  by  report  to  Mc- 
Louijfhlin  soon  after  the  arrival  of  the  ij^reat  retin- 
forcement.  He  at  once  notified  Lee  of  facts  with 
which  every  one  was  already  well  aware,  namely,  tliat 
possession  had  been  taken  of  the  place  by  him  in 
1829,  at  which  time,  and  since,  improvements  had 
lieen  made,  consisting  of  several  houses  and  a  mill- 

hy  those  who  subscribe  §")()  or  upwards,  until  such  time  as  soiiio  society  sliall 
Ml  jibMlge  itself.  The  liy-liiws  proviile  that  no  suhscriiitioli  is  biudiiiff  until 
Nunie  society  has  come  forward  and  assunied  the  resjionsiI)ility  of  maintaining 
the  Oregon  Institute,  and  as  notiiing  can  be  done  without  fumls,  and  as  there 
In  no  other  Protestant  religions  society  in  the  Willamette  ^'allev  able  to  take 
eharge  of  tlu^  proposeil  sciiool,  it  falls,  as  it  was  nitended  to  ih),  to  tlie  Meth- 
odis^t  Episcopal  church. 


204 


(.LOSE  OF  THE  METHODIiST  REdlME. 


race.  Furtherniorc,  he  declared  liis  intention  to  hold 
the  property  us  a  private  claim  when  the  boundary 
should  be  finally  determined.  The  ground  claimed 
was  "  from  the  upper  end  of  the  falls  across  to  the 
Clackamas  River,  and  down  where  the  Clackamas 
falls  into  the  Wallamette,  including  the  whole  point 
of  land,  and  the  small  island  in  the  falls  on  which  the 
portage  was  made.""'' 

The  correspondence  appears  to  have  been  begun  in 
July  1840,  soon  after  Waller  had  been  sent  to  estab- 
lish a  mission  at  the  falls,  in  which  he  was  generously 
assisted  by  McLoughlin,  who  gave  him  permission  to 
erect  a  house  out  of  some  timbers  that  had  been  pre- 
viously squared  by  himself  for  a  mill.  After  giving  the 
notice  mentioned,  McLoughlin  concluded  his  letter 
with  these  words:  "This  is  not  to  })revent  your  build- 
ing the  store,  as  my  object  is  merely  to  establish  my 
claim." 

A  satisfactory  reply  was  returned,  and  Waller  pro- 
ceeded in  the  erection  of  a  building,  divided  into  two 
apartments,  one  of  which  served  as  a  dwelling  and 
the  other  as  a  store-room  for  the  goods  of  the  Mis- 
sion. And  yet  Hines  tells  us  that  Waller  was  left 
without  an  appointment  by  Lee  in  1840,  in  order 
that  he  might  assist  "  in  the  erection  of  mills  on  the 
Wallamette  River."  -" 

For  some  reason  no  mill  was  begun  at  the  falls  at 
this  time;  but  in  1841  Felix  Hathaway,  in  the  eni- 
phn'ment  of  the  Mission,  began  to  build  a  house  on 
the  island,  at  which  McLoughlin  again  took  alarm  and 
remonstrated  with  Waller  in  person.  At  tliis  inter- 
view Waller,  without  directly  denying  the  intention  of 
the  Mission  to  hold  the  site  at  the  falls,  quieted  the 
apprehensions  of  McLoughlin  by  stating  that  he 
had  taken  a  claim  on  the  Clackamas  River  below 
McLoughlin's  claim.  At  the  sanu>  time  Hathaway 
desisted  from   his  building  operations  on  the  island, 

'■^  MrLoHiihlin'x  Primte  Payifrt,  MS.,  Istser.  1*2. 
''■'^Hiiu'^'hi:  //Uf.,  <M). 


WALLERS   WICKEDNESS. 


205 


while  McLouglilin  liiniself  put  up  a  small  house, 
and  matters  ran  smoothly  until  the  autumn  of  1842, 
when  a  report  was  again  brought  to  McLoughlin 
that  Waller  intended  to  dispute  his  claim  at  the  falls; 
l)ut  on  speaking  to  Lee  on  the  subject,  the  superin- 
tendent assured  him  that  Waller  had  no  such  design. 

By  this  time,  liowever,  McLoughlin  had  caught 
the  drift  of  missionary  operations  in  Oregon,  and 
began  again  improving  his  claim,  having  it  surveyed 
and  laid  off  in  lots,  some  of  which  he  gave  and  some 
he  sold  to  persons  who  arrived  in  the  country  that 
season.  The  first  to  select  a  lot  in  Oregon  City,  as 
the  site  of  the  first  town  in  Oregon  was  named  by  its 
founder,  was  Stephen  H.  L.  Meek,  a  mountain  man 
who  had  desired  to  settle  in  the  Willamette  Valley. 
When  Meek  proceeded  to  select  a  spot  on  which  to 
build,  he  was  interrupted  by  Waller,  who  asserted 
that  he  claimed  thereabout  a  mile  square,  within 
which  limits  building-lots  were  at  his  sole  disposal. 

Informed  by  Meek  of  W^aller's  position,  McLough- 
lin appealed  to  Lee,  who  replied,  modifying  his  former 
denial  of  sucli  intentions  by  alleging  tiiat  he  had  only 
stated  that  he  understood  Waller  to  say  that  he  set 
up  no  claim  in  opposition  to  McLoughlin's ;  l)ut  that 
if  the  doctor's  claim  failed,  and  the  Mission  ])ut  in  no 
chum,  he  should  consider  his  right  paramount  to  that 
of  any  other;  adding  "  from  what  I  have  since  heard, 
I  am  inclined  to  think  I  did  not  understand  Mr 
Waller  correctly,  but  I  am  not  certain  it  is  so.  You 
will  here  allow  me  to  say,  that  a  citizen  of  the  United 
States  by  becoming  a  missionary  does  not  renounce 
any  civil  or  political  right.  1  cannot  control  any  man 
ill  these  matters,  tiiough  I  had  not  the  most  distant 
idea,  when  I  stationed  Mr  Waller  there,  that  he  would 
set  up  a  private  claim  to  the  land.'""' 

According  to  the  reconunendation  of  Lee,  Mc- 
TiOUijhlin  next  souuht  an  interview  with  Waller,  who 
reiterated  his  former  assertion  that  he  set  up  no  clann 

-"  Letter  of  Jason  Lee,  in  McLouijhlins  Prinitc  PajKrii,  MS.,  Ist  ser.  5,  6. 


20)5 


CLOSE  OF  THK   MKTHODIST  RK«;IMH. 


ill  opposition  to  liiiii,  but  should,  in  case  lio  withdrew, 
ho  the  next  claimant.  He  further  requested  leave  to 
keej)  })()ssession  of  some  land  he  had  cleared,  and  allow 
some  persons  to  whom  he  had  j>iven  lots  to  retain 
them;  a  proposition  to  which  McLoujj^hlin  agreinl, 
j)rovided  an  equal  amount  of  land  should  he  given  to 
him  out  of  Waller's  claim  adjoining,  to  which  Waller 
consented.  But  before  the  survey  was  completed. 
Waller  retracted,  saying,  before  two  or  three  wit- 
nesses, "  ]^o  you  keep  yours,  I  will  keep  mine."''* 
But  the  next  day  he  had  again  altered  his  mind,  and 
wished  to  make  the  exchange.  When  McLoughlin 
declined,  Waller  returning  several  times  to  the  sub- 
ject, the  doctor  at  length  paid  him  for  clearing  the 
land  in  ({uestion,  and  again  the  matter  rested.  In  this 
transaction  Lee,  thinking  the  charge  made  by  Waller 
extortionate,  appeai'cd  in  his  character  of  supei'in- 
tendent,  ami  refused  to  accept  more  than  half  the 
amount  demanded,  the  negotiations  being  conducted 
through  McLoughlin's  agent,  Hastings,  an  American 
lawyer,  who  came  to  Oregon  in  company  with  White, 
two  months  previously. 

Waller's  vacillating  course  could  only  be  explained 
upon  the  hypotliesis  that  he  was  endeavoring  to  hold 
the  falls  claim  for  tlie  Mission,  and  the  land  at  the 
Clackamas  for  himself,  and  was  unwilling  to  trust  the 
Mission  to  make  good  the  land  he  had  agreed  to  ex- 
change with  McLoughlin.  jVEeantime  the  purpose  of 
the  missionaries  was  being  develoj)ed  by  the  forma- 
tion of  the  Island  Milling  Company  in  1841,  three 
fourths  of  whose  members  belonged  to  the  M_ission, 
and  tiu^  remainer  being  settlers,  mIio  were  allowed 
to  take  that  amount  of  stock  in  order  that  it  could 
be  said  that  the  enterprise  was  a  public  one,  and  not 
a  missionary  speculation.  ]^ut  had  it  in  I'eality  been 
to  benefit  the  settlements,  a  site  thirty  or  forty  miles 

■^"Tho  witiicssi's  were  L.  W.  Hastings,  J.  M.  Hudspi'atli,  ami  Walter 
Pomerny,  iimiiigraiita  of  1842.  Crnir/ort/'-i  Mhnio)iiirii'M,  MS.,  'JO-1.  Uuds- 
])i'ath  lai  i  off  Orugou  City  as  tar  as  Eighth  street  in  tin'  autumn  ot'  1S4'J. 
Mats'  I'loiuir  Times,  MS.,  '1\. 


ABERNETHY   USES  SHORTESS. 


207 


>kl 


of 
1.1- 

-eel 

l.l 

lot 

en 

I'S 

tor 
.Is- 
4-_'. 


Up  the  valley  would  liave  been  preferable.""  In  Octo- 
ber 1842,  the  lisland  Millinijf  Company  had  erected  a 
saw-mill  on  the  island  part  of  McLou<:fhlin's  claim, 
intending  to  follow  it  as  early  as  possible  with  a 
grist-mill.^" 

McLoughlin  now  became  satisfied  that  it  was  the 
intention  of  the  missionaries  to  seize  his  land,  and 
deprive  him  of  his  rights.  Hence  to  save  his  inter- 
ests he  built  a  saw^-niill  on  the  river  bank  near  bv,  and 
gave  notice  that  a  grist-mill  would  soon  be  added. 
Indignant  at  what  they  chose  to  term  the  ai-bitrary 
proceedings  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  monopoly, 
a  petition  to  congress  was  framed.  This  was  done  by 
George  Abernethy,  who  kept  the  Mission  store  at 
Oregon  City,  and  from  notes  furnished  cliietly  by 
Robert  Shortess,^^  a  convert  of  the  Mission  before 
Lee  had  turned  his  attention  to  colonization  and  self- 
aggrandizement.  The  memorial  is  known  as  the 
Shortess  petition,  for  Abernethy  was  unwilliiug  to  have 
his  own  name  connected  with  it,  and  to  avoid  this  it  was 
copied  by  Albert  E.  Wilson,  employed  in  an  American 
trading-house  established  in  Oregon  City  in  1842."'''' 

This  petition  was  of  considerable  length,  and  set 

'■""Tliis  is  the  best  site  in  the  country  for  extensive  tl(>iiring  or  lumber 
mills.'  Fiinihatu'.H  Trnii'U,  17'-!. 

■^ Crair/onrK  Minxiomiric-i,  MS.,  '25-{5;  McCnicb'n''<  Kur'i/  Sfedntboofhi'/, 
MS.,  0.  _ 

^'  Robert  Shortess  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  l)ut  emijjrateti  fro'Vi  Missouri. 
He  arrived  in  IS.'i!)  or  1840  alone,  or  nearly  so.  I  find  liin)  writing  a  letter  to 
I>aniel  Lee  in  January  1841,  in  which  he  announces  hi.si^'„iveri!>.)n  toCiod  from 
a  state  of  gloomy  inlidelity.  He  was  a  man  of  good  attainments  and  exten- 
sive reading,  but  possessed  an  ascetic  disposition  and  extreme  party  feelings. 
Me  immediately  ailopted  the  anti-Hudson's  Bay  tone,  and  maintained  it,  as  it 
suited  his  temperament.  He  invented  the  phrase  'salmon-skin  aristocracy," 
as  applied  to  the  gentlemen  of  that  company.  (!ray,  who  thoroughly  sympa- 
thized with  his  anti-British  spirit,  says  that  he  and  many  others  shouhl  have  a 
pension  for  maintaining  the  rights  of  Americans  on  tlie  west  coast.  Shortess 
and  (Jray  represented  tiie  extreme  of  American  fanaticism.  Shortess  ili.-d  in 
1877  near  Astoria,  where  he  had  lived  as  a  recluse.  (Irnii'n  lli.it.  Or.,  '207; 
Stroilij'n  Hlxt.  Or.,  MS.,  ',\7i;  .ijijilcj/nfi'.i  I'itir.i,  .MS..  .S8;  Aslilninl,  Or.,  Tiiliwjx, 
Sept.  14,  1877;  i'rawfortl'.-i  N<tr.,  .MS.,  135;  \\'/ii/i''s  Kmiiirtilion  to  Or.,  MS., 
.1,0. 

'■^Such  is  the  statement  of  Shortess  ma<lc  to  Elwood  Evans  liy  letter  in 
1807.  Abernethy  was  afraiil  that  his  standing  with  the  *'ur  company  would 
be  injured  if  his  connection  with  the  petition  w;-.s  known.  Erniix'  UiM.  Or., 
MS.,  '2G0. 


'    f 


' 


.'IW 


CLO.se  of  THK   MKTIIODLST  UE(;LME. 


if  I 


fortli  the  luaniKT  in  wliicli  the  British  fur  company 
opposed  American  enterprises.  The  futile  \\  yeth 
iittem])t  to  estabhsli  trade  on  the  (  \)lund)ia  was  jited, 
and  the  failure  of  the  Island  Milliui.''  Comi)anv  to  drive 

... 

McLoughlin  from  the  possession  of  his  claim;  the 
millinji;'  C()nn)any  had  commenced  operations  on  the 
island  before  l)ein<if  informed  by  McLoughlin  that 
the  land  was  claimed  by  him,  so  they  aftirmed.  Mc- 
Ijoughlhi  held  a  nund)er  of  claims  in  the  Willamette 
N'alley,  and  American  settlers  feared  to  let  him  know 
they  had  taken  up  land  lest  their  su})plics  should  be 
cut  of  B<!sides,  a  house  had  been  erected  at  the  falls 
by  order  of  Mr  Slacum,  to  secure  the  claim  for  liim. 

McLouLfhlin  was  further  charjifed  with  refusinu'  to 
allow  the  fur  company's  vessels  to  become  common 
carriers  between  the  Hawaiian  Islands  and  the  Colum- 
bia River,  and  with  paying  one  Hastings,  a  lawyer,  five 
dollars  for  drawing  a  deed  of  a  lot  in  Oregon  City. 
McLoughlin  had  no  right,  they  said,  to  the  land  lie 
granted  or  sold,  and  could  not  have  any  until  congress 
gave  it  to  him.  They  also  C()mi)lained  that  United 
States  officers  of  distinction  were  entertained  at  Fort 
Vancouver  with  lavish  attentions,  and  even  a  credit 
was  granted  to  the  sub-Indian  agent,  then  in  the 
country,  furnisiiing  him  with  funds  and  supplies  to 
carry  on  his  business. 

The  real  motive  of  the  memorial  was  betrayed  in 
that  paragraph  which  comi)lained  that  when  the  mill- 
ing company  had,  witJi  much  exertit)n,  built  a  saw- 
mill at  the  falls,  McLoughlin  had  done  the  sai»ie  with 
ease ;  and  asserting  that  now  competition  had  been 
introduced  in  the  lund)er  and  Hour  trade,  their  business 
would  be  practically  worthless,  because  McLoughlin 
would  be  sure  to  undersell  them.  To  cure  these  evils 
and  others,  they  asked  congress  to  take  immediate 
action,  and  that  good  and  wholesome  laws  should  be 
enacted  for  the  territorv.'" 

■'•'  The  petition  contained  several  rtagrant  misrepresentations,  among  others 
that  when  a  cow  died,  wliicli  liud  Itoen  loaned  to  the  settlers,  they  were  re- 


THK  .S110iaE.s.S   I'KliriON. 


'JOU 


TIk'  iK'tition  was  sij^nifd  Uy  about  slxty-fivt-  ))ci's<)iis, 
half  of  tlifiii  not  liaviii*^'  Imhmi  iiiort'  than  six  months 
in  tlic  fountrv.  The  siynors  know  litth:  of  the  untler- 
hand  war  wa^ed  on  McLoujjfhHn  hy  the  niissionaries 
and  tliose  wlioni  they  contiolled  in  the  WiUainette 
Valley;  they  afiixi'd  their  names  without  caring  to 
know  the  tenor  of  the  doeument,  and  because  they 
were  asked  to  do  so.'* 

While  neither  Jason  Lee  nor  Abei-nethy  sij^ned  the 
petition,  for  whieh  they  were  ashamed  to  beconie 
responsible,  nevei'theless  their  intluenoe  was  felt. 
Shortess,  havin«»'  secured  sio-ners  enous^h  to  present  a 
respectable  showint>',  made  a  forced  voyage  to  ovei'- 
take  William  C.  Sutton,  then  on  his  way  to  the  States. 
He  came  up  with  him  at  the  Cascades,  and  delivered 
to  him  that  absurd  document  which  afterward  fi»;ured 
in  the  reports  of  congress  as  the  voice  of  the  people, 
to  the  <^reat  annoyance  of  McJjou<(hlin.     The  doctor 


(iiiircd  to  pay  for  it.  McIiOUgliliu  refers  to  tliix  statement  in  .1  ('opi/ oj' n 
Doi'inneiit,  in  TntiiK.  Or.  Pioii.  .•I.v.voc.,  1S8(),  and  says  tliat  cattle  were  sonii-- 
tinies  poisoned  l)y  eating  a  noxious  weed  that  grew  in  the  valley,  l)ut  that  no 
attempt  Wiw  ever  made  to  recover  their  value  from  the  settlers.  In  all  tlie 
statements  made,  it  was  inteiuhul  to  create  a  feeling  in  the  congressionid 
mind  that  the  British  fur  company  was  directly  and  maliciously  oppressing 
American  citizens,  and  to  gain  credit  tliemselves  for  tlie  patriotism  with 
which  these  tyrannical  measures  were  resistetl. 

Then  followed  in  a  puerile  strain  a  recital  of  injuries  indicted  upon  American 
trade  hy  the  fur  company.  An  instance  of  this  was  in  tiie  Canadian  practice 
followed  hy  McLougidin  of  having  the  wheat-measure  struck  to  settle  the 
grain  in  purchiusing  wiicat  from  the  settlers  ;  forgetting  to  stJite  that  when  it 
was  found  that  Oregon  wheat  weighed  I'l  \h».  instead* of  tJO  Uis.  per  hushel, 
a  ditierence  of  sixpence  was  nuide  in  the  price.  In  regard  to  the  charge  con- 
cerning Hastings,  they  neglected  to  state  tliat  he  was  an  American,  or  that 
the  deeds  he  drew  up  wcr^  for  lots  freely  given  to  American  citizens  ;  nor 
ilid  they  remendier  tiiat  they  liad  no  legal  claim  themselves  to  the  land  in 
Oregon.  It  was  forgotten  that  Slacum  liad  promised  the  C'anailians  that 
tiieir  rights  to  their  lands  should  lie  respected  ;  and  tliat  McLougidin  was  not 
different  from  any  other  settler,  except  tliat  they  asserted  that  lie  held  the 
Oregon  City  claim  for  the  Huilson's  Hay  Company,  and  not  for  himself,  wliich 
he  denied.  McLoiii/lilni's  Prini/c  Piijh'i-m,  MS.,  1st  ser.  30.  And  they  seemed 
to  forget  that  in  times  past  they  had  been  the  reciiiients  of  the  verj'  favors 
tiiat  tTiey  now  complained  were  liestowed  on  their  countryinen. 

''*In  a  letter  to  McLougidin,  written  1iy  L.  W.  Hastings,  the  latter  ex- 
jiresses  his  surprise  that  the  petition  slumld  have  ix^en  signed,  not  only  hy 
many  respectable  citizens,  but  by  several  of  his  party  who  arrive('  in  the  pre- 
vious autumn;  and  that  on  in(juiry  they  were  ready  to  afiirm  they  had  l)eeu 
imposed  upon,  land  that  tiiey  supposeil  tiuy  were  only  petitioning  the  United 
States  to  extend  jurisdiction  over  the  country.  McLoinjhUn'a  Friratv  Po})f !•■■<, 
MS.,  1st  ser.  ."W. 

lUsT.  UK  ,  Vol.  T.     14 


\  !| 


1    v 

III! 


fi ' : 


III 


210 


CLOSE  OF  THK   MKTHOlUsT  RK(iIMK. 


jukirossod  a  Icttoi*  to  Sliortess,  April  13,  1843,  awkiiii,' 
for  a  copy  of"  tlie  p(!tition  circulated  hy  him,  aiul 
which  ho  was  infoniicd  contained  t'harijfcs  iniuriou.s  to 
himself  and  the  com])any  he  represented,  hut  Shortoss 
refused  liis  recjuest.'''  Such  were  the  methods  hy 
which  the  memhers  of  the  Methodist  Mission  exhih- 
ited  their  hostility  to  the  man  who  had  pursued  (»ne 
uuvarvinj^  course  of  kindness  to  them  and  their  coun- 
trvn\en  for  ei<jfht  years,  with  no  other  cause  than  their 
desire  to  deitrive  him  of  a  piece  of  piopeity  which 
they  coveted.  "As  mi<»ht  well  he  imagined,"  says 
one,  "many  of  the  brethren  fell  into  temptation  after 
buffeting  Hatan  some  years  in  Ore«^on."'"' 

White  was  the  only  one  who  o[)eidy  ])rotested 
ai^ainst  this  treatment.  He  wished  to  prevent  the 
j)etition  from  heinj^  sent,  and  that  it  nu<^lit  he  partly 
deprived  of  its  force,  wrote  to  the  United  States 
commissioner  of  Indian  affairs  that  had  anv  one 
not  ccmnected  with  the  fur  company  been  at  half  the 
j)ains  and  expense  to  establish  a  claim  at  the  Willa- 
mette falls,  there  would  ha  2  been  few  to  object.'' 
Some  who  signed  the  jjotition  with  too  little  care,  or 
under  the  influence  of  its  framers,  years  afterward 
wholly  repudiated  the  sentiments  therein  contained.''"' 
The  constant  defamations  with  which  he  was  pursued 
under  the  name  of  patriotism,  for  years  after  the 
arrival  of  the  great  Methodist  reenforcement,  must 
have  warped  any  character  less  strong  and  generous 
than  McLoughlin's,  but  with  him  it  was  not  suffered 
to  change  his  settled  policy  of  benevoleu'-e  toward 
all  men,  though  it  sometimes  betrayed  him  into  exhi- 
bitions of  resentment,  or  of  helpless  protest  against 

3^6'(v»v'.s  //M^  (Jr.,  232-0;  iV/7p.s'  Jfe'/.,  Ixv.  2(>:  Ifohn-f^'  JimiUvctiou-i, 
MS.,  21.' 

»"Mm  Edwards,  in  Or.  Sketrhx,  >[S.,  23-4. 

-  Whitr'x  Ten  Yearn  in  Or.,  20()-l;  Emits'  Hixl.  Or.,  MS.,  2<J0. 

•""Says  Medoruin  Crawford:  'The  universal  svntiiiK'nt  oi  the  country  then 
and  now  is,  tliat  Dr  McLoughlin  wa.s  a  gooil  man..  .  .  that  his  lieart  was  right, 
and  tliat  he  never  did  wrong;  that  he  encouraged  society  to  a  greater  degree 
tlian  any  other  man  in  the  country.'  Mi^sfonnri'-s.  MS.,  0,  7;  J/cws'  Pioiui  r 
Times,  MS.,  20. 


JOHN  uicouD,  K.syL:iKi:. 


211 


or 


us 
'd 

li- 


eu 
It, 


tlio  tlovicos  of  liis  eiioinios.  Little  of  that  jjfraticuilo 
(lid  lie  i-eceive  which  is  the  lieurtiest  j)iaise  to  man. 
the  lioiiest  praye  •  to  heaven.  "  Nil  homiiie  terra 
pejus  int^rati*)  ereato,"  says  Ansouius.  Well  ini<i^ht  the 
se^ttlcrs  on  the  Willamette  have  proHted  by  the  juris- 
jtrudeiice  of  Lilliput  vhere  iiii»ratitude  was  a  eapital 
eriine.  Informed  of  ilie  aoeuaations  l)rouj;(ht  a«^ainst 
him  and  the  Hudson's  Hay  (\>mpany  in  the  j)etition 
of  lH4.'i,  he  exelainu'd  indij,;iiantly :  "  Heally,  really, 
the  citizens  are  themselves  the  hest  judges  if  we  did 
so  or  not,  and  1  am  certain  if  they  ar-e  so  lost  to  a 
sense  of  what  is  due  to  truth  as  to  make  such  an 
assertion,  it  is  usekss  for  me  to  say  anythinj^',"  "  J 
am  astonished,"  he  adds,  "  that  there  should  be  one 
person  in  the  country  to  say  such  a  thing  of  me.' 


'»  3!» 


The  milling  company  continued  to  make  improve- 
ments upon  the  island  })ai't  of  Mcljoughlin's  claim, 
while  Ahernochy,  Waller,  and  others  still  i-esided  on 
the  site  of  the  town.  In  the  autumn  of  1843  there 
airived  the  first  large  innnigration  overland,  of  fami- 
lies, many  of  whom  remained  at  Oregon  City  acquir- 
ing l)uilding-lots  and  making  im[)rovements.  This 
aggregation  of  peo})le  and  means  at  this  place  hi- 
creased  the  determination  of  the  missionaries  to  secure 
the  land  to  themselves,  and  alarmed  McLoughlin  still 
more  lest  tliey  should  succeed. 

Among  the  innnigrants  was  one  John  Ricord,  of 
tall,  commanding  person,  insinuating  address,  and  some 
legal  knowledge,  all  shown  off  cons])icuousl3"  by  per- 
sonal vanity.  He  signed  himself  "  Counsel  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States,"  whatever  that 
might  mean,  and  was  both  admired  and  laughed  at 
by  his  fellow-travellers. 

•"•Letter  to  L.  "W.  Hiwtiugs,  in  Prti-dte  Pnwr.<,  MS.,  1st  ser.  41.  Tliis 
brings  to  iiiiml  the  reniiirks  of  a  clerk  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  John 
Dunn,  referred  to  in  a  previous  chai)ter.  'Tlu!  patriots,'  at  Vancouver,  he 
says,  '  maintained  that  the  doctor  was  too  chivalrously  generous,  that  his 
generosity  m  as  thrown  away,  that  he  was  nurturing  a  race  of  men  who  wonld 
hy  and  by  rise  from  their  meek  and  humble  position,  as  the  grateful  ackuowl- 
eilgers  of  his  kindness,  into  tlie  bold  attitude  of  (juestionersof  his  own  autlior- 
ity  and  tlie  British  right  to  Vancouver  itself.'  Dnini's  Or    Tir.,  177. 


212 


CLOSE   OF   THE   METIIOIUST   KE(il.ME. 


{*'- 


The  question  of  legality  of  claims  at  Oregon  City 
was  every  clay  growing  more  important  to  the  con- 
testants. They  now  took  the  ground  that  McLougli- 
lin  as  a  British  subject  was  precluded  from  holding 
land  by  preemption.  Thereupon  McLoughlin  con- 
sulted Ricord  on  points  of  American  law,  l)ut  found 
him  unwilling  to  give  advice.  Not  long  after,  how- 
ever, he  visited  Vancouver  in  company  with  Jason 
Lee  and  made  a  proposition  in  writing  to  tlie  follow- 
ing eft'ect:  He  would  become  McLoughlin's  legal 
adviser,  provided  the  doctor  should  so  alter  his  pre- 
emption boundaries  as  to  exclude  the  island  part 
of  liis  claim,  on  which  had  been  erected  the  sav  and 
grist  mills  of  the  Island  Milling  Company,  concecHng 
to  them  as  much  water  as  was  necessary  for  their 
n)ills;  that  Waller  should  be  secured  in  the  ultimate 
title  to  two  lots  in  Oregon  City,  already  in  his  p(w- 
session,  and  other  lots,  not  to  exceed  five  acres,  to  be 
chosen  by  him  froui  lots  unsold ;  and  that  Jason  Lee 
should  be  in  like  manner  secured  in  the  possossioji  of 
certain  lots  in  Oregon  City  not  described  or  numbjrcd, 
to  be  held  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Mission;  all 
of  which  conditions  he  considered  necessary  to  an 
amicable  arrangement. 

For  his  services  in  attempting  to  establish  Mc- 
Loughlin's preiimption  rights,  Kicord  demanded  the 
sum  of  three  iiundred  pounds  sterling,  to  which  was 
added  the  request  tiiat  the  fact  sliould  !iot  be  made 
public  tluit  he  had  been  retained  by  McLoughlin, 
and  the  suggestion  that  some  j)ers<»n  not  directly 
connected  with  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com])any  should 
l)e  appointed  as  McLouglilin's  agent  at  Oregon  City. 
Shoidd  these  ternjs  not  be  com[)lied  with,  he  should 
]>roceed,  at  the  earliest  (.p|iortunity,  to  the  Hawaiian 
Islands.  "  These  terms  of  Hicord's,"  says  McLoughlin, 
"  ap[)eared  to  ]>ropose  an  amicable  arrar.gement,  when 
all  tiie  sacrifices  were  to  be  made  by  me."  Ten  days 
were  asked  in  which  to  consider  this  pro])osition,  at 
the  (jxpiration  of  whidi  Mcljoughlin  wrote  to  Kicord 


FURTHER  .rROPOaALS. 


>i:5 


tliat  some  of  his  proposals  were  inadmissible,  as  he 
could  not  dispossess  certain  persons  of  lots  already 
deeded,  to  give  them  to  others;  and  that  he  did 
not  see  how  he  could  accept  his  services  on  the  con- 
ditions oifered.  To  this  Ricord  replied  that  it  was 
the  only  proposal  he  could  make  in  respect  to  his 
friends  at  the  falls,  and  affecting  to  regret  the  circum- 
stance for  McLoughlin's  sake  and  the  sake  of  the 
})eace  of  the  community,  expressed  the  hope  that 
the  matter  might  be  arranged  by  an  interview  with 
Waller. 

Soon  alterward  McLoughiin  offered  to  compromise, 
by  yielding  to  tue  Mission  ei^^ht  lots  for  church  and 
school  purposes  in  Oregon  City,  to  be  chosen  out  of 
unoccupied  property,  the  Mission  to  restore  certain 
lots  held  by  them  which  we'  e  necessary  to  his  business, 
on  one  of  which  Abernethy  was  living  ;  he  offered  to 
pay  for  Abernethy's  ho  .r.e  whatever  it  should  be  ad- 
judged to  be  worth  by  iive  commissioners,  two  chosen 
by  the  Mission,  two  by  himself,  atid  the  fifth  by  the 
four.  In  addition,  he  would  allow  the  Mission  to  re- 
tain one  lot  on  which  tliey  had  built  a  store,  and  one 
on  which  Waller's  house  stood ;  these  lots  to  revert 
to  him  in  case  the  Mission  should  be  withdrawn,  by 
his  paying  for  the  improvements;  or  he  would  take 
them  and  pay  for  the  improvements,  giving  two  lots 
in  closer  pro.ximity  to  the  eight  lots  offered,  in  their 
place. 

He  proposed  also  to  permit  the  milling  company  to 
retain  possession  of  the  island  until  the  l)oundary 
question  between  the  Ignited  States  and  Great  Britain 
was  settled,  when  if  his  claim  should  be  allowed,  he 
would  purchase  their  property  on  the  island  at  the 
price  agreed  upon  by  five  connnissioners,  or  sell  them 
the  island  in  the  same  way,  the  choice  to  be  o})tionul 
with  him  which  course  to  pursue. 

The  pr()[)osal  here  given  was  made  t<»  Ricord  and 
Ijvv  at  F'ort  Vancouver,  the  latter  expressing  himself 
satisfied  with  it,  as  being  fair  and  liberal,  but  regretting 


214 


CLOSE  OK   THE    METKODlf^r   KE(aMi:. 


i*  • 


il?e-J; 


that  lio  had  no  power  tc  treat  for  Waller,  always  the 
Mission  superintendent's  most  convenient  scape-goat." 

I  would  not  present  Jason  Lee  as  a  bad  man,  or  as 
a  good  man  becoming  bad,  or  as  worse  now,  while 
tricking  his  eastern  directors  and  cheating  McLough 
hn  out  of  his  land,  than  wliile  iHeaching  at  Fort  Hall 
or  seeking  the  salvation  of  the  dying  Indian  children. 
He  was  the  self-.same  person  throughout,  and  grew 
wiser  and  better  if  anything  as  the  years  added  ex- 
j)erience  to  his  li'c.  He  was  endeavoring  to  make  the 
most  of  himself,  to  do  the  best  for  his  ccmntry,  wliether 
lalmring  in  the  fiekl  of  piety  or  patriotism;  and  if  on 
Jtbandonintf  th<^  missiouarv  work  and  enM-au'int''  in  tliat 
of  emi)ire-budding  he  fell  into  ways  ctilled  devious  by 
i)uslness  men,  it  nmst  be  attributed  to  that  s})ecious 
Hne  of  education  which  leads  to  the  a})proj)riation  of 
the  Lord's  earth  by  ministers  of  the  I^ord,  in  so  far  as 
tlie  power  is  given  them.  In  all  tilings  he  sought  to 
do  the  best,  and  he  certainly  was  doing  better  work, 
work  more  })eneficial  to  mankind,  ajid  more  praise- 
worthy, as  colonizer,  than  he  had  formerly  achieved  as 
missionary.  He  had  ])assed  through  his  five  years  of 
silence  during  wliich  time  l^ythagoras  had  Ijeen  wash- 
ing out  his  mind  and  clearing  his  brain  of  rubbish,  and 
being  now  in  a  ;)osition  to  learn  something,  lie  was- 
fast  learning  it. 

While  })reten(ling  so  nmch  conci>rn  over  what  he 
ternu'd  the  obduracy  of  Waller,  he  was  plotting  deei)ly 

*"T)io  duplicity  practisuil  in  tin,  att'aii'  of  tli(^  Oregon  City  claim,  and  other 
matters,  reflects  serifusly  on  Jason  Lee'.s  character  for  trutlifulness.  Mc- 
Longhlin  atKi  .is  that  in  tlie  summer  of  IMS  lie  spoke  to  Lee  ahout  the 
pretence  of  tlie  milling  company  tl\at  they  did  not  know  of  his  claim  wjien 
they  coinnienced  buildiiig;  and  Lei;  re))lied,  that  they  must  havt^  known  ot 
it,  as  he  had  himself  told  them  before  they  hegau  operations.  Not  long  after- 
ward, Lee  and  I'arrish  lieing  togetiier  at  Fort  Vancouver,  the  latter  at  the 
puMio  taltlc  declared  he  had  never  heard  of  the  doctor's  claim  before  the  mill 
was  begun,  when  Lee  replied,  'I  attended  your  tirst  or  second  meeting,  anil 
it  is  the  only  meeting  1  attended,  and  I  told  you  that  Mcl^oughlin  claimed  the 
island,'  This  must  iiave  bi'i.'u  rather  hard  lor  I'arrish,  wiio  was  acting  accord- 
ing to  instnietioiis;  iuit  .lason  !,ee  had  his  part  as  superintendent  to  play, 
which  wa.s  not  to  aMowliimself  to  be  implicated,  or  he  wovdd  lose  his  inthienco 
with  th.e  fur  company.  » 


WALLER   DISCLOSES   HIMSELF. 


215 


to  areomplifsh  more  than  Vraller,  as  ]iis  scori't  agent, 
ever  aimed  at.  He  had  determined  to  again  visit 
tlie  United  States,  to  secure,  if  possible,  from  tlie 
government  a  grant,  conditioned  on  the  sovereignty 
of  the  United  States,  of  c/"!  tlie  tracts  of  land  settletl 
upon  as  missions,  wliich  »'ould  include  Oregon  City, 
and  a  gift  of  $5,000  in  money  toward  the  endowment 
of  the  Oregon  Institute.^'  With  this  pur|)ose  in  view 
he  had  resiijned  the  presidencv  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  institute  in  September,  and  had  oftered  his  ser- 
vices as  a;i  agent  for  the  collection  of  money  in  the 
States,  Avith  which  to  furnish  chemical  and  other  ap})a- 
ratus  to  the  school,  an  ofl'er  gladly  accepted  by  the 
other  members  of  the  board. 

The  visit  to  Fort  Vancouver,  before  mentioned,  was 
while  he,  in  company  with  Ricord,  and  Hines  and 
family,  was  on  his  way  to  tlu;  mouth  of  the  river  to 
embark  in  the  fur  company's  bark  (/olumhia,  Captain 
Humphries,  for  the  Sandwich  Islands.  Bef(  )re  lea\  iiig 
the  Willamette  Valley,  Ricord  had  penned  a  caveat 
against  ^IcLoughlin,  in  which  he  called  Waller  his 
client,  and  in  which  ]\IcLoughlin  was  warned  that 
measures  had  been  taken  at  Washiiii^ton  to  substan- 
tiate  Waller's  claim  to  Oregon  City  as  the  actual  i)re- 
emptor  upon  six  huiulred  and  forty  acres  of  land  at 
that  place;  and  that  any  sales  which  ^IcLoughlin 
might  make  thereafter  would  be  regarded  bv  his  client 
and  the  governiiieiit  as  fraudulent. 

Waller  founded  his  claim  on  tlie  grounds  of  citizen- 
ship of  the  United  States,  prior  occuj)ancy  of  the  land, 
and  improvement.  He  denied  ^rcLoughlin'a  claim 
for  the  following  reasons:  that  he  was  an  alien,  and 
so  not  eligible;  that  he  was  officer  of  a  "foreign  cor- 
}»orate  monopoly ;"  that  he  did  not  reside  and  never  had 
resided  on  the  land;  that  wliile  h(>  picti'iided  to  lioli 
it  for  himself,  he  was  in  fact  holding  it  for  a  foreign 
corporate  body,  as  was  jirovetl  by  the  employment  of 
individuals  of  tiiat  company  as  his  agents:  and  as  no 

*'   \V/)iti's   Till    Yiiii.<  in  III-.,  l".".';    lliuis    Or.  (Iiul  Ins.,    I  .">.".. 


II 


i 


I  -! 


210 


CLOSE   OF    J  HE   METHODIST   KEIJIME. 


<•< )!'])( irate  body  in  tli'3  United  States  eould  hold  land 
]>y  {)reenipti()n,  so  no  foreign  coi-poration  could  <lo  it; 
and  lastly,  that  if"  his  claim  had  any  validity  at  all,  it 
arose  more  than  two  years  subsequent  to  Waller's. '•- 

In  addition  to  the  caveat  prepared  for  McLoughlin, 
Ricord  framed  an  address  to  the  citizens  of  Oreti^on, 
in  which  he  counselled  them  to  resist  the  a^-gressions 
of  McLoughlin,  and  talked  grandiloquently  of  the 
rights  of  his  client;  going  so  far  into  this  missionary 
enterj)rise  as  to  declare  that  he  had  read  a  correspond- 
ence, which  never  took  place,  between  McLougldin 
and  Waller,  in  wjiich  the  latter  asserts  his  rights  "in 
modest  and  firm  terms,"  offering,  however,  to  relin(|uish 
them  if  McLoUi^hlin  would  complv  "with  certain  very 
reasonable  and  just  conditions."  These  documents 
had  been  prepared,  and  left  in  the  hands  of  tlie  mis- 
sionaries, to  be  made  public  only  when  Tjee  and  Ricor<l 
were  embarked  for  the  Islands. 

It  was  on  the  3d  of  February,  1844,  that  tliev  sailed, 
and  the  caveat  was  served  on  McLoughlin  on  the  '22d. 
Lee  was  weh  informed  of  all  these  things,  wdieu  he 
earnestly  and  with  every  appearance  of  sincerity  ex- 
])resscd  the  hope  that  Waller  would  agree  to  Mc- 
Loughhn's  proposition  before  mentioned ;  he  also  drew 
a  promise  from  McLoughlin  to  take  no  measures  to  dis- 
possess the  Mission  at  the  falls  before  his  return  from 
the  United  States;  which  having  obtained,  he  de- 
parted, satisfied  tliat  he  would  return  armed  with  an 
assurance  fronj  the  government  of  the  United  vStates. 
wliich  would  bring  heavy  loss  on  McLoughlin,  and 
trium})h  to  himself  and  tlu.  Methodist  Mission.'*" 


^'^ Letter  of  Joliii  Ricord,  in  MrLoiiiililin'a  I'riraU'  p(iy<i:i,  MS.,  Lst  Her. 
17-10.  If  IK)  coi'poriite  l)()<ly  coiilii  liohl  l;in<l  li\  preemption,  liow  could  Mr 
AViillcr  liold  Oregon  City  for  tlie  Mi.ssion  ? 

*'Tlie  /'ririitc  l*ii)>tiA  of  John  Mi-ljoiujldin,  from  \\liifh  tlio  liiittory  of  tlic 
Oregon  City  claim  is  ehielly  ohtuined,  eonsist  of  several  doeumcnts,  witli  his 
comments  .".nd  e.v]il;iniitionrt.  They  are  divided  into  series,  as  they  relate  tu 
ilitferent  matters  to  tlie  settlement  of  tlie  country;  to  early  efl'orts  at  traih^ 
by  the  Americans;  to  tiie  millin;,'  company,  and  the  Ore^v^on  City  claim  in  mis- 
sionary and  afterv.unl  in  territo'-ial  time.->.  McLon^idin  was  no  writer,  in  a 
literary  .Menso;  hr.t  e\  i^ry  sentence  penned  byliim  is  endowed  witii  tliat  (piality 
which  carries  onvietion  with  it;  direct,  siniide,  ii.t.>ove  suliteriuge.     The  care 


THE  MERITS  ()K  THE  CASE. 


'2\: 


g  claims  to 


As  to  the  actual  merits  of  the  opposin 
Oregon  City,  the  facts  on  the  side  of  McLoughlin 
were  these :  The  improvements  at  the  falls  of  the 
Willamette  were  begun  in  1829  for  the  Hudson's  Bay 
(^ompany.  But  the  company  objected  to  the  location 
of  a  mill  south  of  tlie  Columbia  River,  for  the  reason 
that  in  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  (juestion  it 
would  almost  certainlv  be  found  on  the  American 
side  of  the  line ;  fin*  at  tliat  time,  and  for  many  years 
thereafter,  it  was  understood  from  the  official  an- 
nouncements of  the  British  jrovernment  that  Eny:- 
land  would  insist  only  on  the  countrv  north  of  the 
Columbia  being  conceded  to  her  in  the  future  boun- 
dary treaty,''*  and  tliat  no  claim  would  be  made  of  anv 
territory  south  of  the  Columbia,  in  Oregon. 

McLoughlin,  however,  who  had  a  fondness  foi' 
farming,  after  aureeing  to  settle  some  of  the  released 
servants  of  the  company  in  the  Willamette  Valley, 
which  he  foresaw  would  be  a  great  wheat-raising 
country,  determined  to  build  the  mill  with  his  own 
means  for  himself;  but  being  strenuously  o})posed  by 
«ome  of  his  friends  in  the  company,  he  decided  about 
1 8^58  to  relinquish  the  land  and  the  water-power  at 
the  falls  to  his  step-son,  Thomas  McKay.  He  finallv 
yielded  to  his  own  strong  inclination  in  favor  of  the 
place,  however,  and  determined  to  keep  it,  putting  up 
a  house  to  rejjlace  those  destroyed  by  the  Indians, 
and  openly  claiming  a  ])reeinption  right  to  tlie  land, 
keeping  himself  informed  ol'  the  proceedings  of  tin- 
United  States  congress  in  the  matter  of  Oregon 
lands. 

Linn's  land  bill,  which  was  suggested  by  Jason  Let^ 
himself,  had  no  clause  ])reventing  foreigners  of  any 
nation  fi(  ni  bi^coming  citizens  of  Oivgon,  but  bestowetl 


11 


with  which  letters  and  other  liistoricul  duta  wero  preservod  hy  McLoughhn 
renders  these  pajiors  of  givjit  vahic  They  wi'i  ■  furnished  hy  Mrs  Harvey  t'> 
tlie  fund  of  niatei'i'd  out  of  wliieli  tliis  iiistory  lias  hecii  made.  Without 
tlunn,  many  of  th(.'  secrets  of  ti-'"sionary  ingratitude  wmdd  never  have  come 
ti)  light;  with  them,  mueli  thav    ras  ohneure  is  made  })hiiii. 

'*  A  Copi/ oj' a  Ikiciniii'ii',  in  'J'nni.s.  Dr.  /'ioinir  Ai-ior.,  ISSO,  4'.t. 


■ 


'ff 


218 


CLOSE   OF  THE    METHODIST  liEGI.ME. 


i'.    L 


m 


on  every  white  male  inhal)itant  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land.  MeLouij^hlin  accordingly  had  that 
amount  surveyed  to  himself  in  1842,  and  although 
Linn's  bill  never  passed  the  house,  he  with  the  Amer- 
icans confidently  believed  that  this,  or  some  similar 
law,  would  follow  the  settlement  of  the  boundary  of 
Oregon,  and  he  intended  to  take  advantage  of  it. 
The  opposition  he  met  with  in  his  endeavor  to  hold 
his  claim  occasioned  increased  expenditure.  The  im- 
provements made  by  both  claimants  drew  settlers  to 
()regon  City,  and  made  it  more  valuable  as  a  town  site. 
Strictly  sjjeaking,  neither  McLoughlin  nor  Waller 
liad  any  legal  right  to  the  land  in  question.  But  in 
justice,  and  by  a  law  of  connnon  usage  among  the 
settlers  of  Oregon,  McLoughlin's  claim,  being  the 
elder,  was  the  stronger  and  the  better  claim.  His 
right  to  it  would  be  decided  by  the  future  action  of 
congress.  The  greatest  difficulty  he  ex})erienced  was 
that  of  meeting  the  untruthful  representations  made 
to  the  government,  and  the  efforts  of  his  enemies 
to  mould  ])ublic  opinion  in  Oregon.  As  liicord  has 
already  given  the  points  in  Waller's  case,  they  need 
not  be  repeated  liere. 

Lee  and  Ricord  were  within  four  days'  sail  of  Hono- 
lulu when  the  truth  was  ms-ue  known  to  McLouglilin 
I'oncerning  their  covert  proceedings.  But  that  mill 
of  the  gods  wliich  slowly  grinds  into  dust  all  human 
ambitions  lickl  Jason  Lee  between  the  upper  and  the 
nether  millstone  at  that  identical  moment,  though  he 
knew  it  not.  On  reaching  Honolulu,  and  before  he 
stepped  ashore,  he  was  met  by  Dr  Babcock  with  the 
intelligence  that  he  had  been  sui)erseded  in  the  suj)er- 
intendency  of  the  Oregon  Mission  by  th:'  Jiev.  (^eorge 
.Gary,  of  the  Black  River  conference,  New  York,  who 
was  then  on  his  way  to  Oregon  to  investigate  Lee's 
career  since  1840,  and  if  he  thought  proper,  to  close 
the  affairs  of  the  Mission.  The  reports  of  White, 
Frost,  Kone,  Richmond,  and   others  had  taken  effect, 


i»EAlH   OF  .lA.SDN   LEF. 


219 


and  an  inquiry  was  to  1)0  instituted  into  the  financial 
affairs  of  the  Mission  in  Oregon 

Wlien  Lee  left  Oregon  it  was  witli  the  intention  of 
waiting  at  the  Islands  for  a  vessel  going  to  New  York 
or  Boston,  and  with  the  exj)ectation  that  Mr  and  Mrs 
Hines  and  Jiis  little  daughter  would  aeeonii)any  him. 
He  had  been  superintendent  for  ten  3'ears,  and  just 
at  the  time  wlien  the  ])osition  seemed  most  important 
to  him  he  was  to  be  deposed.  For  a  whik^  he  was 
staggered,  but  after  the  first  revulsion  of  feeling  he 
determined  to  make  at  least  a  protest.  After  con- 
sultation with  Hines  and  l^abcock,  it  was  settled 
that  tluy  should  return  at  the  earliest  opjwrtunity  to 
( )reg()n,  and  do  v*  iiat  thiy  could  in  his  interests  there. 
Without  waiting  for  an  American  vessel,  and  leaving 
his  child,  he  hastened  on  to  Xew  York  by  the  Ha- 
waiian schoonei'  thm  Tifa,  for  Mazatlan,  and  thence 
proceeded  to  Yera  Cruz  and  to  his  destination. 

In  the  work  of  colonization  the  wav  was  oftentimes 
(litiicult,  and  seemed  at  times  exceedingly  slow,  yet  he 
could  not  V)ut  feel  that  though  the  soft  air  bites  the 
granite  never  so  gently,  the  rock  will  crund)le  beneath 
coiistant  eflbrt. 

He  felt  imeasy  at  the  thought  of  meeting  his 
Itrethren.  Surely  there  were  enough  redskins  in  the 
West  who  knew  not  God.  What  should  he  sa}'  to 
those  who  had  sent  him  forth,  when  they  should  ask 
why  he  had  not  converted  the  heathen  !*  Though  he 
miffht  wrap  himself  in  a  newlv  slain  bullock's  hide, 
after  the  maimer  of  tlu;  Scotchman,  and  lie  down 
beside  a  water-fall  or  at  the  foot  of  a  j)iecipice,  and 
there  meditate  until  the  thoughts  i-ngendered  by 
tlie  wild  surroundings  should  become  inspiration,  yet 
could  he  not  fathom  the  mvsterv  why  (lod's  ci'eatui'es, 
whom  he  had  been  sent  by  (jrod  to  instruct,  should 
MMther  and  <lie  at  his  touch  I 


**  Tii'i'titii-xcrritth  Aiiiiiiitl  Rf'port  of  iln  M-imiijirs  of  tin'  M!.s.yloii<in/  Siyli/i/ 
(if  tliv  M.  K.  C/iiiy/i,  ill  \Vliit(','<  Ttju  Y'lirs  in  <>r.,  \'A'2.  Sen  also  Ulnrs  Oni/on 
'Hht.,  -J.-io  7. 


220 


CJ.()SK  OF  THK   METHODIST  RKcilME. 


:i  f 


Lee  arrived  at  New  York  in  May,  but  what  trans- 
pired between  himself  and  the  missionary  board  is 
unknown.  He  em]>loyed  himself  durini(  the  year  in 
soliciting''  funds  for  the  Oregon  Institute,  which  he  was 
destined  never  to  see  again,  for  he  died  March  2, 
1845,  at  Lake  Memphremagog,  in  the  ])rovince  of 
Lower  Canada.  His  last  act  was  to  make  a  small 
be(juest  to  the  institution  for  which  he  was  laboring, 
and  for  the  advancement  of  education  in  tlie  countrv 
of  his  adojjtion.''" 

In  the  books  of  the  missionary  writers,  ''Jason  Lee 
of  precious  memory"  is  alluded  to  only  in  his  char- 
acter as  director  of  a  religious  mission,  no  referenci- 
ever  being  made  to  his  ])olitical  schemes.  The  reason 
is  obvious.  To  impute  to  him  all  that  belonged  to  him 
would  be  to  acknowledji'e  that  the  missionary  society 
in  New  York  was  riiifht  in  dismissinii"  him  for  mis- 
representation  of  the  requirements  of  Oregon,  and  a 
misappropriation  of  a  large  amount  of  the  funds  of 
the  society;  the^v  fore,  that  j)art  of  his  career  which 
best  illustrates  his  talents  is  left  entirely  out  of  the 
account,  and  appears  only  in  the  reports  of  congress 
and  the  ])rivate  manuscri[)ts  of  McLoughlin.  That 
he  had  tlie  ability  to  imi)ress  upon  the  Willamette 
Valley  a  character  for  religious  and  literary  aspira- 
tion, which  remains  to  this  day;  that  he  suggested  the 
manner  in  which  congress  could  promote  and  reward 
American  emigration,  at  the  saiiu;  time  craftily  keep- 
ing the  government  in  some  anxiety  concerning  the 
intentions  of  the  British  government  and  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  when  he  could  not  have  been  ignorant 
of  the  fact  that  so  far  as  the  country  south  of  the 
(^olumbia  was  concerned  there  was  nothing  to  fear; 
that  he  so  carefully  u;uarded  his  motives  as  to  leave 
even  the  sagacious  McLoughlin  in  doubt  i'(*ncerning 
them,  u])  to  the  time  he  left  Oregon — all  of  these 
taken  together  exhibit  a  combination  of  qualities  which 
"wei-e  hardly  to  be  looked  for  in  the  frank,  eusy-tem- 

*''  Hiiiis   Or.  It  III  f  fii.i/ihi/inii-^,  ].")('i, 


HONOR    TO  JASON   LKK. 


•-'•Jl 


jK'red,  but  energetic  and  devoted  missionary,  who  in 
tlic  autumn  of  I8;U  built  liis  rude  house  beside  tlie 
Willamette  River,  and  gatjiered  into  it  a  lew  sickly 
Indian  children  whose  souls  wei'e  to  be  saved  though 
they  had  not  long  to  remain  in  their  wretched  botlies. 
How  he  justified  the  change  in  himself  no  one  can  tell. 
He  certainly  saw  how  grand  a  work  it  was  to  lay  tlu^ 
foundation  of  a  new  empire  on  the  shores  of  the  Pa- 
cific, and  how  discouraging  the  prospect  of  raising  a 
doomed  race  to  a  mouientary  recognition  of  its  lost 
condition,  which  was  all  that  ever  could  be  hoped  for 
the  Indians  of  western  Oregon.  There  is  much  credit 
to  be  imputed  to  him  as  the  man  who  carried  to  suc- 
cessful completion  the  dream  of  Hall  ,J.  Kelley  and  the 
purpose  of  Ewing  Young.  The  means  by  which  these 
ends  were  attained  will  a[)i)ear  niore  fully  when  I  come 
to  deal  with  government  matters.  Taken  all  in  all, 
and  I  should  say,  Honor  to  the  memory  of  Jason  ]jee  I 

Hines  and  Babcock  retmiu'd  to  ( )regon  in  Api'il 
i>y  the  brig  ClioicniKi.^,  C^ajitain  CoucJi,  and  (lary,  the 
uvw  superintendent,  arrived  at  Oregon  (  ity  on  the 
1st  of  June,  1844.  Early  t)n  tlie  7th  of  that  month 
a  meeting  of  the  missionaries  took  j)lac(!  at  Chemeketa, 
for  the  pur])ose  of  consultation  upon  afl'aii's  of  the 
Mission,  and  an  investitjjation  l)v  (iarv.  "Such  was 
the  interest  involved,"  savs  Mr  Hines,  "that  the  in- 
vestigation  continued  until  dayliglit  th(>  next  morn- 
inii'."  The  result  of  the  conference  was  tlu;  dissolu- 
tion  of  the  Mission  ;  the  laymen  being  oflered  a  ])assage 
for  themselvt's  and  families  to  their  former  homes,  or 
its  equivalent  out  of  tlic  ])roperty  owned  by  the  Mis- 
sion, an  amount,  in  each  case,  reaching  $H()0  or  61,000. 
W.  h  one  exception  the  laymen  all  jtreferi'cd  to  remain, 
and  were  discharged,  except  T^rewer,  wlio  was  retained 
at  the  Dalles.  The  Mission  farm,  buildings,  and  cattk' 
at  Clatsop  were  ordered  to  be  sold.  The  property  of 
the  Willamette  Mission,  consisting  of  houses,  farms, 
cattle,  farm-tools,  mills,   and   goods  of  every  descri})- 


222 


CLOSK  OF  THK   MKTHOIUST   UI^JCIMK. 


tioii,  was  likewise  sold.  Maiiv  of  the  iniiiu}»iants  of 
the  previous  year  \voukl  liave  been  i»la<l  to  puieliase 
part  of  tlie  property,  bvit  tlie  missionaries  secured  li 
to  tlieinselves. 

Hamilton  Campbell  2)urchased,  on  a  long"  credit, 
all  the  Mission  herds,  and  was  then'after  known 
among  the  indignant  immigrants  as  Cow  Campbell, 
a  sobriquet  he  always  continued  to  boar.'''  George 
Abernetiiy  came  into  })ossession  of  the  Mission  store, 
and  bought  u])  at  a  discount  all  the  debts  of  tlu' 
French  settlers,  to  whom  a  considerable  amount  of 
goods  had  been  sold  on  credit.*^  In  a  similar  manner 
houses  and  farms  were  dis})osed  of  to  the  amount  of 
over  $20,000,  or  at  less  than  half  the  original  cost, 
the  sales  amounting  to  little  more  than  a  distribution 
of  the  society's  assets  amonu'  the  missit»naries. 

The  manual-labor  school  building,  which  had  cost 
the  Mission  between  $8,000  and  $10,000,  with  the 
farm  beU)nging  to  it,  and  the  mill  site,  was  sold  to 
the  trustees  of  the  Oregon  Institute  for  $4,000, 
and  that  institution  was  removed  from  the  site  first 
selected  on  Wallace  Prairie  by  Jason  Lee,  to  the 
larger  and  better  building  on  Chemeketa  plain,  wheie 
in  the  autunm  of  1844  a  school  for  white  children 
was  first  opened  by  ^Irs  Chloe  A.  C^lark  Willson, 
from  which  has  grown  the  ]Methodist  college  known 
as  the  Willamette  University/''  Soon  afterward  the 
trustees  developed  a  ])lan  for  laying  out  a  city  on 
the  land  belonging  tt)  the  institute,  which  was  ac- 
cordingly surveyed  into  lots  and  blocks,  and  named 
Salem  l)y  Leslie,  })resident  of  the  board  of  trustees. 
Here,  for   the    present,  I   leave    the   history  of  the 

*''  liiirk's  Eii/i'rpriKOi,  .MS.,  10;  LoviJoi/'-i  Porflatiil,  M.S.,  41.  ('aiiipl)ull,  ;il- 
tlioiigh  ho  aiiiassLMl  money,  was  not  respected.  He  lost  most  of  liis  property 
later  in  life  and  went  to  Arizona,  where  about  IHO.'Hie  was  murdered  l>y  a 
Me.xican  for  gold.   Portlow!  Oreijoii'mn,  July  29,  1803. 

** liolin-tx"  livvolb'cliom,  MS.',  ;W;  Mox^'  Pioni;-r  Tiwrs,  .MS.,  31;  M.  1'. 
Deady,  in  ,<>'.  /'.  IMlHin,  July  (i,  18()4. 

'"Mrs  Willson,  iir'i>  Clark,  was  horn  April  1(>,  1818,  in  the  state  of  Conneoti- 
eut,  and  educated  at  Wilhraham  Academy.  She  ilied  .Iu!U''29,  1874.  /'.  ('. 
Adivcnte,  June  30.  1874. 


WIN1)IN(;   UP  THE  Bl'.SINESS. 


Si'S 


Oroooii    In.stitute,  to    follow    Ciaiy  in  his   efforts  to 
cloHe  up  the  business  of  the  Mission. 

Gary  seems  to  have  hecome  imbued  with  the  spirit 
of  his  a(h  isers,  and  to  liave  eclipsed  his  j>re<le('es8ors 
in  rapacity.  Bt'fore  his  advent,  simie  time  in  the  month 
of  April  1844,  at  the  suj4'i;estion  of  White  indorsed  In- 
Major  Gilpin/'"'  who  had  arrived  in  the  country  the 
previous  autunm,  McLouo-hlin  was  induced  to  attempt 
once  more  to  come  to  a  final  understai  iin<;"  with  Waller, 
and  agreed  to  leave  the  matter  to  Whitt',  Gil[)in,  and 
Douj^jas  as  arbitrators  on  liis  side,  and  to  Leslie  and 
Waller  on  the  side  of  the  Mission.  After  nmch  dis- 
cussion, Wiiite  and  Gilpin  considering^  the  demands 
exorbitant,  to  settle  the  matter  McLoughlin  consented 
to  allow  the  Mission  fourteen  lots,  and  to  pay  VVallei' 
five  hundred  dollars  and  give  him  five  acres  of  land 
out  of  his  claim.  This  barfjain  would  not  have  been 
ec  summated  had  it  been  left  to  White  and  (xilpin, 
but  Douglas  thought  it  better  for  McLoughlin  "  t»j 
give  him  one  good  fever,  and  have  dov  with  it." 

But  this  was  not  the  last,  and  he  had  not  yet  done 
with  the  missionaries.  On  the  18th  of  July  Gary 
offered  to  sell  back  to  him  the  lots  he  Iiad  donate  ,  to 
the  Mission.  To  this  offer  Mc]joughlin  replied  that, 
considering  the  extortionate  manner  in  which  the  lots 
had  been  obtained,  and  the  fact  that  thev  were  those 
he  required  in  his  t)wn  business,  the  demand  upon  him 
to  pay  the  Mission  for  them  and  whatever  they  might 
ask  seemed  unreasonable;  but  if  he  could  make  an 
exchange  of  other  lots  for  those,  lie  would  do  so.  It 
was  not  land,  however,  that  the  Mission  wanted  now, 
but  money.      "  It  would  be  the  fairest  way,"  said  Mc;- 

•'"  In  liis  younger  days  '  lilpin  was  sent  to  West  Point  from  the  state  of 
])elaware,  and  belonged  to  a  regiment  of  dragoons.  He  eame  to  Oregon  with 
Fremont,  Init  not  under  orders,  for  ht^  liad  resigiie<l.  It  is  not  eertain  wlien 
lie  Meiit  away;  1  think  in  1.S44.  One  tiling  is  certain,  that  his  pretensions 
made  in  tlie  New  York  Triliiiiii'  of  March  'I'l,  1879,  where  lie  elaims  to  liavo 
organized  the  provisional  g(»vernment,  and  founded  the  town  of  Portland, 
besides  being  a  'sofa  delegate'  to  congress  from  Oregon,  are  without  any 
foundation  in  fact,  as  tlie  reatler  fif  this  history  will  perceive.  lu  1801  Gilpin 
was  appointed  first  governor  of  Colorado,  by  I'lcsideiit  Lincoln. 


\m- 


:    ii 


m  I 


234 


rLosi;  OK  THK  Ni kthodist  ki:<;imk. 


Loujj^liliii,  •"  t'oi"  you  to  t^ivti  me  bark  my  lots,  since  tlu' 
Mission  lias  im»  loiif^'cr  any  usf  for  tlu-ni,  and  lot  me 
pay  you  for  the  iinprovcnicnts.  ' 

'I\)  this  (iury  liatl  a  leady  iv})ly.  Tlu'  lots  weic 
Mission  ])i()|)erty ;  tlu'ic  were  those  who  stood  ready 
to  purchase  them;  and  lie  was  only  jj^iviui;'  tlieir  ori<jji- 
nal  owner  the  first  offer.  Six  thousand  dollars  was 
the  estimate  put  upon  the  property,  two  lots  bein^  re- 
served for  the  Methodist  ciuircji  edifice  besides;  and 
lie  would  not  consider  himself  jiled<^ed  lonjj^ei-  than  a 
day  or  two  to  take  that  amount.  Stunj;'  and  wor'^ied, 
and  suffeT'injjf  in  his  business  on  account  of  the  uncer- 
tainty of  his  position,  McLou^hlin  once  more  yielded, 
and  agreed  to  [)ay  the  six  thousand  dollars,  a  ])art  of 
it  in  the  autunm  and  the  remainder  in  ten  years,  with 
interest  amuially  at  six  [)er  cent.  Had  he  known  all 
the  insitle  history  of  the  scheme  to  de[)rive  him  of  the 
M'hole  of  the  ()regon  City  claim,  which  had  met  a 
clu'ck  in  the  dismissal  of  Jason  Lee,  lie  would  have 
thought  hin.;;;'lf  fortunate  to  rec(n\!r  and  retain  it  at 
that  price. 

The  Methociist  Missions  in  Oreu'on  were  now  closed, 
the  Dalles  stat'on  only  i)eing  occui)ied  with  the  object 
of  securiiiij;'  a  valuable  land  claim  when  congress  should 
enact  the  lon,g'-|)roinised  lan<l  law.  When  Waller  was 
no  longer  needed  to  hold  any  part  of  the  Oregon 
City  claim,  he  was  sent  to  the  Dalles,  but  the  Indians 
there  becoming  troublesome,  and  Whitman  wishing  to 
purchase  that  station,  it  was  sold  to  him;  and  Waller 
returned  to  the  Willamette  A'^alley. 

Thus  ends  the  history  of  ten  years  of  missionary 
labor,  in  whicli  nothing  was  done ''  that  ever  in  the 
least  benefited  the  lndian.s,  but  which  cost  the  mis- 
sionary society  of  the  Metln>di>^t  episcopal  church  a 
(piarter  of  a  million  of  dollars."-  As  colonists,  the 
seventy  or  eighty  persons  who  were  thrown  into  Ore- 

'^  McClane's    Firxf    Wm/nn     Tnini,    MS.,    <(,    10;    '  niirronl'.i    Jfixsioiiiirii'-i, 

MS.,  4,  r>. 

•'■  .ijiplf'ijutv'l   \'«'li:t  I,/  Hist.,    Ms.,  ■_'<.l;    Hulls'  <  )i\   It  nil  !  iistilutlOtt.'!,  222. 


RESULTS. 


S25 


j^on  by  the  Hoeiety  wvrv  jjfodd  citi/.ciis,  and  t'xorcistd 
a  wliolc'soiiu'  moral  iiitluunci",  which  fxtciidiHl  from 
missionaiy  tiiiu's  down  to  a  much  hitcr  day.  Not 
liaviiiji;'  to  struj^*;lc  for  an  existence  as  (Hd  the  early 
immigrant  settlers,  and  lu-ini;'  turnished  with  the 
means  M'ithout  any  exertion  of  thi'ir  own,  they  were 
enabled  to  found  the  first  school,  and  do  many  other 
thin<(S  for  the  im|>r<)vement  of  society,  for  which  this 
j^eiieratlon  lias  reason  to  he  j^rateful.''^ 

^ Sfrirklfiwl'i  J/m««o/ix,  144-').  Among  the  missionary  writciH  who  tiiltn 
iiii  exalted  v'„vv  of  tliu  merits  of  his  cla.ss  is  (riistavu.i  tliiieH,  horn  in  Heriiinier 
Connty,  New  York,  Septemher  1(>,  KSO'.t.  He  was  ajujoiiited  to  preaeli  liy 
the  (teneseo  conference  in  li>>V2,  and  appointed  to  the  Orej/on  Mis.sion  hy 
Hishop  Hedding  in  ISH!).  He  returned  to  New  York  in  184(),  hut  in  IH.VJ  wuh 
sent  hack  to  Oregon  hy  Hisiiop  Waugh.  During  iiis  residence  east,  hetween 
l)<4()aud  1852,  he  pul)lislied  Ids  Onijoii.  iU  lliMorii,  Conilitioii,  untl  /';(wj«r/.<, 
"  o.v'"',i."j.;/  11.  lA  .,rri]itioil  nf  (he  ijiixirnjiliil,  rliiiititr,  a  ml  pfiMliiclionx,  irith  ]"  rsoiml 
iKfirntiintt  (imoni/  titc  IikIhiiis,  atv.  liuti'alo,  l.S.")l.  'I'iiis  hook  is  not  witiiout 
some  faults  of  style,  asiiU;  from  its  verlxisity;  luit  is  in  the  main  trutliful,  its 
errors  of  statement  heing  traeeahle  to  hearsay.  Without  heing  hittirly 
|>artisan,  it  contains  allusions  wldcli  hetray  the  i»ent  of  tiie  Metiiodist  and 
American  missionary  mind  of  the  poriixl.  As  a  narrative  of  early  events  aucl 
adventures  it  is  interesting.  In  ISliS  Mr  Hines  puhlished  a  second  Iiook, 
under  the  name  of  (h-n/oii  imil  its  /ns/ifn/ians:  ( 'omjintnii/  njiitl  J/is/ori/  tif  llir 
WiWutieUv  rniri'rxitii.  New  York.  Tlds  work  is  half  deserii»tive  ami  half 
historical,  containing  in  the  latter  portion  imich  fulsome  laudation  of  the  mis- 
sionary society  and  the  founders  of  the  Willamette  University,  ahout  which 
very  full  particulars  are  given.  After  Hines'  return  to  Oregon  he  continued 
to  res'de  in  the  country  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  Decemher  !(,  187;{.  Tiiree 
year'  hefore,  March  14,  IS7<>,  his  wife,  Mrs  Lydia  Hines,  an  exemplary 
t'hristian  woman,  died  at  the  age  of  hS  years.  Porflaml  /'.  C.  Adroni/r,  Dec. 
11,  !87:i;  Siilfiii  Stiilfsniiin,  Dec.  l.S,  187:5;  IiL,  March  l(i,  1870;  Si'lnn  Wll- 
liimcUf  Fitniici;  March  lit,  1870.  Waller  returned  to  the  Willamette  Valley, 
where  he  resided  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  l)ecend)er  1872.  He  ac- 
quired riches,  and  occu])ied  honorahle  positions  in  the  Methodist  churdi 
and  Willamette  University.  IIiiicm'  Or.  iiwl  Iuk.,  27(i;  I'ortldiiil  I'.  ('.  Ailm- 
riile.  Fell.  '27,  187;{.  llev.  L.  H.  Judson  continued  to  reside  at  Salem,  where 
lie  died  March  'A,  1880.  .V.  /•'.  liidkfni,  March  22,  1880.  J.  L.  J'arrisli,  who 
was  sent  to  Clatsop  when  Frost  returned  to  the  states,  remained  on  the 
Mission  farm  until  it  was  sold,  when  he  returned  to  Salem,  where  he  con- 
tinued to  reside.  He  was  a  circuit  preacher,  and  special  Indian  agent  in 
territorial  times.  He  acquired  a  comfortahle  fortune,  and  owned  a  pleasant 
home  in  the  outskirts  of  Salem.  His  tir.st  wife,  Mrs  Eli/.aheth  I'arrish,  )i(<' 
Winn,  diecl  August  .'SO,  18()!),  soon  after  which  he  contracted  a  second  mar- 
riage. There  are  several  children  hy  hoth  unions.  \n  1878  Mr  I'arrish  fur- 
nished, for  use  ill  this  history,  his  Orfi/oii  Atirciloti-i,  a  manuscript  hook  of 
more  than  one  hundred  pages,  illustrative  of  ]>ioneer  life  and  Indian  charac- 
teristics, with  narratives  of  his  adventures  as  Indian  agent.  His  views  are, 
tliat  to  henetit  the  Indians  it  is  necessary  to  he  let  down  to  the  level  of  their 
comprehension,  and  to  learn  to  think  and  reason  from  their  stand|)oint,  Mr 
I'arrish  was  horn  in  Onomlaga  County,  New  York,  January  14,  I80G. 
IlisT.  Oil.,  Vol..  I.    10 


CHAPTER  IX. 


PROGRESS    OF    EVENTS. 

18:«)-1841. 

The  1'eoria  Party — Incidknts  of  thk  Jouuney — Farnham  Arrives  in 
Oregon— Retukn  of  McLouohlin  from  London — Dissatiskaotion 
OF  Missionaries  and  Colonists — Petiiion   to  Conuress— Belcher's 

EXPEDITION^EXTENT   OF    CANADIAN   JuRISDIirriON- -MoRE    iMMUiRANTS 

FROM  Illinois — Missionaries  LViNtinue  to  Arrive — The  Neweli. 
Party — Missionary  Hosi'italit- — Spaildincs's  Report — Wilke>  on 
THE  Coast — The  'Star  ok  Ofehon' — Overland  Ex.-loration  to 
CvLiKORNiA — Sir  George  Simpuon  at  Fort  Vancouver— IvIofi'as' 
Mission— The  Red  River  SErixERs. 


l:M 


I  HAVE  termed  Jason  Lee  a  Methodist  colonizer, 
but  he  was  in  reality  more  than  that.  His  well- 
directed  eft'orts  in  behalf  of  his  church  could  not,  in 
their  effects,  be  restricted  to  that  body.  They  were, 
in  fact,  quite  as  likely  to  fire  tlie  ima^>ination  of  the 
adventurer  as  to  stir  the  pious  zeal  of  the  sectarian, 
while  tlie  di.scussions  which  they  had  provoked  in 
congress  attracted  the  attention  of  all  classes.  The 
first  ri])p]e  of  imuiiirration  springing  from  Lee's  lec- 
tures at  Peoria  was  in  tlie  autumn  of  18.'}8.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  one  of  his  Chinook  boys,  Thomas 
Adams,  was  left  there  ill.  Tom  was  ]>roud  of  being 
an  ol)ject  of  curiosity  to  the  young  men  of  the  place, 
and  was  never  better'  ])leased  than  wht;n  suj^plemcnt- 
ing  Lee's  le- -lures  witii  one  of  his  own,  delivered  in 
broken  English  lielped  out  witli  expressive  pantomime, 
and  dilating  upon  the  grand  scenery  of  his  native 
country,  the  wcaltli  of  its  hunting-ground  v  and  the 
abundance  of  its  fi?,lu  ries.  liude  as  Tom's  (  escriptions 
were,  they  stirred  the  ardor  o(  his  hear  -rs,  and  sug- 

(220) 


ii 


FARNHAM'S  COMPANY. 


.).>7 


gested  to  certain  ambitious  young  men  the  project  of 
establishing  a  commercial  depot  at  the  mouth  of  the 
River  of  the  West. 

A  company  of  fourteen  persons  was  formed,  imm- 
berinsT  amonji:  its  members  Thomas  J.  Farnham, 
Joseph  Hohaan,  Amos  Cook,  Francis  Fletcher,  li. 
L.  Kilborne,  Sidney  Smith,  J.  Wood,  C.  Wood,  Oak- 
ley, Jourdan,  and,  later,  a  Mr  Blair.  The  necessary 
outfit  for  the  journey,  costing  each  man  about  a  hun- 
dred and  sixty  dollars,  was  h<  <  r.  secured,  and  all  being 
ready  to  start,  the  adventuious  little  band  gathered 
before  the  court-house,  wher(3  a  prayer  was  offered  in 
tlieL-  behalf  Their  motto  was  '  Oregon  or  the  Grave,' 
and  they  bore  it  aloft  upon  a  flag  ])resented  to  them  l)y 
Mrs'  Farnham,  their  ca})tain's  wife,  who  accomj)ani(Ml 
them  one  day's  march.  Their  declared  intention,  upon 
reaching  the  Columbia,  was  to  take  possession,  as 
American  (iitizens,  of  the  most  eligible  points,  and 
niake  settlements.^ 

So  now,  liaving  pledged  themselves  never  to  desert 
one  anotliei,  they  set  out  from  Peoria  about  the  lir.st 
of  Ma}'  18.'M),  and  proceeded  to  Independence,  where 
they  took  the  trail  to  Santa  Fe.  The}'^  had  not  been 
lony:  on  the  wav  before  Smith  received  a  shot  from 
his  rifle  in  drawing  it  from  the  baggage,  and  having 
previously  rendered  himself  obnoxious  to  several  of 
his  con:pa.ii  tis,  it  was  proposed  to  abandon  ium. 
The  prepofcal  was  denounced  by  Farnliam  and  some 
othexo  and  the  disagreement  thus  occasioned  cjvused 
the  breaking-up  of  the  party.  W^hen  eig'lit  wei  l;s  on 
the  journey  Farnham  resigned  the  command  ;  and  two 
oi  the  l)est  men  having  joined  some  Santa  Fe  tra  lers, 
the  company  fell  into  disorder.  At  Bent  Fort,  on  the 
Arkansas  River,  where  Farnham  arrived  the  r)th  of 
July,  the  company  disbandtMl.  Bent  Fort  is  often 
mentioned  by  early  travellers  to  Oregon.  It  was  sit- 
uated eitjhtv  miles  north  bv  east  from  Taos  in  New 
Mexico,  and  was  first  called  Fort  William,  but  soon 

^Peoria,  Itlhiols,  R:,j!.'<ti'r,  May  4,  1839. 


'J.\liS 


PKO(tllE«S  OF   E\  KNTS. 


Ill 


took  tl'c  name  of  the  tliruo  brothers  wlio  owiud  it.  It 
was  eroctetl  in  IS.'?2,  and  was  a  place  of  roiisi<leral)le 
consecjiK'iice,  heiiiuj  a  })aralleh)sjjrani  of  one  liiuuh-ed  by 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  witli  adobe  walls  several  feet 
in  thickness  and  eighteen  feet  in  hei_i>'ht,  with  a  large 
gateway  closetl  by  stn )ng  doors  of  ] )la i ik ing.  The  wall , 
which  was  surmounted  by  two  armed  bastions,  enclosed 
several  buildings,  shops,  and  a  warehouse.  The  country 
in  which  it  was  situated  being  a  dangerous  one,  about 
sixty  men  w(!re  required  to  perform  the  duties  of  the 
place,  including  that  of  guarding  the  fort  and  the 
stock  belonijins*'  to  it." 

For  uien  so  lately  swearing  such  fidcility,  this  was 
a  bad  beginning,  but  Fanduini'was  not  dislu;artened. 
On  the  nth  of  July,  the  malecontents  left  the  fort  foi' 
another  establishment  of  the  Bents,  on  Platte  Kivtir; 
and  Fandiam  with  three  sound  and  good  men,  and  one 
wounded  and  bad  one,  as  he  expressed  it,  resumed  his 
journey  to  Oregon.  Mis  comj)anions  were  Blair,  one 
of  the  Woods,  Smith,  and  a  Kentuckian  named  Kelly, 
who  was  engaged  as  guide.'* 

Smith  recovered  rapidly,  and  about  the  middle  of 
August  the  party  reached  Brown  Hole,  on  the  head 
waters  of  (Jreen  River,  where  was  St  Olair's  fort 
called  David  Crockett.  Here  Kelly's  services  ended, 
Oakley  and  Wood  determined  to  return,  being  so  p(>r- 
suaded  by  Paul  Richardson,  a  mountain  man  of  some 
notoriety,  who  gave  a  dis])iriting  account  of  the  Or-e- 
goi)  country  in  order  to  secure  Noluntcei's  for  his  own 
))ai'ty  about  to  start  for  the  Missouri  frontier.  Witli 
oidy  Smith  and  Hlair  for  companions,  and  a  Shoshone 
guide,    Farnham   pushed    on    to    Fort    Hall,   then    in 

'^  F<iriiiiiiiii\i  '/'nnili,  (>.>(). 

''  Fai'iiliaiii  ilt'Hcriln'.s  Hlair  as  an  elderly  man,  a  nieeliaiiie,  from  Missonri. 
'A  man  of  kinilur  heart  never  existed.  From  tlie  plaee  where  he  joineil  lis, 
to  ( h'egiui  'I'lTritory,  wiien  myself  or  otlK'rs  were  worn  with  fatigue  or  disease 
or  stiirvation,  he  was  always  ready  to  administer  whatever  relit  f  was  in  his 
power.  But  towards  Smitli,  in  his  helples.s  eondition,  ho  was  especially  olilig- 
ing.  He  dressed  his  wound  daily.  He  slept  m^ar  him  at  night,  and  rose  to 
supply  hi.s  Iciust  want.'  Smith  he  ealls  '  hase  in  everything  tli.it  makes  a  man 
estimuhle,' ami  says  ho  had  an  alias,  Carroll.  TriiirU,  .'U»  7,  I'-H).  In  Oregon 
Smith,  was  nickuamud  IJluhhor-mouth.  (Irnijs  Hint.  Or  ,  187. 


AMON(!    THK  PKESBYTKRIANS. 


229 


c'l large  of  C.  M.  Walker.  They  arrived  there  Sep- 
tember 1st,  and  i-einained  three  days,  after  which, 
witli  fresli  horses  and  provisions,  they  proceeded,  and 
in  tiMi  days  readied  For-t  Boise,  where  they  were 
kindly  entertained  by  Mr  Payette  of  the  Hudson's 
J^ay  Company/ 

Proceeding  thence,  an  Indian  guided  them  down 
the  west  hank  of  Snake  River  fifteen  miles,  to  some 
boiling  sj)rings;  thence  to  the -narrow  valley  of  Burnt 
iiiver,  U})  which  tlu^y  passed  through  charming  little 
nooks,  to  a  branch  of  Powder  River,  whence,  after 
resting  under  the  L(me  Tree,''  they  passed  into  (xrand 
Hoiid  Valhsy ;  and  thence  over  steep  hills  to  the  foot 
of  the  Blue  Mountains  ;  tht.n  through  a  belt  of  forest, 
along  grassy  ridges,  u])  and  down  hills  made  difficult 
by  loose  masses  of  broken  rock,  through  tracts  of 
tanuled  wood,  and  alonijf  the  face  of  cliff's  overlian<)fini>c 
mountain  torrents,  coming  at  last  to  grassy  swells, 
and  finally  to  the  long  descent  on  the  western  de- 
clivities of  the  mountains,  which  brought  tliem  to 
the  beautiful  rolling  ])Iains  at  the  head  waters  of  the 
Umatilla  and  Walla  WaUa.*  Here  Farnham  fell  in 
with  a  Cayuse  on  his  way  to  Whitman's  mission,  and 
deciding  to  accompany  him,  they  arrived  there  the 
2'.]d  day  of  September,  while  Smith  and  Blair  pro- 
ceeded to  Fort  Walla  Walla.  Blair  spent  the  winter 
at  Lapwai,  and  Smith  ol)taine<l  employment  from 
Fwing  Young  in  the  Willamette  Valley. 

After  a  pleasant  visit   at  Waiilat])U,  and  a  call  on 


*  Kiiriihiiiii  liciv  iph.sorvi'd  ;i  cart,  iiiailc  out  ot  :i  ono-horse  wi'.gon,  whicli 
rayc'tte  said  Iwul  hccu  ln'ouj^ht  tluTo  frdiii  ('omu'ctioiit  by  the  Aiiu'rioau  iiiis- 
.sioiiarius;  but  wliicli  was  in  lait  tlu!  cart  niaiU;  by  Wiiitnuiii  out  of  bin  ligbt 
wagon  ill  \S'Mt.  '  It  was  Uft  ben;,' says  Krauiiani,  '  under  tin;  belief  tluit  it 
could  not  bo  taken  tiii'oum'ii  tbe  Blue  MouutiiiiiH.  But  fortunately  for  the 
n(;.\t  that  siiall  attempt  to  cross  tlie  contini'nt,  a  safe  ami  easy  piussage  lias 
lately  been  discovered  by  which  vehicles  oi  tbe  kind  may  be  drawn  through 
to  WaUa  Walla.' 

■'  '  L'arbre  aeul '  of  tbe  French  trai)i)ers.  liiiruett  says  with  regret  that  the 
emigrants  of  I84H  cut  ilowu  this  noble  pine,   llicni,  124  "). 

''  By  comparing  Fiini/nnii's  '/'run  Is,  142  ">,  with  Burnett's  Rfcol.  of  <t  J'io- 
iiiri;  l'23-(),  it  will  be  seen  that  the  rout.s  ti'avelled  iu  18:V,I  and  1H4S  were 
identical,  with  the  diUereuce  that  for  wagon.s  it  was  necessary  in  Honu>  pKieei* 
to  make  a  ilitmir  to  a\(iid  some  narrow  ledges,  or  too  alirupt  elevations. 


Mi 


MM 


>       Hi 


!i 


'      ■■  I 


>'M) 


PKCKiRE«S  OF  EVENTS. 


Paml>riin  at  the  fort,  Fariiham  resumed  liis  journey 
to  the  Dalles,  the  1st  of  October.  He  spent  a  week 
with  Lee  and  Perkins,  and  beeanie  imbued  with  the 
prevailing  Methodist  sentiments  concerning  British 
residents.  On  the  15th,  in  company  with  Daniel 
Lee,  he  took  passage  for  Fort  Vancouver,  having 
narrowly  escaped  the  wrath  of  the  Dalles  Indians  for 
forcibly  recovering  some  of  his  property  which  had 
been  stolen/ 

At  the  Cascades  they  encountered  McLoughlin, 
lately  returned  from  England,  the  doctor  being  prob- 
ably some  distance  l)ehind  the  express  which  had 
bnmght  him  from  Canada. 

Lee  presented  his  newly  arrived  friend  to  Mc- 
Loughlin, who  straightway  invited  them  both  to  the 
fort,  where  they  arrived  late  on  that  evening,  the  18th. 
of  October.  Farnham,  who  had  been  forced  to  ex- 
change his  clotlies  for  horses,  was  amply  sup[)lied  by 
his  host,  even  to  a  dress-coat  to  appear  in  at  dinner. 
He  made  a  favorable  impression  on  the  inmates  of 
Fort  Vancouver,**  where  he  remained  till  the  21st, 
learninof  much  concerning  the  countrv  and  the  fur 
trade,  which  he  afterwards  turned  to  account  in  a 
tmmber  of  works  published  under  difi'erent  titles,  but 
contahiing  nmch  of  the  same  n)atter.^ 

'  Farnham  gives  an  account  of  liis  skirmish  with  40  In<lians,  to  olitain 
possession  of  the  leather  portions  of  his  saddle  and  hridle  which  luid  lieen 
taken  out  of  Lee's  workshop,  in  parts,  thronjih  a  window.  In  tlie  fray  the 
chief  drew  liis  pistol  and  Faruliani  his  ride,  hut  no  hlinid  was  slu'd,  thoiigli 
tho  Indians  ^^e^c  much  excited;  the  chief  refusing  to  allow  liis  nu'U  to  assist 
in  carrying  Lee  and  Farnham's  goods  to  the  canoes.  Tiieir  conduct  on  this 
occasion  wiia  the  cause  of  Lees  purchase  of  arms  and  amnunition  elsewhere 
alludeil  to.      See  Fcni/iain.i  Tniirlx,  l(il-H. 

•*  Alexander  Simpson,  a  relative  of  Sir  ( Jeorge  and  a  clerk  of  the  company, 
of  whom  Farnliam  said  some  annising  thougii  kiixlly  tilings,  descrihes  Farn- 
ham as  possessing  mucii  dry  humor,  consideraMc  intelligence,  consummate 
impudence,  and  indoinitahle  self-reliance.  'He  t. liked  grandilo((ueiitly  and 
acted  shabbily.'  Perhaps  Farnliani's  wit  had  pricked  tlie  Englishman's 
egoism. 

"His  Troi'i'lii  to  t/ir  I'nrl-//  Mounta'uiK,  from  which  I  have  (pioted,  was 
published  in  1841.  Subsecpieiitly  he  published  the  same  with  additional  mat- 
ter about  California  an<l  tlie  interior  of  the  continent,  under  tiie  following 
titles-.  I'nircls  in  llif  (Irvnt  Wi'strrn  l^rittni's,  tin'  A  iiii/inur,  nnil  Iloekji  Mauii- 
tnin.s,  iind  in  tin-  Om/nn  Tirriton/;  Pictonol  TraitLi  in  ('iilij\rnia  and  Onyon; 
TmnU  1)1  the  Calijoruiitx,  ami  Srrni.-i  in  llw,  Porijir  Onan,  Life  in  Ciili/ornia. 
He  also  wroto  the  lliatory  of  Oinjou  Tvrnlori/;   It  luinij  u  DcmomtniUon  (\f 


FARNHAM   IN  THE   WILLAMETTE. 


231 


f'i 


His  observations  in  the  Willamette  Yailey  ^^•ere 
confined,  like  those  of  Mr  Slacum,  to  the  settl(>nients. 
He  visited  a  number  of  persons  at  the  Missioti,  among 
them  Bailey,  White,  and  Leslie,  Jason  Lee  l)eing 
absent.  During  his  stay  there  several  Aniorican  citi- 
zens unconnected  with  the  Mission  consulted  him 
as  to  tlie  probability  of  the  United  States  taking 
them  under  the  protection  of  its  laws,  Thes(3  persons 
complained  that  they  were  not  protected,  that  for- 
eigneers  domineered  over  them,  drove  American  trad- 
ers from  tlie  country,  and  made  them  dependent  for 
their  clothing  and  necessaries  on  another  nationality. 
They  wanted  to  know  why  the  Uni-^ed  States  per- 
mitted these  things.  "I  could  return  )io  answer/' 
says  Farnham,  "to  these  questions,  excul})at()ry  of  this 
national  delinquency;  and  therefore  advised  them  to 
embody  their  grievances  in  a  petition,  and  forv/ard  it 
to  congress."  They  took  his  advice,  and  gave  him  a 
memorial  to  forward  to  Washini>i()n,  siuiied  bv  sixtv- 
seven  citizens  of  the  United  States,  and  persons  de- 
sirous of  beconiinyf  such.'" 

The  petition  set  fortli  that  the  signers  settled  in 
Oregon  under  tiie  belief  that  it  was  a  [lortion  of  the 
})ul)lic  domain  of  the  United  States  u[)on  w  liicli  they 
might  rely  for  the  blessings  of  free  institutions,  and 
for  armed  protection;  but  that  so  far  -is  tliey  knew, 
no  such  benefits  had  been  extended  to  them;  and 
tliat  therefore  they  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  sav- 
ages around  them,  and  of  otliers  that  would  do 
them   harm."     They   conii)lained   tliat    tliey   had    no 

///(■  'J'lflc  of  till'  Ciiifi'd  St(U('r<  of  North  America  to  thf  Sniiii;  vith  a  iiutjK  ami 
a  wofk  entitled  Mi'.iiro,  Jl.'i  <lt'oijra]iliij.  People,  timf  1  iiKtitutioiix,  ii'ith  n,  maji. 
His  geograpliy  is  .superannuated,  but  lii.s  pei>:,in:d  olwervationsareainuHiuirand 
instructive,  l>y  rea.son  of  tlujir  litt  ralnes.s  and  siuiplieit}  .  After  many  advcn- 
tnres  ho  .settletl  in  C'llifurnia,  wliere  he  died  iu   KS.Vi. 

'"  Fiini/iiiin'n  'J'riirei-i,  17.^.  NN'ilkes  say-s  th^it  Karnhani  wrote  the  niomo- 
rial  from  suggestions  furiii.shed  liiiu  liy  l*r  Hiiiley.  Wilkes,  who  aJuo  vis- 
ited Bailey,  probably  received  ids  inforniatio'i  at  first  hand,  which  r-rnders  it 
reliable.  See  Witlcex  Nar.,  iv.  .'i8S,  iu)te. 

"  In  O'nifs  Jlisl.  Or.,  the  '  otiiers  that  would  o  >  them  harm '  is  printed  in 
capitals.  As  I  havo  net  seen  the  original  of  the  uocunient  I  cannot  -^ay  if 
the  memorial  made  it  so  empliatic;  l)ut  in  either  case,  the  iiifereuce  is  clear 
tliat  tiic  Hudson's  Buy  Company  was  meant. 


Ill 


232 


PROGRKS.S  OF   E\liNTS. 


til'! 


M..i 


legal  protection  oxcuj)t  the  st;lf-('oustituted  tribunals, 
originated  by  an  ill -instructed  public  opinion,  and 
.sustained  only  b}^  force  and  arms.  They  declared 
that  the  crimes  of  theft,  murder,  and  infanticide  were 
increasing  to  an  alarming  extent,  and  they  were  them- 
selves })owerless  to  arrest  the  progress  of  crime  in 
the  territory  and  its  terrible  consequences.^'^ 

Having  made  this  appeal  on  account  of  their  help- 
less condition,  congress  was  artfully  reminded  of  the 
I'ichness  of  the  country  in  soils,  pasturage,  timber,  and 
minerals;  and  also  that  a  British  surveying  squadron 
had  been  on  the  Oregon  coast  for  two  years,  employed 
in  makhig  accurate  surveys  of  all  its  rivers,  bays,  and 
harl)ors. 

The  latter  allusion  referred  to  the  expedition  of  Sir 
Edward  Belcher,  then  Captain  Belcher,  who  com- 
manded the  English  surveying  squadron  in  the  Pacific. 
J^elcher's  attention  was  fixed  at  this  time,  however, 
not  on  Oregon,  but  on  the  liussian  possessions.  The 
attempts  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  get  a 
footing  there  had  up  to  this  period  occasioned  a 
feeling  of  hostility,  which  led  the  Russians  not  only 
to  ft)rtify  at  Stikeen,  buc  to  have  a  sloop  of  war  in 
readiness  to  repel  invasion.  The  English,  not  to  be 
behind  i2i  a  show  of  strength,  sent  the  >'(//^>//*<r  and 
the  StarliiK/  to  survev  the  Pacific  coast,  a  business 
which  occupied  the  exi)edition  from  18.H7  to  1840. 
The  only  reference  to  Oregon  in  l^dclui's  instruc- 
tions wa^  contained  in  a  single  pai-agraph.  '"  Political 
circumstances  have  invested  tne  Columbia  Biver  with 
so  nmch  importance  that  it  will  be  well  to  devote 
some  time  to  its  bar  and  chann^-ls  of  ap])roach,  as 
well  as  its  inner  anchoraires  and  shores."     The  icw 


'■^ ''^  .ere  had  not  bucii  a  murder  among  the  white  mea  since  the  killing 
of  'liiornbun;  four  years  previfms.  Thefto  of  some  snvall  articles  may  have 
oeourred,  l«iit  pniliahly  by  the  Indians.  To  charge  iuf.iuticiilo,  excej't  on  the 
Indian  w.inien,  who  also  practised  it,  was  to  create  a  scandal  aboirr  the  only 
white  'vonian  in  the  cfiuntry,  those  of  the  Mission.  VVilki  s  mentions  that 
an  ojunion  had  gone  abroad  that  vice  prevail*  d  at  Vaneonx  tr;  Irtit  lie  felt  soni- 
pelled  to  give  his  testianony  to  the  eiintrar\  that  he  saw  uu  imrttamif  ut.  which 
vice  was  tolerated  iii-aiy  degree,    Wilkes'  y-u:,  iv.  STm. 


sill  EDWAUl)  BELCH  Ell. 


Aniericans  in  Oregon  may  liave  regarded  tlio  ad\'ont 
of  this  Britisli  man-of-war  witli  suspicion,  but  tlie 
English  company  at  Fort  Vancouver  sliowed  no  ela- 
tion, nor  made  the  British  captain  more  welcome  than 
the  American  niissionai'V  or  traveller. ^'^ 

There  was  as  yet  no  reason  to  desire  governmental 
interference.  The  Americans  were  not  yet  overstep- 
ping the  boundary  fixed  in  the  British  imagination  as 
their  rightful  limits;  and  perhaps  ])ouglas  foresaw 
that  the  presence  of  a  war-vessel  would  alarm  them, 
and  lead  them  to  call  upon  their  govermnent. 

Captain  Belcher,  on  his  side,  was  outspoken  in 
his  contempt  for  the  umnilitary  appearance  of  forts 
George  and  A'^ancouver.  "No  Fort  Vancouver  ex- 
ists," he  says;  "it  is  merely  the  mercantile  post  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,"  "  And  the  cajjtain's  sneer 
was  just,  inasmucli  as  the  total  armament  of  Fort 
Vancouver  at  this  time  consisted  of  a  little  three- 
pounder/' 

Belcher,  like  Simpson,  Dumi,  and  Beaver,  blamed 
McLougliHn  ^or  encouraging  so  many  missionary  set- 
tlers.^® Indeed,  it  is  evident  that  while  tlie  Ameri- 
cans feared  British  influence,  the  English  were  no  less 
alarmed  about  Anu-rican  predominance. 

In  their  petition  to  congress  the  American  settle  rs 
also  alkm'd  that  the  British  ijovernment  had  re*  entlv 
made  a  giant  to  the  '^ur  company  of  all  the  lands 
lying  ])etween  tlie  Cohimbia  Biver  and  l^uget  Sound, 
and  that  tlie  <ompany  wen  actually  exercising  acts  of 
ownership,  opening  extensive  farms,^'  and  shipping  to 

^'  'Bfilchor,'  says  liolnji-ts,  '  tlmuglit  himself  slightud,  Ijut  I  think  I>oughw 
was  only  carrving  out  his  irih  in.'  Kerolkctionx,  MS.,  8. 

'*  Helc/i('r\'  Vni/fiije,  i.  '->i>6,  UiW, 

'"  Matf.huii'.'t  liisj'uijee,  MS.,  18. 

^■^  Bdeher'H  T'lt^riiyp,  i. 'Ji(7.  'By.*',  strange  ami  iinpardonal'lo  oxersight  ot 
the  local  otlicers,  niissionarif  froi,i  the  United  Static  were  allowod  to  take 
religious  e. large  of  the  iiopula  i>n;  and  these  artful  men  lost  no  time  in  intro- 
ducing sucli  .»  !i\iml>er  of  i,hi  ir  cfiuntrymea  a.H  reduced  tlie  iulliiencf  if  tlie 
British  settlers  to  complete  insigniticance.'   Hnufnii  Miih.  J/rnilil,  Dec.  IfvtKi. 

'"As  if  that  were  not  what  the  Americans  were  doing  on  the  south  side 
of  the  C'olumhia.  But  ah  to  tin.  government  making  j;rants,  it  couM  no  more 
ilo  so  than  the  Anieriean  government,  hetnre  the  lioumlarj-  should  lie  detiiiecl. 
The  Agricultural  Associati<  r     ■duM  not  e\en  incorporate  hcfore  tin'  crown  of 


ill! 


234 


riiocREss  OF  evp:nts. 


foreign  ports  vast  quantities  of  tlie  finest  pine  lum- 
ber.'^ 


Such  ^vas  the  memorial  for  which  Leslie,  superL  - 
tondent  of  the  Mission  pro  tem.,  and  Bailey,  an  attache 
of  the  same  institution,  were  responsible,  whatevei- 
Farnliam  had  to  do  with  drawing  it  up.  Farnham 
remained  among  the  hospitable  missionary  families  un- 
til the  middle  of  November,  when  he  rej)aired  to  Fort 
A'^aiicouver  to  wait  for  tlie  departure  of  the  company's 
vessel,  tlie  Ncra'd,  in  which  he  embarked  for  the  Sand- 
wich Islands  early  in  December.  When  he  reached 
Oahu  he  addressed  a  letter  to  the  United  States  sec- 
retary of  war,  in  which  he  informed  the  government 
that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  had  taken  upon  Iciase, 
for  a  term  of  twenty  years,  tlie  exclusive  right  to 
hunt,  trap,  and  control  bylaw  the  Russian  possessions 
in  America,  Sitka  only  excepted,  possession  to  be 
given  in  Marc] I  1840;  that  the  British  government 
had  granted  a  large  tract  of  land  to  the  English  fur 
company,  wlio  were  niaking  grants  and  sales  to  indi- 
viduals; that  the  company  wc>re  making  large  quan- 
tities of  flour  to  supply  the  Russians,  with  whom 
they  liad  a  contract  for  a  term  of  years;  were  getting 
out  lumber  for  California  and  the  Hawaiian  Islands,^'^ 
and  op(!ning  extensive  farms  in  the  Cowlitz  Valley. 
He  mentioned  the  arrival  of  the  Englisli  emigrants, 
and  stated  as  a  significaiit  fa(.'t  that  among  them  was 
a  gunner,  for  Avhoni  he  could  see  no  use,  as  the  com- 
})any  confessed  there  was  no  danger  from  the  Indians 
in  the  vicinity  of  tlieir  forts;  lie  also  alluded  to  a 
rumor  that  the  fur  company  had  cannon  buried  on 

Oreat  Britain  became  possessed  of  the  territory;  so  that  actually  tlie  Puget 
Sound  Company  was  on  ahoiit  tlie  same  basis  as  the  Methodist  Mission ;  one 
was  under  the  auspices  of  tlie  Hudson 's  Bay  Company,  .and  the  other  of  the 
Methodist  Missionary  Society,  and  neither  had  nor  c<>uld  '..ave  any  real  title 
to  the  lands  thi.'y  held. 

"*„W/(  Con;/.,  Ut  S<'H.H.,  Si'ii.  J>o<:  .'>J4;  Ovii/k  Hkf.  Of.,  lt)4-6.  The  only 
saw-mill  of  the  company  at  this  period  w;ts  tliat  above  Vancouver,  which 
tunieil  out  about  S,(XH)  feet  daily. 

'"Jn  his  letter  Farnham  says  tlie  comiiain's  iiiiU  turned  out  3,()0()  feet  of 
lumber  every  -IS  hours  instead  of  every  '2A, 


FAUNHAMS  LETTER. 


23o 


19 


n- 

iis 

a 

1)1) 


itlo 


iof 


Tongue  Point,  above  Astoria,  where  they  liad  built  a 
liouse,'*  and  referred  to  the  Enghsh  surveying  squad- 
ron, and  a  report  tliat  Captain  Belcher  liud  declared 
England's  claims  to  the  Columbia  Kiver  to  rest  upon 
priority  of  discovery.  Though  not  all  true,  tiiere  was 
nmch  in  his  comnmnication  of  interest  to  the  United 
States. 

Among  other  things,  he  stated  that  the  Canadian 
settlers  in  the  Willamette  and  Cowlitz  valleys  were 
favorable  to  the  American  claim,  and  would  yield 
willing  obedience  to  American  law — an  assertion  that 
required  modification.  The  French  Canadians  were 
l)y  nature  an  amiable,  light-hearted,  industrious,  and 
well-disposed  people,  ready  to  submit  to  authority, 
and  fond  of  a  quiet  life.  They  were  by  training  ren- 
dered obedient  to  the  officers  of  the  fur  com[)any,  and 
even  more  so  to  tiie  teachings  of  their  Catholic  priests. 
They  were  friendly  to  the  American  settlers,  an<^i 
looked  up  to  tlie  missionaries.  Tliey  had  been  prom- 
ised a  square  mile  of  land  when  the  United  States 
should  extend  jurisdiction  ovi!r  them.  So  far  they 
were  favorable  to  American  institutions;  but  should 
McLoughlin  and  their  priest  counsel  them  to  withhold 
their  support,  they  would  obey  notwithstanding  the 
ti>mptation  of  free  farms.  Such  was  the  character  of 
all  the  company's  servants  who  settled  in  the  country. ^^ 

It  was  not  tr^e  that  the  British  company  controlled 
by  law  the  Kuf.sian  possessions  in  America,  or  strove 
to  goVern  the  American  settlers  in  the  Willamette 
Valley."     By  an  act  of  parliament  the  laws  of  Cau- 

^"Mr  Birnie  had  a  potato-lield  on  T<nij,'ue  Point,  Imt  whether  simply  to 
raise  potatoes,  which  diil  not  grow  well  at  Ast<iria,  or  to  lioM  this  promontory 
for  some  otlier  purpose,  is  not  known. 

-'  'They  are  now  all  out  of  service  and  renewing  tlu^ir  endless  livi's  on  tlio 
plain.s — part  American,  part  English,  sonu;  Indian,  and  still  all  Kreneli. 
Klessiugs  on  the  Jeans,  the  Jaijues,  tile  IJaptistes,  the  .leronu!s  ! '  Poriliiiid 
"mioiiidii,  Nov.  11,  18.")4;  Or.  J'hnar  Assoc,   Trims.,  1870,  'M\. 

'-■■'Faridiam  said  in  liis  Tr<vrit,  Mi^A),  wliat  lie  did  not  venture  to  say  to 
the  secretary  of  war,  namely,  that  the  American  settlers  '  were  liahle  to  he 
arrested  for  deht  or  crime,  and  conveyed  to  the  jails  of  Canada,  arrc^sted  on 
American  territory  hy  Bri*'sh  oilieers,  tried  by  British  trihuuals,  imprisoned 
in  British  prisons,  and  liung  or  shot  by  British  executioners  ! ' 


^36 


rUCXiUliSS  OF  KVKNTS. 


atla  were  extended  over  British  subjeets  in  ihv  terri- 
tory west  of  the  ll<»cky  ^lountains,  hut  this  was  never 
enforced  so  far  as  linssians  or  Americans  were  con- 
cerned. Even  a  Canadian  could  not  he  (h'alt  witli  in 
liussian  territorv."'"'  J^nt  jealousv  of  the  CanacHan 
jurisdiction  led  the  Americans  to  a|)[)oint  as  justice  of 
the  peace  amontic  themselves,  in  1838,  J)avitl  ]jeslie. 
So  that  without  any  le^al  authority  wJiatever  Ijeslie 
was  dispensing  justice  in  tlie  Willanu^tte  N'^allcy  at 
the  verv  time  that  hi'  and  Farnham  comi)lained  tliat 
tlierewas  a  justice  of  the  peace  at  Fort  Vancouver,  in 
what  the  company  held  to  he  British  territory,  and  he 
actuallv  tried  a  British  subject  for  theft  not  lony-  after.""* 


Farnliam's  report  on  the  country  itself  was  not 
pleasin<^  to  the  colonists,  who  spoke  of  liim  with  dis- 
resj)ect  after  the  puhlication  of  his  Tratrls.-''  He  dis- 
paraged the  climate,  which  was  too  dry  in  eastern  and 
too  moist  in  western  Oregon  ;  he  found  the  forests, 
where  they  existed,  too  heavy,  and  in  other  places 
not  heavy  enough;  and  the  mouth  of  the  Colund)ia 
unfit  for  the  purposes  of  conuneree.^^  Holding  these 
opinions,  it  is  no  wonder  that  he  departed  from  the 
country  without  attempting  to  carry  out  the  pur])oses 
for  wliich  the  Peoria  company  was  formed. 

'•''  All  example  of  this  want  of  jurisdiction  in  Russian  America  was  furnished 
shortly  after  Farnham  was  in  Oregon.  McLnughlin's  son  .Joliu  was  sent  to 
Fort  Stikueii,  where  ln'  was  placed  in  charge.  But  he  was  young,  and  did 
not  know  liow  to  manage  liis  men,  oni;  of  whom  i"urdere<l  him.  When  Sir 
(ieorge  Simjjsoii  vinited  tlie  company's  posts  in  1841-2  lie  arrested  the  mur- 
derer, wlio  was  a  Canadian,  Imt  diil  not  know  how  to  hriug  the  criniiual  to 
justice,  as  neither  Canada  nor  Russia  liad  any  court  of  eiiminal  jurisdiction 
in  the  country.  He  took  the  criminal  to  Sitka,  hut  as  the  crime  w;w  not 
committed  there,  nothing  could  l)e  done  Mtth  him.  Sniipnoiln  Xai:,  ii.  18'i; 
Jhxt.  Noiihw<'fit  Const,  tiiis  series. 

'•'♦This  wa,s  in  1841.  A  canoe,  in  whirli  were  »m\w.  of  the  goods  of  Mr 
Kone's  fiimily,  was  upset  in  tiie  Willamette  River,  and  a  liox  containing  some 
of  Mrs  Kone's  clothing,  coming  a.shore,  was  picked  up  by  a  Caiuiilian,  whose 
wife,  an  Indian  woman,  appropriated  it  to  lier  own  use.  Tins  led  to  the 
•irrest  and  trial  of  tiie  responsible  party  before  tlie  missionary  judge. 

'^'  Nil<'>C  licijiKltr,  Iviii.  242.  Wilkes,  in  hx'A  J^'nrriitiiv,  iv.  ;iS8,  says  they 
were  dissatisfied  with  his  not  putting  tlie  memorial,  ami  his  letter  to  tiio  sec- 
M'tary  of  war,  into  his  hook.  Cray,  in  Jlt.'if.  Or.,  18()-7,  is  very  abusive  of  him, 
and  says  he  was  expelled  from  the  I'eoria  party,  which,  according  to  Hohuan, 
one  of  the  seceders,  is  not  true. 

■^".'rr/i  Comj.,  Sd  Svsx.,  Sm.  Dor.  JO?. 


LATE  AliUlV\,S_L.S. 


•-';17 


Four  ot'icr  iiu'ImIkts  of  the  orin'mal  |iai-tv  reached 
Fort  Vaneouver  in  the  loUowiiij;'  May,  just  when  the 
Laumnnc,  l)eariii^  tlic  reonforeeniont  of  Jason  Loe, 
touclieil  lier  lanchnu'.  These  were  Holnian,  Cook, 
Flctflier,  and  Kilhorne.  They  liad  jiroeeeded  K;isurely 
from  post  to  post  of  tlie  fni'-traders,  and  heen  coni- 
pi^led  to  winter  in  the  Hoclvy  Mountains.  When  they 
reaeJied  Fort  Vancouver  tliey  were  clad  in  skins,  hai-e- 
headed,  lieavily  hi>ardi'd,  toilworn,  and  sadly  travel- 
stained,  yet  looking''  so  hoyish  and  defiant,  that  the 
sliijj's  company  at  once  set  them  down  as  four  runa- 
ways from  homes  in  the  States.  McLou^hlin,  with  his 
usual  kind  impulse,  at  once  sent  them  to  the  dairy.-'' 
Like  Faridiam,  these  four  seemed  to  have  j^iven  up  all 
thouglit  of  tln'ir  projected  city  at  the  mouth  of  the 
rV)lund)ia,  and  weie  content  to  be  incorporated  with 
tile  settlers  of  the  Willamette.-'"* 


The  Peoria  company  were  not  the  only  adventurers 
who  made  in  1839 

'TIr'  lirst  low  wash  of  waves,  where  sodii 
Sliall  nill  a  huiiiau  sea.' 

A  second  ])arty,  eleven  in  number,  started  from  Illi- 
nois this  season,  and  followed  the  same  route  as 
the  first,  but  did  not  reacli  Oregon  as  a  party. "''     As 

-"  Ifolmitn'n  Pcoriii.  I'artii,  MS.,  1-4. 

'*■. Joseph  Holinaii  attached  himself  to  the  Mission  as  a  carpenter,  ami 
Jiiarried  in  1S4I  Miss  Almiiu  J'heips,  as  already  mentioned.  Vn  1S4."{  he  took 
a  land  claim  near  Salem,  and  farmed  it  for  (i  years.  Siihscqiieutly  he  was 
merchant,  penitentiary  commissioner,  suijcrintendent  of  tli(!  eonstruotioii  of 
tin;  state-house  at  Salem,  and  president  of  the  I'ioneer  Oil  Company  at  that 
place.  Holman  was  horn  in  1  »ovonshire,  Kngland,  in  1817,  and  emi^;  ited  to 
the  United  States  at  the  age  of  I!),  and  to  Orej^on  at  the  ago  of  'I'l.  Portlmiil. 
Went  Shore,  Nov.  KSTli;  Porliiinl.  Sluiiilnnl,  July  2,  1880.  ]loliniUi!<  J'eonn. 
Pdrtij,  MS.,  is  a,  narrative  of  the  adventures  of  the  4  young  malecontents 
who  abandoned  Faruham  on  account  of  Sidney  Smith,  and  agrees  substan- 
tially with  Farnham's  account  up  to  the  time  they  separated  at  Bent  Fort. 
Holmans  dictation  was  taken  by  S.  \.  I'larke  of  Salem  in  1878,  and  contains 
several  facts  whicli  do  not  appear  in  any  printed  authority.  Of  Holman 's 
companions,  Fletcher  settled  in  Vandiill  County,  where  he  died.  Cook  s\ir- 
vived  him  at  Lafayette,  in  that  county.     Kill>oi-no  went  to  California  in  1N4-. 

'■''•'The  name  of  one  of  tins  jiarty  has  heen  preserved,  that  of  Robert  .Moore, 
who  reached  Oregon  in  1840.  lie  was  born  in  Franklin  ( 'ounty,  IVnnsylvania, 
October  2,  1781,  of  Irish  j)arentage.  He  removed  to  .Mercer  County,  wliere 
he  married  Margaret  Clark.  They  were  the  jiarent.s  of  10  children.  Mooru 
served  in  tlie  war  of  1812;  and  i'.i  1822  emigrated  to  (ienevieve  County,  Mis* 


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238 


PROGRESS  OF  EVENTS. 


if  iiiLssionaries  were  not  likely  to  outnumber  the 
natives  in  Oregon,  the  North  Litchfield  Association 
of  Connecticut,  in  18:39,  fitted  out  two  vouncf  men  for 
that  field  of  labor.  They  were  Rev.  J.  S.  Griffin  and 
Asaliel  Hunger.  Hunger  was  already  married ;  Griffin 
found  a  young  woman  at  St  Louis  who  was  willing  to 
join  her  fortunes  with  his,  and  who  married  him  at  a 
moment's  notice,  as  seems  to  have  been  the  fashion 
with  missionaries  of  that  ])eriod.  Placing  themselves 
under  the  i)rotection  of  tlie  American  Fur  Com])any, 
they  proceeded  to  Westj)ort,  Hissouri,  where  they 
wore  joined  by  several  persons  bound  for  California.'"^ 


■si) 


if 
( I,' 


i  ^ 


souri.  He  was  a  memhor  of  tlie  lugislature  of  that  state,  ami  ailvocated  free- 
statu  iloctriiie.  In  J 835  lie  roiiiovod  to  Illinois,  wlu;re  lie  laid  out  the  town 
of  Osceola;  I)iit  l)ueoniiiig  cnd,inori'il  of  tlie  far-off  Oregon,  left  his  family 
and  sought  the  famed  Willamette  Valley.  Seh-eting  a  claim  on  the  west  side 
of  the  falls,  he  made  himself  a  home,  which  he  called  '  liobin's  Nest,'  where 
he  was  joined  liy  his  family,  and  where  he  spent  his  remaining  days, 
having  acted  well  his  part  in  the  early  history  of  the  country.  He  died 
September  1,  1S.")7.  <)r<-(joii  An/ii.i,  Sept.  l"i,  1857;  U'llb'.t'  Nm:,  U.  S.  Erylor. 
Ex.,  iv.  370;  Address  of  M.  ]'.  Deady,  in  Or.  Pioneer  Ax.tor.,  Tnuix.,  1875. 
Another  pioneer  of  this  pei'iod  was  a  Rocky  Mountain  trapper,  named  (Jeorge 
W.  Ehberts,  who  settled  in  Oregon  in  183!),  whiu'e  he  was  known  as  S(iuire 
El)..erts,  or  the  Black  Sipiire.  He  was  born  in  Bracken  County,  Kentucky, 
June  2'2,  1810.  At  the  age  of  19  he  oti(.':i"iI  with  Wm  Sublette  to  go  to 
the  mountaii's  as  a  recruit.     He  ser\  ars  in  the  American  Comjiany, 

and  3  years  in  the   Hudson's  Bay  (>  y,  leaving  the  inonntains  in  tlie 

autumn  of  1838  and  wintering  at  Lii['\v  Farnliam  describes  an  interview 

with  liim.  Seeing  a  white  man  on  the  bank  of  the  river  above  the  falls  of  tin; 
Willamette,  he  went  ashore  to  speak  to  him,  and  found  Jiini  sitting  in  a  driz- 
zling rain  by  a  large  log  tire.  He  had  already  made  one  '  improvement '  ami 
sold  it,  and  was  beginning  another.  He  could  otl'er  no  shelter,  and  took  Farn- 
liam across  the  river  to  the  log  cabin  of  William  Johnson,  which  contained  a 
firejjlaco  and  a  few  rude  articles  of  furnituie.  Ebberts  finally  settled  in  the 
Tualatin  plains,  with  several  otlier  mountain  men  who  arrived  a  year  or  two 
later,  liroirn'n  Jfi'iri-lltiiiii.s,  MS.,  '2'2.  Ahhi-rt'i'  I'rajyfx'r'n  L'/<',  a  manuscript 
narrative  of  scraps  of  mountain  adventure  and  pi<meer  life,  shows  a  man  with- 
out education,  but  full  of  good  f(.'llowshii>,  bravii,  and  frank.  Ebberts  lived  in 
the  Tualatin  plains.  William  .lohn-son,  above  mentioned,  was  a  Scotchman. 
Ho  had  Iioen  in  the  naval  service  ol  the  United  States.  Subseipiently  he 
became  a  trajiper  in  the  Hudson's  Bay  service,  and  when  his  term  e.viiireil 
settled  near  Cliampoeg,  and  took  an  Indian  wife.  By  l.er  iio  had  several 
children,  to  whom  he  gave  such  educational  advantages  as  tlie  country  atlorded. 
U'llliis'  X(ir.,  ('.  S.  ErjUfir.  Kr.,  iv.  'M\-2;  Fdrn/iaiun  TrnrdH,  173.  Johnson 
died  in  Se])temlK'r  187(). 

■''' Karniiam,  wiio  fell  in  with  these  persons  at  Fort  David  Crockett,  in 
Brown  Hole,  says  one  had  the  lofty  intention  of  conquering  California,  otiiers 
of  trading,  farming,  etc.,  on  the  lower  Columbia,  and  oth-  ^s  to  explore  the 
womlers  of  nature  on  the  shores  of  tlie  I'aeitic.  Trnirls,  1'20.  The  names  of 
this  party  were  William  (ieiger,  J.  Wright,  Peter  Liissen,  and  Doctor  Wisli- 
/enuH  and  a  (rerman  com]>anion.  A  second  party  for  California  consisted  of 
J>.  ().  Johnson,  Charles  Klein,  William  Wiggins,  and  Davi<l  D.  Dutton.     Two 


QUARRELS  AMON(;  THE  EMKiRAXTS. 


This  coiiipaiiy,  like  Farnham's,  quarrelled  l)y  the 
way.  The  inissionaiies  as  well  as  the  secular  trav- 
ellers lost  their  patience  and  good  temper,  and  even 
the  ladies  of  the  party  were  not  without  their  little 
differences.^'  From  revelations  made  hy  Gray,  and 
newspaper  articles  published  by  Griffin  several  years 
later,  we  learn  that  the  Snakes  stole  some  of  the  mis- 
sionaries' horses,  and  that  Griffin  wanted  to  leave 
Munger  and  his  wife  at  Fort  Hall,  on  this  account. 
The  animals  were  recovered,  however,  and  a  concilia- 
tion effected.  They  all  finally  reached  the  Presby- 
terian missions  in  safetv.''' 

In  1840  came  another  party  of  missionaries,  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church,  the  Rev.  Harvey  Clark,  A.  T. 
Smith,  and  P.    B.    Littlejohn,    each    with    his    wife. 

of  the  California  adventurers  turned  back  at  Fort  Hall,  no  guide  for  Califor- 
nia being  obtainable,  but  the  others  accompanied  the  missionaries  to  Oregon, 
where,  when  the  Ldiindiine  arrived  in  the  following  spring,  Ljissen,  Dutton, 
Wiggins,  Wright,  and  .John  Stevens  took  passage  for  California  and  settled 
tliere.  Soldiio  Co.  Jliil.,  4.')8;  Sonoma  Co.  Hint,.,  (51  -'2;  Sun  Jo-se  Patriot,  in 
.S^.  F.  Bulictiu,  June  5,  1879.  The  (Jermans  probably  went  overland  to  Cali- 
fornia, as  their  object  was  to  explore.  Johnson  sailed  for  the  Hawaiian 
Islands. 

^^  Fanihani's  Travth,  120. 

"Hirittin  and  wife  wintered  at  Lapwai,  an<l  Munger  and  wife  at  Waiilatpu. 
<  reiger,  who  with  Johnson  declared  they  were  sent  by  people  in  the  States 
to  take  observations  of  the  country  relative  to  immigration,  being  unable  to 
I'xplore  it  as  he  had  hoped,  consented  to  take  the  place  of  Slicpard  in  the 
Methodist  Mission  sehool,  which  he  retained  until  the  arrival  of  the  reenforce- 
inents  of  the  following  year,  wlicn  he  joined  tlie  mission  at  Waiilatpu,  but 
afterward  went  to  California.  Munger  and  wife  wintered  at  Waiilatpu  and 
(irittin  and  wife  at  Lapwai.  (rrittiu  was  a  man  lacking  in  good  judgment ;  he 
had,  moreover,  an  unkindly  disposition,  and  in  the  matter  of  religion  was 
little  less  than  a  fanatic.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1840  he  and  his  wife  set  out 
for  the  Snake  country  with  the  idea  of  establishing  a  missionary  station  and 
stock-farm.  They  were  accompanied  only  by  a  native  guide,  who  flescrted 
them  at  Salmon  River.  After  several  weeks  of  painful  travel  they  reached 
Fort  Boise,  and  were  kindly  received  by  I'ayette.  (Iriflin's  experience  hail 
•  lamped  his  ardor  for  pioneering  in  the  Snake  country,  and  he  returned  to 
Waiilatpu.  In  the  autumn  of  tlie  same  year  he  went  to  Vaiicouvei ,  remained 
tliere  as  the  company's  guest  during  the  winter,  and  in  1841,  with  Me- 
Loughliii's  assistiinee,  began  farming  on  the  Tualatin  plains.  I,,ir  and  frost'. t 
()r.,  'JIO.  Notwithstanding  the  favors  (Jrittin  reci'ived  from  the  company, 
lie  afterward  became  one  of  its  most  bitter  opponents,  partly  because  Mc- 
J.iOUglilin  had  embraceil  the  Catholic  religion.  Virtor'.-<  /I'ircr  n/  l/ir  West,  H77-8. 
Munger  remained  at  Waiilat]iu  until  near  the  middle  of  1841.  lie  was  a 
good  carpenter  and  usitfnl  to  \Vliitman;  but  about  that  time  the  latter  noticed 
that  Munger  showed  signs  of  mental  derangement,  and  fi.'aring  the  efl'eet  of 
this  on  the  natives,  he  suggested  to  the  missionary  that  he  return  to  the 
States.  Munger  starteil  with  his  wife  and  child  an*'  a  single  male  companion. 
May  13,  1841.     Finding  the  American   Fur  Company  broken  up  at  (ireeu 


in, 


i! 


.iiviiii: . 


ii 


240 


I'liUGKES.S   UF   K\ENTS. 


Thev  (lesiijned  to  sustain  themselves  iiKlei)eiidentlv' 
of  the  orders  of  any  board,  but  failed  to  find  any  fiekl 
for  their  labors,  juid  after  remaining  a  year  at  tlie 
missions  in  tlie  interior,  settled  on  the  Tualatin  plains. 
Littlejohn  returned  to  the  States  in  1845,  but  Clark 
and  Smith  subsequently  became  leading  citizens  in  the 
country.^"'  Witli  this  party  also  arrived  the  first  fanj- 
ily  of  avowed  emigrants  that  came  to  Oregon  or  the 
Pacific  coast.  It  consisted  t)f  Joel  P.  Walker,  wife, 
and  five  children,  all  of  whom  went  to  California  in 
1841,""  and  Herman  Ehrenberg,  who  had  led,  and  con- 
tinued to  lead,  an  advtsnturous  life  in  several  parts  of 
the  continent.  He  went  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands  soon 
after  reachini*-  the  Columbia  Kiver.'*' 


Kiver,  he  turned  back  to  Oregon,  and  going  to  thi!  Willuniette  Valley,  began 
working  for  tli<!  Mission  at  Salem.  Here  his  mentiil  alliietiou  grew  worse, 
until  finally  he  determined  to  work  a  miraele  to  eonvinee  the  world  of  his 
inspiration,  and  nailing  one  of  his  han<ls  to  tlie  wall  above  the  fireplace  in 
his  shop,  so  roasted  himself  in  the  fire  that  lie  died  within  three  days.  Lfc, 
'iiitl  Front'ii  Or.,  'Jll;  McLomihliii't  /'rira/i-  I'nyirs,  MS.,  ser.  2;  Axloria 
Marine  (lazettf,  .hine  \\\,  18()(i;  (Irnif.-i  IIM.  Or.,  ISo;  Siiiij>.'ioii'.-<  Xnr.,  i.   l()l. 

^^  Centennial  iiistory  of  Tualatin  Academy  and  I'acitic  University,  iu  Port- 
tdiii/  (hri/o/iiini,  Feb.  12,  1870. 

^*  Walker'had  expected  to  meet  a  companj-  of  ffirty  persons  ready  for  Ore- 
gon, but  was  disappointed.  According  to  his  A'(UT't//'(v',  MS.,  itwasthepronii.se 
of  land  held  out  in  Linii'.s  bill  whidi  caused  the  movement.  His  history  belong.s 
jji'operly  to  California,  Imt  since  lie  set  out  for  Oregon,  he  may  be  claimed  as 
its  first  regular  overland  immigrant  with  a  family.  I^le,  like  the  missionaries, 
liad  two  wagons.  Tlie  fur  company  had  thirty  carts.  The  wagons  came  as 
far  as  Fort  Hall  only.  Walker  was  born  in  (ioochlaiid  County,  Virginia,  in 
17!*7,  and  like  all  the  Western  men,  kept  moving  toward  the  border,  first  to 
Tcniii'ssee,  then  to  Missouri.  When  only  seventeen  lie  enlisted  under  Jack- 
son to  figlit  Indians  in  Alabama,  and  subse{[uently  in  the  Seminole  war  in 
Fliiriila.  In  1822,  witli  Stt!iihen  ( 'oo])e'i',  he  engaged  in  trade  with  the  Mexicans 
at  Santa  F'e,  and  tlius  bi'gau  what  afterward  became  sucii  an  important  liraiicli 
of  commerce.  Finally  he  settled  in  Sonoma  County,  California.  There  is  a 
n.anuscrijit  J\'(irrii/.irr  by  him,  in  which  he  says  little  of  Oregon,  except  that 
his  daughter  Louisa  wlio  was  liorn  at  Salem,  .biniiary  14,  1841,  was  the  first 
child  of  American  parentage  born  in  that  territory,  a  statement  whieli  is 
erroiu'otis. 

•'•'  Herman  Klirenberg  emigrated  to  the  United  States  from  (ieriuany  at  an 
early  age.  He  was  a.t  New  Orleans  wlieii  the  Texan  war  broke  out,  and  was 
one  of  Uie  few  of  tlie  New  Orleans  ( Jrays  who  surviveil  the  defeat  of  Fan- 
nin and  tiie  barbarous  massacn^  of  prisoners  after  tlie  battle  of  (Joliad.  After 
the  war  emled  he  returned  to  (Sermany,  and  induced  a  large  emigration 
of  his  countrymeu  to  Texas.  In  1840  he  was  in  St  Louis,  and  determined  to 
cross  the  continent  witli  a  party  forming  for  that  purpose.  From  Oregon  he 
went  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  and  after  wandering  for  a  few  years  in  Polyne- 
sia, went  to  California  and  joined  Fremont  in  his  etl'orts  to  free  that  country 
from  Mexican  rule.  TlieCadsden  pureliase  next  attracted  liis  restles.s  nature, 
and  in  18,")7  he  settled  near  Tubae,  and  engaged  in  silver-mining  iu  the  Santa 


THK    MOUNTAIN    MKN. 


241 


or  Ore- 
romiso 
longs 
iiud  us 
iries, 
iiiiu  as 
Ilia,  in 
st  to 
.lack- 
ill-  in 
ieaus 
i'i>  uch 
•e  is  a 
tliat 
lii-st 
u'ii  is 

at  ail 
(I  was 
Fall- 
After 
;ratioii 

ll'll   to 

^i)U  hu 
olyiic- 
miitry 
atiiri', 
Santa 


Soiue  WL'eks  after  tlie  iiiissioiiarics  had  left  Fort  Hall 
a  ooiiiicil  was  held  there  by  eertaiii  hunters  and  trap- 
pers, now  without  occupation  and  destitute  througli 
the  dissolution  of  tlie  American  Fur  ('onipany.  This 
corporation  liad  broken  up  tliat  same  year  without 
making  })rovision  of  any  kind  for  their  servants.  Most 
of  these  men  had  adopted  their  vocation  in  youth,  and 
now,  in  the  prime  of  life,  were  almost  as  poor  as  when 
they  took  to  the  mountains-  a  tact  due  ui  part  to  the 
])olicy  of  the  company,  but  in  a  large  measure  to  their 
own  improvident  habits. '"' 

As  it  was  now  absolutel}'  necessary  to  seek  the 
settlements  in  order  to  live,  seven  of  them  determined 
to  go  to  Oregon  witli  their  Indian  wives  and  chil- 
dren, about  their  <Mdy  worldly  possessions,  and  b(!gin 
life  anew.  Their  names  were  Robert  Xewell,  C.  M. 
Walker,  J.  L.  Meek,  William  Craig,  Calel)  Wilkins, 
William  M.  Doty,  and  John  Larison.  Xewell,  Meek, 
and  Wilkins  decide<l  to  make  for  the  Colund)ia  River 
i»y  the  route  discovei'ed  the  previous  year,  and  already 
spoken  of.  Xewell  had  two  wag^)ns,  which  he  had 
taken  as  payment  for  guiding  the  dark  party  from 
(xreen  River  to  Fort  Hall;'*'  Wilkes  had  another 
Avhicli  h'ld  been  left  by  Walker,  and  these  they  re- 
solved to  take  with  them.  Ermatinger  a|)proved  the 
l»lan  and  purchased  one  of  Xewell's  wagons,  which  lie 

Kita  Mountains,  Arivica,  Cerro  Coloratio,  .and  other  parts  of  Arizona.  Hi- 
was  a  civil  engineer  and  scientist  of  more  than  ordinary  ahility  and  re])iita- 
tion.  Tlie  town  of  Ehieiil)i'rg,  Yuma  County,  was  laid  out  hy  liiiii  ami 
named  after  liiin.  lie  was  killed  at  Palm  Springs  on  the  California  desert. 
l'7/;/((  ArhoiKi  Snifiiicl,  Feb.  '2'^,  ISTS. 

''"  Faniham  gives  a  pathetic  picture  of  one  of  tliese  deserted  mountain 
men,  .Foseph  L.  Meek,  wiio  afterwanl  hecaine  as  famous  in  the  Oregon  colony 
as  he  alre.idy  was  in  the  mountains.  '  Meek  was  evidently  very  poor;  he  had 
scarcely  clotliiiig  enough  to  cover  his  liody;  and  while  talking  with  us  tin- 
frosty  winds  whieli  sucked  up  tlie  valley  iiiadi^  him  shi.er  like  an  aspen  htaf. 
He  reverted  to  liis  destitute  condition,  and  complained  of  tlic  injustice  of  his 
former  employers;  the  little  remuneration  he  had  received  for  the  toils  and 
dangers  lie  iiad  endured  on  their  account,  etc — a  complaint  I  heard  from  every 
trapper  whom  I  met  on  my  journey. '   Troirli,  127  S. 

'"  AValker  says  that  the  guide  of  the  ( 'lark  party  was  named  Craig,  but  a« 
( 'raig  and  Newell  were  together  at  that  timt!,  tlie  ditf'ereiice  is  iiiiimportaiit. 
J  have  a  letter  of  NewcU's  wlueli  agrees  with  Walker  in  every  particular  but 
this. 

JIlsT.  Olt.,  Vol.,  I.      If, 


,1 

f 


ij, 


^1 


wmmm 


n 


i'KOGKESii  OF  EVENTS. 


furnished  with  liorses  and  employed  Craig  to  drive, 
tlius  l)eeoniint>'  interested  in  the  undertakiiiijf.  Meek 
was  engaged  to  drive  Newell's  remaining  wagon,  and 
Walker  drove  his  ow'n. 

Loading  the  little  train  with  their  scanty  posses- 
sions, the  party,  having  been  joined  at  the  1.' st  moment 
by  a  (xerman  named  Nicholas,  set  out  on  the  otli  of 
August,  and  despite  the  great  difficulties  of  the  road, 
reached  Waiilatpu  in  good  season,  and  with  the  frames 
of  their  wagons  intact,  though  they  had  been  forced 
to  throw  aw%ay  the  beds.^'* 

Craig  remained  in  the  upper  country  and  settled  at 
Lapwai,  while  Meek,  Newell,  and  Wilkins  proceeded 
to  the  Dalles  on  horseback,  leaving  their  wagons  to 
be  brought  on  at  the  first  opportunity.^''  Newell 
owned  a  few  poor  footsore  cows  which  had  been  left 
by  the  passing  missionaries  at  Fort  Hall,  and  these  he 
drove  with  him  toward  the  Willamette  Valley. 

They  reached  the  Dalles  on  a  Sunday,  and,  fully 
expecting  a  cordial  reception,  at  once  called  on  their 
countrymen,  Lee,  Perkins,  and  Carter.  But,  to  their 
surprise,  the  doors  were  closed  against  them,  and  no 
one  appeared  to  give  them  welcome.  They  encamped 
at  some  little  distance  from  the  Mission,  and  were 
shortly  afterward  visited  by  Carter,  who  explained 
that  he  and  his  friends  did  not  receive  visitors  on 
Sunday;  at  the  same  time  he  hospitably  invited  his 
famishing  countrymen  to  partake  of  a  meal  of  spir- 
itual food  at  the  evening  prayer-meeting.  They  went, 
inwardly  cursing  rather  than  praying,  and  amused 
themselves  with  the  antics  of  Jandreau,  a  lively 
Frenchman  wdio  accompanied  them.  This  facetious 
personage  had  no  particular  h)vc  or  reverence  for  the 
nnssionaries,  though  he  affected  to  be  suddenly  smitten 
with  an  overwdiehning  sense  of  guilt,  and  kneeling 

"  Newell's  Letter  to  E.  Emus,  Feb.  27,  1807;  Erans"  Letter  m  A,  McKinlmj, 
Dec.  27,  1880. 

^*  This  dill  not  occur  till  1842,  when  Newell  had  his  taken  to  the  Tualatin 
l)lains,  it  being  the  first  wagon  that  erossetl  the  plains  from  the  Missouri  to 
the  Pacific. 


MISSIONARY    J'UKDOMINANClv 


■J4:{ 


I"'".'/. 

Ilatin 
Iri  ti) 


down  |)()uml  fort-li  in  tones  of  deep  contrition  wliut 
the  missionaries,  in  their  iii'iioranc-e  of  the  hmiiuan'e, 
took  to  l)e  a  fervent  pi'ayer.  The  mountain  miMi. 
liowever,  reeo^nized  it  to  he  one  of  Jandivau's  camp- 
fire  storii'S,  and  impiously  minglt'd  their  coarsi\  smotli- 
ered  lauglitei'  witli  the  I'apturous  liallelujahsand  aniens 
of  the  preachers.*" 

Possibly  the  mouniain  men  would  not  have  thought 
the  missionaries  so  chui'lish  had  thev  l)etter  under- 
stood  that  the  orthodox  plan  of  settlement  in  those 
days  excluded  from  Or-egon  the  renegades  of  civiliza- 
tion from  the  liockv  ^[ountains/^  and  scarcelv  ad- 
mittcd  the  right  of  the  frontiersmen  of  the  western 
states  to  settle  in  the  Oreuon  Territorv.  Later  in  the 
history  it  will  be  seen  how  the  missionaries  succeedt'd 
in  the  struggle  to  maintain  this  pi'edominani-e/'- 

Our  unwelcome  colonists  now  drove  their  stock 
along  the  river  as  far  as  Wind  River  Mt)untain,  whei'i' 
the  natives  assisted  them  in  crossing  to  the  trail  on 
the  north  bank,  down  which  they  continued  until 
opposite  tlu  mouth  of  the  Sandy,  when  they  re- 
crossed  to  tile  south  side,  and  drove  the  cattle  through 
the  woody  nortiiern  end  of  the  Willamette  Valley  to 
the  moutii  of  the  Clackamas  below  the  Willamette 
Falls,  where  Newell  and  Meek  arrived  in  December, 
travel-worn,  wet,  hungry,  and  homeless,  and  alto- 
gether beneath  the  notice  of  the  missionaries,  who 
very  unwillingly  sold  them  a  few  i)otatoes. 

There  was  now  nothing  to  do  but  to  seek  at  Fort 
Vancouver  the  relief  denied  by  the  Americans.  They 
easily  obtained  sup])lios  from  the  fur  company,  where- 

♦•  Victor's  Jfiwr  of  the  Wext,  282-3  ;  Port  lam  f  Hemld,  March  .S,  1867. 

*'  Petition  of  JS.IS,  in  .J.'>/h  Con;/.,  ..'«/  Si-.-'s.,  11.  Siqit.  Rfyt.  101. 

^'■'It  Wdulil  not  l>e  fair  to  iussunie  tliat  ovory  individual  belonging  to  the 
Methodist  Mission  was  selfishly  inditferent  to  all  other  classes  ;  hut  tliat  tlie 
missionaries  iis  a  body  entertained  and  iiractised  exclusive  senti.neiits,  I  ha\  e 
already  shown  from  documentary  evit fence.  There  is  much  ad<litioiiaI  evi- 
dence in  tlie  statements  of  the  western  piMiple  who  came  across  the  plains  ; 
some  in  long  anecdotes,  others  in  terse  sentences.  See  more  jiarticularly 
Waldo'n  CntiifKi-.t,  MS.,  1,");  Wiilkrr'x  X<ii\,  MS.,  Hi,  17;  A[iiito'.'<  rJiirli/  D(ii/.i, 
MS.,  2i>-«) ;  .l/or.i('.i  W(t.'<li.  Ti'i-.,  i.  00-1  ;  >fesmith's  Address,  in  Or.  /'loiieer 
Aimc,  Tninx.,  1880,  19-22. 


k  i 


^ 


(.,., 


rr" 


at'i 


V: 


L'44 


IMlOilKKSS   (II'    KVKNTS, 


upon  tliey  crossed  to  the  west  side  of  the  AVillamette 
River,  and  drivhi}.''  tiieir  cattle  t!ir<)njj;"li  storm  and 
niiri^  to  the  Tualatin  ])lains,  there  selei^ted  farms,  and 
erected  cabins  for  their  famiHes.  Th(!y  M'ei-e  joined 
soon  after  hy  the  otht^r  mountain  men,  Doty,  Walkei', 
Wilkins,  Ebberts,  and  l^arison,  formin>ij,  with  tlic  in- 
dependent Presbyterian  missionaries,  (TT'ittin.  Clark, 
Smith,  and  ijittlejohn,  with  their  families,  a  I'ival  set- 
tlement to  that  on  Chemck(>,ta  plain/' 

There  was  an  arrival  l)y  sea  in  IS 40  of  an  Ameri- 
can vessel,  the  Maryl(in<h  bclonginj^  to  the  ( 'ushings 
of  Newbuiyport,  with  wliom  Jason  Lee  was  in  cor- 
i-espontlence  the  [irevious  year.      The  Maryland  was 


'■'Riibcrt  Nowoll  was  born  near  Zauo.svilU',  Ohio,  .March  30,  1807.  His 
father  i'i'iii(>ve<l  to  ( 'iiiciiiiiati  when  ho  was  a  lad,  and  apprenticccl  him  to  awad- 
<ller.  The  deatli  of  liis  father  loft  him  his  own  master  when  abont  eighteen, 
anil  to  gratify  a  htve  of  adventnro,  lie  engaged  with  Smith,  Sublette,  and 
Jackson,  to  trap  beaver  in  the  Rooky  Mountains.  With  little  education,  but 
fair  talants  and  good  principles,  lie  oontrivod  not  to  be  rained  by  the  lawless 
associations  which  were  fatal  to  so  many.  For  some  trifling  surgical  perform- 
ances in  the  mountains  he  recoiveil  tiie  title  of  doctor,  whicli  he  always  ri'- 
tainod.  Applegate  says  of  him:  'Ho  was  bravo  among  the  bra- 'est,  mirthful 
without  being  undigniiied,  prudent  and  sensible,  and  of  unipiestioned  vo- 
i-aoity.'  He  is  widl  sjiokon  of  by  Evans,  in  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  .'Uli-.S;  by  Ebberts, 
i'.i  his  Trappcr'.i  hifv,  MS.,  120;  by  Burnett,  in  his  llcmWrlioiis,  MS.,  i.  11"), 
l.'VJ  4,  and  by  other  authorities.  AN'hile  in  tiie  mountains  he  took  to  wife 
a  Nez  Perce,  but  in  184(1  he  uuirried  !'''ss  llebeoca  Newman,  of  Marion 
County,  Oregon.  His  connection  with  ti^  (arly  history  of  the  country  was 
honorable.  In  1807  he  removed  to  Ijowistou,  Idaho,  where  he  died  Novem- 
l)or  14,  lS()!t. 

.losepli  Jj.  Meek  was  a  native  of  Wiushington  County,  Virginia,  born  in 
1810.  His  nn)ther's  name  was  Walker,  of  tiie  same  family  as  tile  wife  of 
I'resident  I'olk.  .Meek,  however,  grew  up  without  education  on  a  Virginia 
plantation,  and  lieing  troubled  because  his  fathi>r  contractoil  a  socond  mar- 
riage, ran  away  and  joined  Sublette  at  the  sann^  time  with  Newell  and 
Ebberts.  The  friendship  formed  between  the  two  young  adventurers  lasted 
through  their  lives,  and  Meek,  M'ho  ontlivotl  Newell  several  years,  sincerely 
mourned  him.  Unlike  Newell,  Meek  was  o.xcessivoly  frolicsome,  and  enjoyed 
shocking  sedate  people.  While  uiidoubtccUy  brave  and  magnanimous,  ho 
missed  much  of  the  consideration  riNilly  clue  his  exi>loits,  through  his  habit 
of  making  light  of  everything,  iiuluding  his  own  feelings  and  ■iv.'^s.  Ho 
jiossessed  a  splendid  physiiiue,  a  magnetic  presenco,  wit,  courtesy,  and  gen 
orosity.  His  wife  was  a  Nez  Perci\  who  outliveil  him.  He  died  Juno  '20, 
187").  I'ir/or'.'i  U'wrr  of  the  Wi.st,  41~.S;  Jiiini('U\f  Her.  of  n,  Pioneer,  ir)7  <il, 
173  4;  Jlili<horoIii(lei>eiident,  Juno  '24,  187');  S.  I<\  Coll,  July  23,  187');  S.  F. 
l'o.-<t,  Juno  2'2,  1875;  I'ortlntul  Orei/onidii,  Juno  '24,  187");  Or.  Pioneer  yl .f.voc. , 
Trnn-f.,  1870.  William  M.  Doty  <lied  .luiie  1872.  0.  M.  Walker  8e\ tied  on 
the  Nestucoa  River  in  Tillamook  ('ounty.  Or.  /'ioneer  A-iine.,  Trnnn.,  1880, 
58.  Ebliorts  mentions  .John  Kornard,  \V.  H.  (Jraves,  and  one  Severn  as  being 
ill  Oregon  at  this  time,  and  (fray  mentions  Ueorge  W^ilkiiisoii  and  a  man 
nani'^d  Altgoier.   Jfi.sf.  Or.,  102. 


MISKKI'UKSKNTATIONS  TO  fONOKESS. 

coiniiiaiuled   by  John   H.  Couoli,  wlio  rainc  to  t'staU- 
lish  u  tislRTV  on  tlio  f\)lnnibia." 

The  petition  of  the  colonists  for\vai(le<l  to  congress 
hy  Farnhani  in  the  winter  of  188!)- 40  was  followed 
hy  a  report  from  Captain  SjtanldinL;'  of  the  fMUsaimr, 
in  which  the  British  fnr  company  was  charged  with 
avarice,  cruelty,  despotism,  and  had  goxi'mment,  in 
terms  even  more  violent  and  exauiicrated  than  Farn- 
ham  had  ventured  to  use.*'" 

Such  grave  accusations,  made  so  holdly  and  re- 
peatedly, at  length  stirred  the  governmei)t  to  sonu; 
show  of  action.  The  secretary  of  war  could  not  he  ex- 
l)ected  to  know  that  the  patriotic  Sj)aul(ling  s[)oke  oidy 
from  hearsay,  or  that  all  tliese  connnunications  drew 
their  aspiration  from  the  same  source,  the  Methodist 
Missions.  The  result  was,  therefore,  that  instructions 
were  despatched  to  the  connnander  of  the  United 
States  exploring  .stjuadron  in  the  Pacific  to  visit  the 
Columbia  River,  and  ascertain  how  nmch  ground  i-eally 
existed  for  the  complaints  so  frequently  made  to  con- 
gress concerning  the  hardshi])s  ini})osed  by  a  foreign 
corporation  u])on  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

*'  McLoKii/iliii'i  PriviiU-  J^djifi-.i,  MS.,  2(1  ser.  7;  A'-''  niid  Frost'-'i  Or.,  272-H. 
( 'ouch  was  uusiiceeasful  in  this  uiidtTtakiug,  and  after  having  sohl  his  vessol 
at  the  Hawaiian  Ishinds,  returned  to  Newhuryport,  leaving  iu  Oregon  (Jeorge 
W .  Le  Breton,  a  young  man  of  intelligence  and  respectahility,  who  settled  at 
tiie  falls  of  the  Willamette,  and  attached  himself  to  the  anti-Hudson's  Bay 
or  American  Missionary  party.  Having  learned  the  condition  of  trade  in 
Oregon  and  its  requirements,  Couch  returned  there  in  1842  with  a  new 
))rig,  the  ('/leinnniis,  named  after  a  Chinook  ciiief  living  opposite  Astoria,  and 
leaving  a  stock  of  goods  at  Oregon  City  in  charge  of  .Vlhert  K.  Wilson,  who 
came  out  in  tiie  C/ifiiiiiiius,  ami  \a>  lireton.  employed  his  vessel  in  trade  witli 
the  Sandwicli  Islands,  as  hail  lueii  arranged  in  the  informal  treaty  hetween 
.Jason  Lee  and  King  Kameiiameha  111.;  tiie  wliole  liusiness  l)eing  under  tlie 
name  and  auspices  of  Cushing  it  Co.  Conch  coiitiniU'd  to  numage  the  busi- 
ness of  Cushing  &  Co.  until  1847,  wlien  he  returned  to  Newhuryport  hy  way 
of  China.  In  tlie  following  year  he  engaged  with  a  company  of  New  York 
shipping  merchants  to  take  a  cargo  of  gooils  to  Oregon  in  tlie  bark  Mui/oiiiin. 
Captain  Flanders  sailed  witli  him  as  first  oHicer,  and  took  comnuind  of  the 
Madonna  on  reaching  Oregon,  while  Ccmch  took  charge  of  the  cargo,  whicii 
was  placed  in  store  and  sold  in  Portland.  Tlie  two  captains  went  into  Imsi- 
ness  together  in  1850,  and  remained  at  Portland  up  to  the  death  of  Coucli, 
April  181)9.  Besides  his  hiisiness,  Couch  owned  a  laml  claim  which  proved  a 
source  of  wealth,  being  now  a  part  of  the  city  of  Portland.  His  wife  and 
family  came  from  Massachusetts  by  sea  in  1852.  His  children  were  all 
daaghters,  and  the  three  elder  married  I)r  Wilson,  C.  H.  Lewis,  merchant, 
•md  Dr  (Jlisan,  all  prominent  citizens.  •'5'.  /'.  Bitlktin.  May  I    18(31). 

*'//.  R^yt.,  .'7th  Conij.,  ..^/ .Vc.s.-*.,  5«-lil. 


m 


IfTT 


1 1 


3 1' 


246 


rum; liEiS.S   UK    KVKNTS. 


TIk!  liistory  of  tln^  I'liitcd  States  ('Xploriii<;f  fxpt'di- 
tioii  under  Lieut  'nant  Wilkes  is  ofiveii  in  fumtlier 
volume.  It  is  only  neeessnry  to  say  lieiv  that  tlie 
colonists  were  not  well  pleased  with  its  ri'sult.  They 
complained  that  Wilkes  was  entertained  with  marks 
of  distinijuished  consideration  hv  the  officers  of  the 
fur  company,  and  that  he  did  not  see  affairs  as  th(^ 
colonists  saw  them  ;  and  wlu'n  the  navi<>^ator  declared 
openly  that  there  was  no  ur^vnt  nt;cessity  foi-  the  in- 
terference of  the  United  Staters  nrovernment  so  louj^^  as 
they  enjoyed  their  present  peace,  j)ros])erity,  and  com- 
fort, the  settler's  were  disu^usted.  He  visited,  the  set- 
tlers aver-red,  the  American  settlements  west  of  thi^ 
Cascade  ^[()untuins,  and  other'  of  his  officers  the  in- 
ferior missions,  without  discover'irii>'  the  cavils  which 
formed  the  subject  of  so  many  |)etitions  and  reports. 

It  seems  strarin'c  that  since  Jasi^n  Lee  was  at  the 
head  of  affair-s  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  he  should 
only  have  met  Wilkes  l>y  accident,  when  the  latter* 
stunihled  u})orr  his  camp  at  the  head  of  Sauve  Lsl- 
and.^*'  After  so  many  api)eals  to  the  Urrited  States 
govermnent  for  the  protection  of  its  arms  and  the 
heiiefits  of  its  jurisdiction,  sur'ely  common  courtesy 
would  ha\('  dictated  soniethin^'  like  a  formal  rece[)- 
tion.  Hut  in  this  instance,  as  was  his  custom,  Lec^ 
left  the  execution  of  his  designs  and  the  appeararrce 
of  responsi})ility  to  other's,  and  set  forth  on  an  ex- 
cursion to  the  mouth  of  the  Columhia.  If  the  colo- 
nists were  in  the  situation  r'e[)r'esented  to  congress, 
he  should  have  beeir  makin<if  strenuous  efforts  to  place 
the  facts  befor-e  Wilkes.  The  comnrander  of  the 
United  States  squadroir  was  left,  however,  like  arry 
ordirrary  traveller,  to  go  whither  he  pleased,  and  to 
for'nr  his  own  conclusioirs,  which  wer'e,  in  the  main, 
contr'ar'Y  to  the  tenor'  of  the  rrrenrorials  which  occa- 
siorred  his  inquiries.*^ 

♦«  Wil/cen'  Nar.,  iv.  365. 

*'  It  is  easy  to  see  from  Wilkos'  rcniarka  on  the  rolmnbia  River  and 
the  Willamette  Valley,  in  vol.  iv.  (if  liis  ^' a  no  tire,  tiiat  lie  was  we'll  in- 
formed of  all  tlie  causes  of  complaint,  from  the  treatment  of  Ewing  Young 


SUSl'lCIOUS   SH11'-BUILI)IX<; 


1M7 


One  instiUK't' (jf  s(»-('ullt'(l  inju^tict'  Wilkes  took  <)<ra- 
sion  to  rij^lit.  VVliile  lie  was  still  at  Fort  V^aiicouvei- 
lie  received  a  visit  from  three  youiiii^  men,  ineinbers 
of  a  party  of  eiu;ht,  who  were  huildiiii;-  a  schooner  to 
take  thcni  to  California,  as  tliey  were  anxious  to  leavi^ 
a  countrv  where  there  were  no  voun<j;  white  women 
to  marry.  Tlu^  P<>rty  consisted  of  Joseph  dale,  wlio 
came  with  Younijj;  Felix  Hathaway,  the  only  sliip- 
carpenter  amonjjf  them;  Henry  Wood,  who  came  to 
California  in  I8.'{7  with  the  catth'  company;  R.  L. 
Kilborne,  of  tlie  l^eoria  immiu^rants;  and  Pleasant 
Armstron<^,  .[ohn  (irreen,  (Jeorge  J)avis,  and  Charles 
Matts,  who  arrived  some  time  between  I  H',]H  and  1  840. 

The  company  had  obtained  part  of  the  material 
necessary  to  ])uild  their  vt^ssel,  such  as  iron  and  s[)ikes, 
i)y  represent! n<>'  that  they  wen;  wanted  for  a  ferry-boat 
to  be  used  on  the  Willamette.  To  obtain  riLj^iring'  they 
induced  the  French  settlers  to  ti^o  to  Fort  V^ancouver 
and  buy  cordaL^e,  pretending  it  n'a.«  for  use  in  their 
rude  ftirm  liarnesses.  These  underliand  })roceedings 
cominyf  to  the  knowh^dsjfe  of  McLouti^hlin,  naturally 
excited  his  sus])icions.  How  could  lie  know  that 
these  wore  not  prepai'ations  for  })iracy  on   the   Cali- 


to  the  report  that  cannon  were  hnricil  on  Tongue  Point,  and  from  tin- 
representationa  of  the  tyranny  and  vices  of  the  fur  company  ti>  tlie  ph'ading.n 
for  American  institutions;  for  all  these  suhjects  are  there  hrought  up  and 
answered.  He  did  not  syiriiiathize  with  Waller's  complaint  of  the  fur  com- 
pany's monopoly  of  trade,  hecau.se  he  coulil  not  help  feeling  that  it  was 
'  unsuited  to  tlie  life  of  a  missionary  to  he  entei'ing  into  trade  of  any  kind, ' 
and  that  complaints  against  tlie  Hudson's  Bay  ( '(impaiiy  '  came  witli  an  ill 
grace  from  tlie  menihers  of  a  inissiou  who  are  daily  receiving  the  kindest  atten- 
tions and  hosjiitality  from  its  otiicers.'  He  visited  some  of  the  settlers,  and 
wius  visited  by  others;  dined  with  Father  Blanchet  at  the  Catholic  mission 
on  French  I'rairic;  visited  Ahernethy  at  the  old  mission;  criticised  the  mannei' 
in  which  the  Mission  people  left  a  patent  thriushing-machitie  in  the  mitldle  of 
the  road,  'where  it  had  evidently  heen  for  a  long  time  totally  neglected,'  and 
mentioned  that  a  thonsaml  husliels  of  wheat  had  heen  lost  through  neglect  to 
harvest  it,  and  that  ahout  all  the  Mission  prendses  there  was  ahseiice  of  repaii 
an<l  neatness,  '  which  ho  regretted  to  witness.'  He  exi)ected  to  find  an  Indian 
school,  hut  saw  no  natives  except  4  who  were  employed  as  servants.  On 
iiupiiry  he  was  told  that  there  were  aliimt  20  at  tlu!  new  mission;  hut  when 
he  arrived  there  ho  w;us  informed  that  the  pupils  were  not  in  a  condition  to  he 
inspected.  In  short,  he  found  the  missionaries  interesteil  in  anytliing  rather 
than  missionary  work;  and  especially  anxious  ahout  the  estahlishmeiit  of  a 
temporary  government,  which  lie  discouraged  But  of  this  1  shall  liave  more 
to  say  hereafter. 


fir 


■SHH 


I 


I 


!         5 


L'4S 


1'U(m;ki;ss  ok  events. 


Koniia  coast?  He  would  liavr  iiothiiijj;'  t'urtlior  to  do 
witli  them,  and  it  was  iii  vain  that  thev  afterward 
uj)i)t'aI(Ml  to  liiiii.  Wood,  wlio  was  tlit;  kniHt  rcputahle 
person  in  the  company,  having'  <^iven  Edwards  antl 
Youn<^  uiucli  trouble  on  the  way  from  California,  took 
upon  himself  to  intercede  with  McLoughlin,  who 
answ(!red  him  that  without  any  })a])ers  he  was  liable 
to  he  cai)tured  as  a  piratic,  addinn-;  "And  how  do  I 
know  that  you  tlo  not  intend  to  heconie  one^" 

"Well,  doctor,"  replied  Wood,  in  much  excitement, 
"you  may  keep  your  paltry  rig^jino'.  But  remendjer, 
sir,  I  have  an  uncle  in  the  States,  whom  I  expect 
here  shortly,  rich  enough  to  huy  you  out,  and  send 
you  all  })ackino;." 

It  was  now  iMcLoughlin's  turn  to  become  excited, 
in  which  condition  he  always  stammered,  or  re])eated 
rapidly  the  same  word.  "I  am  glad  to  hear  so  rich  a 
man  as  your  uncle  is  coming  to  this  country.  Who  is 
it,  Mr  Wood  'i  What's  his  name,  Mr  Wood  ?  I  should 
like  to  know  him,  Mr  Wood." 

"  His  name  is  Uncle  Sam,  and  I  hope  you  will  know 
liimi"  retorted  Woof'  as  he  withdrew.*'"* 

When  Wilkes  lun^  heard  the  story  of  the  young- 
men,  and  talked  the  matter  over  with  McLoughlin, 
lie  paid  a  visit  to  their  ship-yard.  Becoming  sat- 
isfied that  all  except  Wood  were  of  good  character, 
he  arranged  with  McLoughlin,  after  Wood  was  ex- 
pelled from  the  company,  to  furnish  them  the  requi- 
site stores,  chains,  anchors,  and  rigging  to  complete 
the  Htar  of  ihajon.  He  gave  them  a  sea-letter,  and 
the  first  American  vessel  constructed  of  Oretifon  tim- 
her  made  a  successful  voyage  to  San  Francisco  Bay, 
under  the  command  of  Joseph  Gale.  She  was  there 
sold  and  the  })roceeds  invested  in  cattle,  which  were 
th-iven  to   Oregon    the   following   year,  most  of  the 

mpany  deciding  to  return  and  settle  permanently  in 


CO 


the  Willamette  Valley 

**  A]yplfijntex  I'icir.i  of  I/inf.,  M8.,  '29-30.     This  story  the  doctor  used  often 
to  repeat  with  iiuioli  eiijoyiuent. 


WII.KKs    IN    ()i;K(i(lN 


•.•4',» 


gttV'' 


Tlio  loss  ot'  the  l*((t('()ck  iiisi<K'  •»!'  tlio  bin 
Wilkes  a  had  »»i»iiiioM  of  the  I'litranee  to  the  Coluin- 
l)ia  River,  and  his  aceouiit  tVoin  first  to  last,  heino; 
anythiiiijf  hut  Hatteriiitr  to  the  coiiiiMercial  prospects  of 
the  country,  was  particularly  disj)ieasiniL;'  to  those  wjio 
were  eiideavorinj^  to  encouraoi;  trade.  Finally,  if 
anythin<4'  may  bo  cei'tainly  known  from  Wilkes'  re- 
port of  the  colony,  or  the  colonist's  o[>inion  of  VVilkes, 
it  is  that  ho  considered  his  \isit  uncalh^d  for,  from  a 
political  ])oint  of  view,  and  that  tl  i  '  ieit  themsi'lves 
badly  treated  because  that  was  his  opinion/" 

Late  in  Autj^ust  a  company  ""^'[is  oruranizod  '  y  liiou- 
tenant  Emmons  of  Wilkes'  ex^  edition  f<v  i^n  overland 
';xplorin<^  toui'  to  California.  The  ivirty  consisted  of 
eii(hteen  officers  a. id  men,  a  lU"  ib-'i  of  the  settlors. 
and  certain  innni<.n'ant  ',.■"' 

Wilkes  remained  in  the  country  until  Octolnsr,  sup- 
plyinti^  th(!  })laco  of  the  lo.st  Peacock  by  chartering  the 
Thomas  H.  Perkhts,  an  American  vessel  whicli  arrived 
in  the  river  with  a  carijfo  of  li([uor.  To  prevent  its 
being  sold  to  the  Indians,  the  cargo  had  been  pur- 
chased by  McLoughlin,  who  also  bought  the  charter; 
the  latter  he  now  sold  at  a  low  figure  to  Wilkes,  who 
changed  the  vessel's  name  to  the  ihegini:'^ 

He  sailed  for  California  on  the  5tli,  leaving  of  his 
command  but  one  por.son,  a  negro  cook  named  Saul, 
who  deserted  when  the  Peacock  was  wrecked/'^  and 
settled  near  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia. 


*^Oro!/'s  llixl.  Or.,  2()4  ;  Sirnn's  Northrent  ConM,  ^11. 

'"^Tho  iiiiinigrants  were  .loci  P.  Walker,  his  wife,  sister,  three  sons,  and 
two  (laughters,  who  arrived  in  Oregon  the  previous  autunni;  and  liiirrovvs, 
wife  and  ehild;  Warfields,  wife  and  ehild;  and  one  Xieliols,  who  I  think 
t'rossed  the  continent  with  BiilwcU's  California  eonipany  in  1841  as  far  as 
Fort  Hall.  The  settlers  wlio  went  to  California  with  Kininons  were  Henry 
Wood,  Calvin  Tihbetts,  and  Henry  Black,  who  came  to  Oregon  in  1840,  and 
Molair  and  Junass.  Tibhetts  returned  with  cattle  in  1842,  probably  joining 
(iale's  party. 

•''  Lie  lint!  Frait'ii  Or.,  302;  MrL()iii//il!ii'.-<  I'ririttf  Pnrier.f,  M.S.,  2d  ser.  4; 
Farnham\t  Trnrcbi,  4.")2  3;  WUh'.<'  Xar.,  U.S.  E.i"plnr.  h.r.,  v.  121.  .See  also 
Hint.  Korthirf-it.  Consf,  this  seiies. 

•''^Saul  was  long  known  in  Oregon  as  the  ma.ster  of  a  craft,  a  cross  between 
a  Chinese  junk  and  a  fore-and-aft  schooner,  winch  plied  l>etwee'i  Astoria  and 
Cathlamet,  carrying  passengers,  live-stock,  ai'd  other  freight,  and  supplying  a 
necessity  in  the  early  devekipnieut  of  the  country.   Ori-riiml  .Moiilhhj,  xiv,  27.'{. 


^  ''%  M 


wv 


m 


•JIM) 


l'U()(iKK.SS   OF    KVKNTfS. 


fi       ' 


I       . 


>       i 


Tlu'  vt'cir  liS4L  was  re'inarkahlc  for  briot  visits  of 
ixi)loration,  ratluT  than  f(»i'  any  eiilai-jj^onu'iit  of  tlu' 
Ainericau  colony.  Wliile  Wilkes  was  still  at  Fort 
Vancouver,  Sir  (;}eor«.i^e  Simpson,  governor  of  the  Hutl- 
son's  Bay  Coni})any's  ti'rritorios  in  North  Ainorica, 
arrivi'd  at  that  post,  having  travelled  from  Mon- 
treal in  twelve  weeks,  the  whole  journey  being  made 
in  canoe  and  saddle."''  Tlie  principal  objects  of  his 
visit  to  tlu;  coast  were  the  inspection  of  the  fort  at 
Stikeen,  leased  from  the  Russian  American  (\)mpany, 
and  the  establishment  of  a  [)ost  at  San  Francisco. 
After  spending  a  week  at  A^ancouver  he  ])roceeded  to 
Stikeen,  and  was  back  again  at  tlie  fort  by  the  22d  of 
( )ctober. 

Almost  simultaneously  with  Sir  (Jeorge's  ivturn  to 
\'ancouver,  the  French  I'xplorer  JJuHot  do  Mofras 
airived  at  that  post  from  the  Hawaiian  Islands  in  the 
comj)any's  bark  Coirlitz.  In  IS'M)  Mofras,  then  an 
attache  of  the  French  end)assy  at  Madrid,  had  been 
sent  by  his  government  to  join  the  legation  at  Mexico 
with  s[H'cial  instructions  to  visit  the  north-western 
portion  of  Mexico,  together  with  California  and  Ore- 
gon, to  report  on  their  accessibility  to  F^rench  com- 
merce, and  to  learn  something  of  the  geography  of 
the  country."*  Such,  at  leasts  was  the  ostiMisible  pur- 
j)ose  of  Mofras'  mission,  though  there  were  some  who 
suspcicted  him  of  playing  the  s})y  for  his  government. 
Sir  (xeorge  was  of  this  opinion,  and  he  took  no  [)ains 
to  conceal  it,  which  so  hurt  the  F^renchman's  innour 
projirc,  that  he  insisted  upon  ])aying  for  his  passage  in 
the  (j)ivliiz  and  defi'aying  all  other  pmsonal  exj)enses. 
Xevertheless  it  is  possible  that  Sim[)son's  a})prehen- 
sions  were  not  wholly  groundless,  at  all  exents  so  far 
as  Mofras'  personal  sentiments  w^ere  concerned  ;  for  tlie 
latter  in  his  writings  concludes  a  discussion  of  the 
Oregon  Question  with  the  hope  that  the  French  Cana- 
dians luiglit  throw  off  the  hated   English  yoke  and 

■''' .S'j'wjwow'.i  ^V((;'.,  i.   1-17-.  ^ 

**  J/(j/>(i.«,  Explor.,  i.  iirufiice,  ;i3-74. 


MOFKAS   AM)  SlMI'SON. 


2S1 


i*stiil)lisli  ;i  MOW  France  "m  Aiiu'iica,  extoiuliiig  truni 
the  St  LawiviK'c  to  tin-  Pacific,  or  at  lea.st  a  sover- 
ciij^n  state  in  the  t'cdi'ral  union.'' 

Sini})son  also  speculated  upon  tlu>  future  of  tlio 
Canadian  colony,  of  whose  trade  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Coni[)any  were  assuivd,  and  rv-marked  that  the  Amer- 
ican colony  also  were  in  a  iLfreat  measure'  dependent 
upon  the  company.  But  the  rei»resentatives  of  two 
jj^overuments,  and  one  corj»oiation  almost  o(|ual  to  a 
soverei^'nty,  who  visited  Oieoon  this  year,  all  reported 
favorably  u[)on  the  moi'al,  social,  anil  matei'ial  condi- 
tion of  the  colonists.""  Ahout  the  end  (tf  November 
Sin)pson  and  Mofrns  hoth  sailed  from  Orcij^ou  for  San 
Francisco  Bay,  in  the  hark  ('oich'fz,  accompanied  hy 
Mcljouohliii  and  his  dau_!L>htei',  Mrs  Hae,  who  was 
i>^oini«^  to  join  lu'r  hushand,  William  (JKmi  Ha<',  in 
charge  of  the  new  post  of  the  company  at  Yeiha 
Buena. 

.lust   hefore   Simpson's  dej>arture  there  arrived  in 


^Woj'nfs,  Knilor.,  i.  'J!U:  (Iri'ciihow  to  FiilcoiuT,  (!;  S011//1.  (^iunii.  h'crinr, 
\v.  218;   Dwiiii'lle's  SpctH'li,  .">,  in  J'ioniir  Sbfr/nx. 

"' Sim\>n<m  ostiiiuitol  tlic  wlioli'  i>ii{ui1atii>ii  of  tin-  Willanu'tto  X'alU'y  in 
IMI,  Aiiii'rii'uii  ami  Frciu'li,  at  THH)  souIm,  (>()  (aiiadiaiiM  and  otluT.s  with  lu- 
iliaii  wivt's  and  liall'-hrccd  taniilifs,  and  ().">  Amorii'an  families.  A'k;'.,  i.  'J4!K 
Spauliling  ^n\v  the  nnmlitT  of  Anu'iican  I'olonists  at  "0  families.  ;.'7t/i  Cvinj., 
.'il  Sffs.,  Si'ii.  Iti]>t.  ,s'.)'".  \\  likes  gavt^  liie  numlurs  of  white  families  at 
ahout  ()((.  Hi-  also  have  the  niindiei-  of  eatth'  in  the  Willamettt!  X'alU^y  at 
10, (MM),  wortli  .*>10  a  head  w  ild,  and  nnieh  more  for  milch  cows  or  work  oxen. 
This  estimate  of  the  riches  of  the  colonists  in  cattle  is  prohalily  too  high, 
thouj{h  some  her<ls  iiad  Keen  driven  from  California  sin<e  1,S;17.  Simjison 
placed  the  numher  of  cattle  at  .M.iMK),  horses  at  .")(M),  liesides  an  iincounteil 
nniltitudo  of  hogs.  Kven  the  lower  estimate  woidd  give  an  average  of  '_'t 
cattle,  4  horses,  and  ])lenty  of  pork  to  e.icli  family.  Simjison  also  stat(^d  tho 
wheat  raiseil  11  IS41  to  lie":Ci,tKK)  imshels  from  CM)  farms,  or  ahout  ."{(M)  hushels 
to  each  farui,  with  a  due  ju'oportion  of  oats,  l>arle_\,  ))ease.  and  potatoes.  'I'ho 
price  of  wheat,  in  1841,  after  the  Puget  Sound  Company  had  openeil  its  farm 
on  the  Cowliv/,  wa.s  \\'1\  cents  jicr  luishel,  tor  whieli  anything  except  spirits 
could  he  draviii  from  the  company's  stores,  at  .")()  per  cent  advance  on  London 
cost.  'This  is  supposed,' says  \\'ilkes,  "all  things  tiiken  into  consideration, 
1(1  lie  equal  t(  ^\.\'l  per  liushel;  hut  it  is  didicult  for  the  settlers  so  to  under- 
stfind  it,  and  dieyaro  hy  n<)  means  satisfied  with  therat^^  Sur.  ('.  S.  h'.niitir. 
K.i:,  iv.  .'{(K);  Sliiij>.-«iii's  Xin:,  i.  '2M.  The  wages  of  meehiinies  in  the  \\'il- 
lamette  Valley  were  .*'2..'"i()  to  S'l  a  day,  counnon  lahorers  .*>),  and  hoth  dilHcult 
to  procure  at  these  pri<'es.  It  could  not  reasonahly  he  said  that  under  theso 
conditions  tlu'  colonists  were  siitleriii);  any  severe  hardships.  For  other 
.iceounts  of  tiie  colony  at  this  time,  see  \ii-<>liu/'.i  dr.  7Vc. ;  liliiiicliit'"  llisl. 
<'i'l/i.  Cit.  in  (h:;  Kvans.  in  Or.  Piounr  , I fstx.'. ,  Trnw<.,  1877;  Uond,  in  J7tk 
f'otMj,,    JU  Henit.,  Sen.  Jt'ipt.  S.t'iK 


,jmtwm.m.m 


"■  y 


.   SI 


III 


t 


m 


PKOUKESS  OF   EVEN1.S. 


Oregon  a  company  of  twenty-three  families,  <»r  about 
sixty  ,  yrsons,  from  the  Red  River  settlement,  brought 
out  under  the  aus])iees  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Conn)any 
to  settle  on  the  lands  of  the  Puoet  Sound  Aijricultural 
Com])any.  Tliey  had  left  Red  River  about  the  first 
of  June  with  carts,  of  whi(;h  each  family  had  two,  and 
with  bands  of  cattle,  horses,  and  dogs.  The  men  and 
boys  rode  on  horseback,  and  the  women  and  children 
were  conveyed  in  the  carts  with  the  household  goods. 
The  whole  formed  a  procession  of  more  than  a  mile  in 
length.  They  started  twenty-eight  days  in  advance 
of  Simpson,  who  passed  then  at  Fort  Carlton,  on  the 
Saskatchewan,  and  they  arrived  about  the  middle  of 
October  at  Nisqually,"  where  it  was  designed  they 
should  settle.  But  soon  discovering  the  inferior  (jual- 
ity  of  tht!  soil  in  that  region,  they  nearly  all  removed 
to  the  Willamette  Valley,  to  the  great  disappointment 
of  McLoughlin  and  other  members  of  the  Puget  Sound 
Comnany.'"* 

L  1/ 

The  failure  of  the  Red  River  settlers  to  remain  t>n 
the  lands  of  the  Puget  Sound  Company  defeated 
whatever  political  design  tlie  formation  of  that  organ- 
ization favored,  and  during  tlie  year  after  their  arrival 
added  a  considerable  number  to  the  Willamette  settle- 
ments. 

''Gray,  in  I/i-</.  Or.,  288,  places  the  arrival  of  the  Red  River  immigrants 
at  Fort  Colville  in  September  1842,  fine  year  after  they  passe<l  that  place, 
(ieorge  T.  Allan,  a  clerk  of  the  company  at  Vancouver,  who  accompanied 
Simpson  to  the  Sandwich  I.dands,  went  to  Colville  to  meet  them  before  Sir 
(ieorge  returned  from  Stikeen.  liohcrfs''  R^rollrrtinnt,  MS.,  70;  Toliiile'x  Piiiji't 
Soiintl,  MS.,  24;  Evans'  Puyallup  Address,  in  JVnr  Tiwoiiia  Li'i/i/fi;  July  !•, 
1880.  Simpson  speaks  of  treating  their  guide,  a  Cree,  to  a  short  trip  on  tho 
steamer  Hcairr,  on  the  sound,  while  he  wiis  at  Niscpially  in  Oct.  1841.  Xiir., 
i.  241. 

•"*  Fitzgerald,  one  of  the  ])arty,  says  that  '  tiie  treatment  they  received  from 
Dr  '^IcLoughlin  was  sucli  that  after  having  been  nearly  starved  under  the 
paternal  care  of  that  gentleman,  tliey  all  went  over  to  the  American  settlement 
of  the  Willamette  Valley.'  Iliiflnoii's  liny  ('oiii})iihi/,  14.  This  is  more  than 
even  (Jray  can  indorse,  who  says  that  to  his  certain  knowledge  McLoughlin 
extended  to  the  Red  River  settlers  every  facility  within  his  power;  l)ut  that 
other  leading  meml)ers  of  the  company  were  domineering  and  tyrannical,  which 
was  tho  cause  of  tlieir  leaviua;  the  supposed  English  portion  of  the  territory. 
/fM.  Or.,  IVi.  Applegate,  in  liis  marginal  notes  on  (iray's  history,  says:  'The 
Red  River  settlers  made  no  complaint  of  ill  treatment,  but  removeil  from  the 
sound  to  the  Willamette  because  of  the  superiority  of  the  soil  and  climate.' 
J^ee  and  Fi'ost  give  the  same  reason.  Or.,  210. 


CHAPTER   X. 


on 


tl 


al 
e- 


ants 

iU'O. 

Ill  led 
Sir 

■  '.'. 
tlio 

((/•., 

rum 
the 
neiit 

tlliUI 

hliu 
tliat 
hioli 
ory. 
riic 
I  the 
ate. ' 


THE  SUB-INDIAX   A(iKNT\S  COMPANY 

lS4-i-1845. 

TiiK  P^KFECT  OK  Lee's  LETrEK  TO  (JiisHiNii^WnrrE  Visits  Washinoton— 

PUAXS     OF    THE     '  FkIENJ)S     OF     OkEOON  ' — WllITE    IS    APPOINTED    SlB- 

Inuian  A(iENi'  Fou  OuEnos  He  Raises  a  Lakue  Company  of  Emi- 
cKANTs — Incidents  of  tiie  Joikney — A  Canine  Massacke — Dissen- 
sions in  Camp — The  }Iai,t  at  Vokv  La:iamie— The  Sioux  Take  a 
Hand— Fort  Hall  is  Reached — Reception  hy  ihe  Missionaries — 
White  and  the  Colonists — Disocsied  Immkjkants— McjIjOuohlin 
TO  THE  Rescie— Hastinos  JjEads  a  Pautv  to  California. 

The  return  to  Orc^-on  of  Elijali  White,  sonic  two 
years  after  Ills  quarrel  with  Jason  Lee  liad  sent  him 
to  the  States  in  disgust,  lias  already  been  alluded  to. 
The  immediate  cause  of  his  return  was  peculiar,  inas- 
much as  it  was  dc^^tined  that  the  man  who  had  prac- 
tically heen  the  means  of  driving  jiim  out  of  the 
countr}'  in  disgrace  should  involuntarily  1h'  the  iiieans 
of  hrinu'inii'  him  back  in  honor.  It  will  be  reniem- 
bered  that  Avheii  Lee  wrote  to  Gushing  in  January 
1839,  he  urged  that  tlie  settlt>rs  and  Indians  in  Ore- 
gon sadly  needed  tlie  protection  of  tlie  laws  of  tlu* 
VTnited  States,  and  suggested  tliat  if  a  suitable  j)erson 
sliould  be  sent  out  as  civil  magistrate  and  governor  of 
tlie  territory,  the  settlers  would  sustain  liis  authority." 
There  can  be  little  doul>t  tliat  IjI'c  lio|(e(l  for  the 
a])pointment  liims(>lf;  certainly  nothing  was  furtlii'r 
fiom  Ids  desire  than  that  Wliite  shouhl  get  it. 

No  action  was  taken  in  the  n»atter  at  the  time,  but 
it  was  carefully  kept  in  mind  Ity  those  persons  in  the 


'^SSthComj.,  3d  Si  MX.,  II.  1,'iyl.  101,  Snjtpl,'i,iinl,  4. 


2.18 ) 


254 


THE  SUB-INDIAN   A(iENTS  COMPANY. 


States  who  were  interested  in  the  affairs  of  Oregon, 
It  was  not  until  the  Lanmnnc  had  returned  and  Cap- 
tain Spaulding  had  presented  his  report  according  to 
the  representations  made  to  liiin  by  the  missionaries, 
that  the  'Friends  of  Oregon'  began  to  regard  Lee's 
proposition  as  feasible.  But  wliere  were  they  to  find 
the  man  for  their  purjmse?  It  was  desirable  tliat  the 
.prospective  governor  sliould  be  thoroughly  familiar 
with  Oregon  afi'airs,  and  as  such  Lfse  liimself  would 
probably  have  been  the  first  choice;  but  he  was  on 
the  other  side  of  the  continent,  and  they  wanted  their 
candidate  on  the  spot,  in  order  that  lie  might  person- 
ally plead  his  cause  with  the  government,  and  also 
that  he  might  take  direction  of  an  emigrant  scheme 
which  they  had  in  contemplation. 

In  January  1842  White,  who  had  for  a  year  past 
been  living  at  his  old  home  in  Lansing,  chanced  to 
vi  it  New  York,  and  while  there  called  on  Fry  and 
Farnham,  owners  of  the  jAinmntie,  to  whom  he  was 
favorably  known.  Here  was  the  very  man  the  Friends 
of  Oregon  needed.  In  the  consultation  which  followed, 
it  was  arranged  that  White  should  proceed  at  once  to 
Washington.  He  shortly  afterward  set  out,  armed 
with  introductory  letters  from  persons  of  note  to  Presi- 
dent Tyler,  Webster,  and  Upsher.  On  reaching  the 
capital,  he  was  })resented  to  Senator  Linn  of  Missouri, 
J.  C.  S[)encer,  secretary  of  war,  and  other  high  offi- 
cials who  were  interested  in  the  Oregon  Question,  and 
disposed  to  remedy  the  evils  complained  of  by  the 
colonists  by  adopting  Jjce's  suggestion  to  send  out 
a  person  to  act  as  governor  and  Indian  agent,  though 
they  recognized  tli.e  fact  that  the  commissioning  of 
sucli  an  official  was,  undc^r  the  existing  treaty  with 
Great  Britain,  a  mattt^r  of  nmcii  delicacy, 

The  plan  was  only  jiartially  successful.  After  con- 
siderable discussion  the  government  decided  that  as 
the  United  States  made  pretensions  to  tlie  territory 
lying  between  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  they  might  venture  to  send  a  sub-Indian  agent 


ELIJAH   WHITE  IN  THE  STATES. 


265 


into  the  coiiutry  t(i  look  after  the  intercourse  l)et\voen 
the  natives  and  citizens  of  the  United  States.  But 
as  to  the  office  of  civil  magistrate  or  governor,  that 
was  a  commission  the  president  was  not  prepared  to 
issue;  though  the  settlers,  if  they  chose  to  do  so, 
could  by  mutual  consent  sustain  the  sub-Indian  agent's 
claim  to  be  regarded  as  a  magistrate  among  them 
without  definite  authority  from  the  United  States. 

All  this  having  been  explained  to  White,  he  was 
commissioned  sub-Indian  agent,  with  a  salary  of  seven 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  the  guaranty  that  if 
Linn's  bill,  then  before  congress,  i)assed,  his  pay  should 
be  raised  to  the  full  pay  of  an  Indian  agent,  or  fifteeii 
hundred  a  year.  He  was  also  verbally  given  permis- 
sion to  draw  upon  government  funds  for  the  payment 
of  necessary  expenses  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties." 
His  instructions  were  to  lose  no  time  in  returning  to 
Oregon,  but  to  proceed  at  once  overland,  using  by  tlie 
way  every  reasonable  effort  to  induce  emigrants  to 
accompany  him.  On  reaching  home  the  doctor  ar- 
ranged his  affairs,  and  having  been  joined  by  two  of 
his  neighbors,  and  two  sons  of  Thomas  McKay,  pro- 
ceeded westward,  making  known  his  desire  to  raise  a 
company  for  ()reg(^n  wherever  he  went,  by  advertis- 
ing in  the  newspapers,  and  occasionally  lecturing  to 
interested  audiences.^  At  St  Louis  everything  relat- 
ing to  Oregon  was  heard  with  attention,  and  the 
farther  he  prcjressed  in  the  direction  of  Independence, 
the  former  recruiting  rendezvous  of  the  now  disbanded 
fur  companies,  the  greater  was  the  interest  evinced. 
From  this  latter  place  White  made  excursi(ms  through 
the  country,  travelling  over  the  counties  of  Jackson 
and  Platte,  from  which  a  large  number  of  innnigrants 


k:-^  <• 


^See  hill  for  relief  of  Elijali  White,  and  report  of  cuiniuittee  of  the  senate 
(latf.l  Feb.  2,  184(5,  in  White's  Conriti:  I'li-ir,  G4-C. 

■^  White  gives  the  following  glimpse  of  his  emigration  eflforts:  '  Last  niglit 
all  the  other  appointments  were  ttiken  np  to  hear  ma  lecture  on  Oregon,  and 
i\»  tlie  weather  was  tine  and  travelling  good,  the  noble  church  was  tilled,  the 


)ul|)it  lined  with  ministers  of  all  denominations,  and  I  talked  an  lioiir  and  a 
lalt  with  all  my  might.'  'fcii  Ytarii  »/t  Or.,  142-3:  Whi'.es  Early  Vovernment, 
MS.,  2*2,  24 


256 


THE  SUB-IN DIAX   A(;ENT~S  COMl'AXV. 


Ill 


was  gained,  while  others  a[)])earecl  at  Elm  Grove,  the 
appointed  rendezvous  twenty  miles  south-west  of  In- 
depeiidencCj  who  had  come  fi'om  Illinois  and  Arkansas, 
so  that  by  the  14th  of  May  one  hundred  and  twelve 
persons  were  assembled,*  fifty-two  being  men  over 
eiijhteen  vears  of  ao^e.''' 

White's  company  was  not  so  favorably  circum- 
stanced as  those  which  had  preceded  it  and  had  trav- 
elled under  the  protection  of  the  American  Fur 
Company.  He  says  that  his  heart  sank  when  he 
began  to  realize  what  he  had  undertaken;  and  that  it 
was  not  made  more  buoyant  when  Sublette  assured 
him  that  there  would  be  nmch  difficulty  in  organizing 
and  governing  such  a  large  pai'ty,  and  in  conducting  it 
successfully  sucli  a  distance  through  a  wilderness  in- 

*  It  is  not  to  1)0  I)eliev(Ml  that  tliese  i'inifi;rants  from  afar  came  at  the  doctor's 
I'all.  Probably  they  had  already  begun  to  move  in  the  direction  of  Oregon, 
and  hearing  of  White's  party,  joined  it  for  safety  This  opinion  is  sustained 
by  Crawford. 

^ Their  names  are  as  follows:  Thomas  Boggs,  Gabriel  Browax,  William 
lirown,  James  Brown,  Hugh  Burns,  H.  W.  Bellamy,  Barnam,  Winston, 
Bennett,  Vandeman  Bennett,  Bailey,  Bridges,  Nathaniel  Crocker,  Nathan 
('oonibs,  Patrick.  Clark,  Alexander  Copeland,  Medorum  Crawford,  A.  N. 
Ciiats,  James  Coats,  John  Dearum,  John  Daubenbiss,  Sanmel  Davis,  Allen 
l>avy,  John  Force,  Jamos  Force,  Foster,  Joseph  (libbs,  Girtman,  Lansford 
W.  Plastings,  John  Hoti'stctter,  J.  M.  Hudsjjeth,  Hardin  Jones,  Columbia 
Lancaster,  Reuben  Lewis,  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  S.  W.  Moss,  J.  L.  Morris(m,  John 
McKay,  Alexander  McKay,  l>utch  Paul,  Walter  Pomeroy,  J.  H,  Perry, 
I>wight  Pomeroy,  J.  K.  Kobb,  T.  .1.  Shadden,  Owen  Sumner,  Andrew  Smith, 
A.  !>.  Smith,  Darling  Smith,  A.  Towner,  Joel  Turnham,  David  Weston, 
Elijah  White.  Of  these,  10  had  families,  as  follows;  Gabriel  Brown,  Mr 
Bennett,  James  Force,  Mr  Girtman,  Columbia  Lancaster,  Walter  Pomeroy, 
.1.  W.  Perry,  T.  .1.  Shadden,  Owen  Sumner,  and  Andrew  Smith.  But  Has- 
tings gives  the  force  of  armed  men  as  80;  and  Frdmoni  as  64.  Crawford  says 
the  wluile  munber  of  emigrants  was  105.  The  largest  nundjer  given  by  any 
authority  is  100.  Lovejoy  says  about  70  were  able  to  stand  guard.  White  s 
statement  that  tiicre  were  112  persons  in  the  company  when  it  organized,  and 
that  this  nund)er  was  augmented  on  the  road  until  it  reached  125,  is  probably 
the  most  reliable,  and  agrees  with  the  account  given  in  Lcc  and  Front'n  Or., 
'2'il.  McLoughlin,  in  his  Primle  Papcra,  MS.,  2d  ser,  7,  puts  the  number  at 
137,  but  he  pn)l)ably  includes  a  party  of  mountain  men  who  joined  the  emi- 
grants at  Fort  Laramie.  The  authorities  on  the  subject  arc:  White's  Ten 
Yearn  in  Or.,  144;  l(7(//(,''.'<  Eniit/nUion  to  Or.,  MS.,  IS;  ^froii;/  n  J/int.  (Jr., 
MS.,  33;  llastoniH  Or.  and  Cut.,  (};  Crawford'^  Mi.tsionarii'M,  MS.,  20;  Loix- 
joi/'.t  FoiindiiKj  of  Portland,  MS.,  4;  Bennett's  Narrative,  in  San  Joni  J'tonerr, 
May  2(5  anil  June  2,  1877.  Gray  says  there  were  42  families,  and  makes  the 
\v  hole  nundjcr  of  persons  111,  but  only  names  two  of  them.  J/tM.  Or.,  212. 
The  names  of  many  of  the  adult  emigrants  must  have  been  forgotten,  the 
register  having  been  lost  after  the  death  of  the  secretary,  N.  Crocker,  soon 
after  reaching  Oregon.  Mrs  .\\u\  IVrry,  wife  of  J.  W.  Perry,  died  in  June 
187y.   Salem  Weekly  PurnKr,  July  4,  1870. 


ON  THE  PLAINS. 


267 


ibia 


^estcd  with  liostilo  Iiulicaiis  tribes;  Imt  Sublette  gave 
valuable  advice  with  reyanl  to  outfit  and  reirulations." 


The  train  of  eij^liteen  larj>e  P 


ennsvlvania  Wimons, 


with  a  long  procession  of  horses,  pack-nmles,  and  cat- 
tle, set  out  on  the  IGth,  White  having  been  elected  to 
the  command  for  one  month  from  the  time  of  starting. 
According  to  the  regulations,  camj)  was  made  at  four 
o*clock  everv  afternoon  when  wood  and  water  were 
convenient.  After  the  wagons  had  been  drawn  up 
so  as  to  form  a  circular  enclosure,  the  animals  were 
turned  loose  to  feed  till  sunset,  when  thev  were 
brought  in  and  tethered  to  stakes  set  about  the  camp. 
Every  family  htvd  its  own  fire,  and  ]»repared  meals  in 
its  own  fashion.  The  evening  was  s})ent  in  visiting, 
sino;inff,  and  whatever  innocent  amusement  suiifi^ested 
itself  The  women  and  children  slept  in  the  coveretl 
wagons,  and  the  men  under  tents  on  the  ground.  A 
guard  was  stationed  at  night,  and  at  the  dawn,  at  a 
given  signal,  everyone  arose  and  Vv^ent  about  his  duties, 
the  cattle  being  collected  while  breakfast  was  being 
prepared.  When  all  were  ready,  the  wagon  which 
had  taken  tlie  lead  the  previous  day  was  sent  to  the 
rear,  so  that  each  in  rotation  shcmld  come  to  the 
front. 

In  this  manner  all  ])rogressed  amicably  until  the 


roy, 

lays 
any 


.l)ly 
>r. , 
at 
iiii- 
T,;i 
>/••, 

31V'- 

ei'v, 
the 
VI. 
the 

uie 


*The  resolutions  adopted  were  substantially  as  follows:  That  every  male 
over  18  years  of  age  should  be  provided  with  one  ni\ile  or  horse,  or  wagon 
conveyance;  should  have  one  gun,  3  pounds  of  powder,  12  pounds  of  lead, 
1,000  caps,  or  suitable  flint  i,  ")0  pounds  of  Hour  or  meal,  HO  pounds  of  bacon, 
and  a  suit.ab'.e  proportion  of  provisions  for  women  and  cliildren;  that  Wliitt; 
shoulU  show  his  official  appointment;  tliut  tliey  elect  a  captain  for  one  niontli; 
that  there  be  elected  a  scientific  corps,  to  consist  of  tlireo  persons,  to  keep  a 
record  of  everything  concerning  the  road  and  journey  that  niiglit  be  useful  to 
government  or  future  emigrants.  Tliis  corps  consisted  of  C.  I^mcaster,  L.  W. 
Hastings,  and  A.  L.  l^ovejoy.  James  Coats  was  elected  pilot,  ami  Nathaniel 
Crocker  secretary.  Moreover  it  was  ordered  that  H.  Burn:^  l)e  appointed 
blacksmith,  with  power  to  clioosc  two  others,  and  also  to  call  to  liis  aid  tlie 
force  of  the  company;  that  John  Hotfstetter  l)e  appointed  master  wagon-maker, 
witli  like  power;  that  the  captain  appoint  a  master  road  and  bridge  builder, 
with  like  powers;  that  a  code  of  laws  be  draugl\ted,  and  submitted  to  the  com- 
pany, and  that  they  be  enforced  by  reprimand,  tines,  and  final  banishment; 
tliat  there  be  no  profane  swearing,  obscene  conversation,  or  immoral  cf)nduct 
allowed  in  tiiu  company,  on  pain  of  expulsion;  that  the  names  of  every  man, 
"oman,  and  child  be  registered  by  the  secretary.  Whites  Ten  Years  in  (Jr., 
U5-G. 

Hist,  on.,  \'or..  I.    17 


aw 


THE   .SL'H-INDIAN    AGENT'S   COMPANY. 


\i 


i 
T 


company  liad  turned  off'  from  tlie  Santa  Fc  trail  in  a 
north-westerly  direction  to  the  crossing  of  tlie  Kansas 
River.  At  this  point  White  startled  the  company 
hy  officially  recommending  that  all  the  dogs  in  camp 
he  forthwith  killed  lest  they  should  go  mad  upon  the 
arid  plains  whicli  they  were  now  approaching.  King 
Herod's  edict  anent  the  slaughter  of  the  innocents 
could  scarcely  have  called  forth  a  louder  wail  of 
lamentation  from  the  mothers  of  Judea  than  was 
evoked  from  the  women  and  children  of  White's 
})arty  by  this  ])roposed  immolation  of  their  canine 
pets  and  companions.  Many  of  the  men,  too,  pro- 
tested loi  Jly  against  the  sacrifice;  and  although  when 
it  came  to  a  /ote  most  of  them  yielded  to  their  leader's 
wish,  yet  the  measure  was  so  unpopular  that  it  con- 
tributed largely  to  the  election  of  L.  W.  Hastings  as 
captain  at  the  end  of  the  first  month.^ 

At  this  same  camp  Columbia  Lancaster  lost  a  child, 
and  as  the  mother  was  ill,  the  disheartened  parents 
turned  back  to  Platte  City,  their  starting-point.  The 
Kansas  River,  the  South  Platte,  and  other  deep  fords 
were  made  by  placing  boards  across  the  tops  of  the 
wagon-boxes,  on  which  the  load  was  fastened,  while 
above  were  perched  the  women  and  children.  Soon 
after  passing  the  South  Fork,  the  company  was  over- 
taken by  Stephen  H.  L.  Meek,  a  brother  of  J.  L.  Meek, 
then  in  Oregon,  and  one  Bishop,  who  was  travelling  for 
his  health. 

After  Hastings  was  elected  to  succeed  White,  har- 
mony no  longer  prevailed.  The  determination  of  the 
new  connnander  to  "govern  and  not  be  governed'"* 
divided  the  party  into  two  factions,  who  marched  in 
separate  columns  till  Fort  Laramie  was  reached  on 
the  2-3d  of  June.  Here  they  spent  a  week  in  refitting, 
and  during  that  time  Mr  Bissonette,  who  was  in  charge 
o^  the  post,  managed  to  bring  about  a  reunion  by 

"  LovcJoi/h  PorlUiiid,  MS.,  3.  It  appears  that  after  all  the  iiieasurt!  vas 
only  partially  carried  out. 

'•fhwtiuijM  Or.  (tii'l  CdL,  «,  9. 


OVER  THE   MOUNTAINS. 


urgiiiu-  that  tlic;  coiiipany  would  need  its  full  stron<rtli 
while  passiiiir  through  tho  hostile  triUis  between 
Laramie  and  Fort  Hall. 

As  the  emigrants  were  told  that  it  would  he  impos- 
sible for  them  to  take  their  oxen  and  waijons  throujifh 
to  Oregon,  many  sold  or  exchanged  them  for  horses, 
the  advantage  l)eing  generally  on  the  side  of  the  fort 
jjeojjle."  They  also  laid  in  a  fresh  stock  of  provisions, 
for  wliicli  they  had  to  pay  at  the  rate  of  a  dollar  a 
pint  for  flour  and  a  dollar  a  })ound  for  coffee  and  sugar. 
Before  leaving  l^aramie  the  company  was  joined  by 
F.  X.  ^latthieu  and  half  a  dozen  Canadians,  who  had 
been  in  the  service  of  the  fur  company  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  were  now  going  to  settle  in 
Oregon.  They  had  fi'W  sup])lies,  but  de[)ended  on 
game  for  subsistence.'" 

The  company  had  now  no  guide  for  the  remainder 
of  the  journey,  Coats'  knowledge  of  the  country  ex- 
tending no  farther  than  Fort  Laramie;  but  they  had 
hardly  proceeded  a  mile  from  that  post  before  they 
met  Bridger  and  Fitzpatrick,  of  the  fur  comi)anies, 
the  former  being  on  his  way  to  the  States  with  a  large 

"'J'liey  tlisposed  of  their  wagoiia  and  cattle  at  tlie  fort;  selling  them  at  the 
prices  they  hail  paid  in  the  States,  and  taking  in  exchange  coffee  and  sugar  at 
one  dollar  a  pound,  and  ntiserable,  worn-out  horses,  which  died  before  they 
reached  the  mountains.  Mr  Houdeau  informed  nie  tliat  ho  had  purchased 
30,  and  tlie  lower  fort  80  liead  of  tine  cattle,  some  of  them  of  the  Durham 
breed.'  Frimont's  EjrpeditmiK,  40-1. 

'"  F.  X.  Matthieu  Wiis  born  in  1818,  and  in  1837,  at  tiie  time  of  the  Cana 
dian  rebellion,  was  clerk  in  a  store  in  Montreal.  Being  a  rebel,  he  employed 
liis  leisure  in  purchasing  and  sliippiug  arms  to  the  centres  of  rebellion,  and 
was  obliged  at  hint  to  (juit  Canada,  which  he  did  in  18;J8.  He  went  first 
to  Albany,  New  York,  and  afterward  to  St  Louis,  where  ho  engaged  with  the 
American  Fur  Company  to  tra<le  in  tlie  Yellowstone  country;  and  subsequently 
made  an  expedition  to  Santa  F6,  from  which  place  he  rejoined  tiie  fur  com- 
pany at  Fort  Laramie  in  1841,  and  trailed  for  one  year  with  tho  natives  in  the 
Vellowstono  region.  Hut  the  natives  being  furnished  with  rum  became  ton 
savage  and  dangerous  to  deal  with,  and  Mattiiieu  decided  to  go  to  Oregon 
witli  the  emigration.  Two  of  the  Canadians  with  him  were  Peter  (iauthici- 
and  Paul  Ojet.  Matthieu  went  to  Etienne  [.■ucier  at  Champoeg,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  working  as  a  carpenter  or  farmer  as  circumstances 
required.  In  1844  he  mairied  and  settled  at  St  Pauls  as  a  farmer.  When 
the  gold  fever  broke  out  he  went  to  California  for  a  time.  He  was  afterward 
elected  constable  and  justice  ot  the  peace  uniler  the  provisional  government 
of  Oregon.  In  1878  he  dictated  to  my  stenographer  an  account  of  his  adven- 
tures, which,  under  the  title  of  Matthicn  s  llij'iujve,  MS.,  furnishes  several 
items  of  interest  and  importance  to  this  work, 


!'  ffii 


•,'■  il 


•_■  Mt 


TllK   sriMNDIAN    .UiKNTS   COMI'ANV. 


m  \ 


)     :         , 


quantity  of  t'uis,  jnul  acfoinjuiiiicd  tliiouifli  tlic  liostilr 
(•((imtry  })ytlu!  latter.  As  Hridj^rr  no  loiiyiT  n-cjuiicd 
liis  Hcrvici's,  Fitzpatrick  was  iiidiicrd  l>y  White,  wlio 
claiins  to  liav(^  acted  with  authority,  to  ii^uide  the  com- 
pany to  Fort  Hall  at  tiie  expense  of  the  novernnient." 

The  new  j^uith;  soon  had  an  opportunity  to  show 
his  skill  in  dealiniJf  with  the  natives;  for  while  at 
[ndependence  Kock,  wlu're  sonu^  of  the  paitv  were  ani- 
hitious  to  inscrihe  their  names,  Hastinj^s  and  Love- 
joy,  who  had  fallen  hehind,  were  cut  ofi'  hy  a  }>arty 
of  Sioux,  aiul  narrowly  escaped  to  camp  after  several 
liours  of  detention,  the  savai;'es  followiny^,  and  i)einL;' 
met  by  Fitzpatrick,  who  succeeded  in  arrauij^in^  mat- 
ters.''^ 

The  Sweetwater  was  reached  f)n  the  13th  of  July, 
and  here  one  of  the  comj)any,  a  younu,'  man  named 
Bailey,  was  accidently  shot  hy  another  of  the  j)arty. 
At  this  place  all  remained  for  several  days  to  hunt 
huffalo  and  to  dry  the  meat.  The  Sioux,  who  infested 
the  country  in  considerable  numbers,  caused  the  hunt- 
ers great  amioyance,  frequently  robbing  them  of  both 
horses  and  game,  though  they  were  kt'pt  at  a  safe 
distance  from  the  cam]).  The  last  that  was  seen  ol 
them  was  on  a  tributary  of  the  Sweetwater,  where 
the  principal  chiefs  were  invited  to  camp  and  con- 
ciliated with  })resents. 

As  soon  as  they  were  clear  of  the  enemy.  White 
and  a  dozen  others  who  were  well  mounted  })ushed  on 
before,  taking  Fitzpa trick  with  them.  This  left  Has- 
tings in  charge  of  the  Jieavier  portion  of  the  train, 
without  a  guide,  and  accordingly  caused  nmch  dissat- 


"  Hastings  says  that  White  liad  no  authority  to  employ  a  gtiidc  at  the 
expense  of  the  government,  (h:  am/  Ciil ,  {).  Lovejoy,  wlio  w;is  Hastings' 
lieutentant,  says  the  same.  FoKiii/imj  o/  J'or/lnm/,  MS.,  7.  Wliite  undoubtedly 
liad  verbal  assuranees  that  the  necessary  expenses  of  his  expedition  would 
be  paid,  see  lietter  of  J.  C.  Spencer,  in  HV/iVe's  Ten  Ynir.t  in  Or.,  322-5, 
an<l  was  encouraged  to  expect  the  protection  of  P'rcniont's  exploring  expedi- 
tion, which  ilid  not,  however,  leave?  the  frontier  until  the  10th  of  June,  nor 
arrive  at  Laramie  until  tli"  loth  of  .Inly,  wlicn  White's  party  had  been  a  week 
gone. 

^'  Lfnrjoi/'x  Portland,  MS.,  9-18;  Hastimjs'  Or.  and  Val,  11-17;  Wlikc'.'i 
'J'l  It  Ymr/i,  155-7 


L.  W.   HASTINGS'   I'AUTV 


901 


ist'actioii.  At  Green  Rivrr  another  division  occurrod. 
Al)out  halt'  the  ori<;iiial  nunihei-  of  waijons  was  still 
retained;  and  now  part  persisted  in  euttin*,^  up  their 
\va»4<)iis  and  nuikinu^  [)ack-saddles,  and  travt'llin^  hi-nee- 
torth  with  horses.  Heavy  rain-storms  hiiuU'red  hotli 
|>ai'ties,  who  arrived  at  Fort  Hall  ahout  the  same 
time.  Here  the  enui^iants  were  kindly  reeeivt-d  hy 
(Irant,  who  sold  them  Hour  for  half  the  priee  paid  at 
Jjaramie,  taking  in  payment  the  running-gear  of  the 
wagons,  whieh  all  now  {)greed  to  dispense  with.''' 

The  company  remained  at  Fort  Hall  ahout  ten 
days,  exet'pt  White's  ])arty,  who  starti'd  a  few  days 
in  advance.  Thev  lost  a  man,  Adam  Horn,  the  un- 
fortunate  cause  of  Bailey's  death,  at  the  crossing  of 
Snake  liiver  below  Salmon  Falls.'^  The  doct(n'  and 
his  companions  started  with  Mc])onald,  a  Hudson's 
Bay  trader;  but  the  pack-animals  not  being  able  to 
kee})  up  with  the  fur  comi)any'8  cavalcade,  the  greater 
nund)er  of  the  party  fell  behind,  while  White  and  a 
fewotl -irs  proct^eded  with  McDonald  to  Walla  Walla. 
The  route  taken  by  McDonald  and  White  after  leav- 
ing Fort  Boise  was  the  same  as  that  described  by 
Farnham,  through  Burnt  Kiver  Canon,  and  Grand 
Konde  A'alley,  and  thence  over  the  Blue  Mountains, 
whieh  they  ci'ossed  in  two  days.  From  the  foot  of 
the  mountains  an  Indian  guided  White  to  Wliitman's 
mission.  Hastings'  party  avoided  the  crossing  of 
Snake  River,  proceeding  along  the  south  side  of  that 
stream  as  far  as  the  lower  crossing  at  Fort  Boise, 
where  they  came  into  the' trail  of  the  advance  l)arty. 
They  also  turned  aside  to  visit  Waiilatpu,  where  they 
were  wannly  welcomed  by  Whitman  about  the  middle 

"  Whi'te'ii  Tni  Ycarti  in  Or.,  164;  Jfmf.im/s' (h:  and  CiL,  20;  Crnn-fonV'* 
Mixsionitrii't,  MS.,  24.  Attempts  liave  been  made  to  sliow  tliat  tlie  HiuUoii'.s 
Hay  Company's  oHicers  did  wliat  tlicy  coul<l  toolistnict  immigration  from  tlio 
States,  and  purposely  exaggerate  the  ditHeulties  in  order  to  induce  the  emi- 
grants to  sell  their  oxen  and  wagons  at  a  saoriiice.  That  such  was  i'''t  the 
case  is  proved  by  (Irant's  kindness  to  White's  and  other  parties.  I'^  "'jM 
them  provisions  low,  and  so  far  from  trying  to  get  their  wagons,  he  jre<l 
them  that  they  could  travel  with  them  as  fur  as  Walla  Walla  without  serious 
interruption.     It  was  their  own  fault  that  they  did  not  take  his  advice. 

^'  Cntw/ord'M  Mi/tiiionork'/i,  M.S.,  23. 


\ 


fr- 


*     'i'l 


■-'(»'-' 


THE  8UH1NIUAN    -UiKNTS   COMI'AXY. 


11 1  H 


I  ( 


of  R('pcoinl)or.  Here  tliov  lialtcd  scvcnil  <la\'s  to  n- 
cniit,  and  were  kept  Imsy  aiiswcriiii^  the  cai^iT  (jiit's- 
tioiiH  of  the  isolated  missionaries  eoncerning  affairs  in 
the  States."^ 

F'roni  Waiilat|»u  the  eniit^Tants  proceeded  with- 
out ae('i(h'nt  to  tlie  Wilhiniette  \'aliey.  which  they 
icached  on  the  oth  of  Octoher,  Svtnie  hy  Daniel  Li-e  s 
catth;  trail  fi-oni  tlu^  Dalles,  anil  others  l»y  the  trail 
on  the  north  of  the  Cohnnhia,  swiinniiu'j;  their  cattle 
to  the  south  side  when  ojjposito  the  mouth  of  Sandy 
Kiver, 


; 


i      ! 


i  in 


White,  who  appears  to  have  ln'cn  anxious  to  reach 
the  settlements  as  (sarly  as  ])ossil>le,  arr'ived  at  Van- 
couver ahout  the  20tli  of  Septemher.  ( 'onsidering  the 
circumstances  of  his  departui'e  from  Oregon,  it  was 
liut  natural  that  he  should  have  sonu'  feeling  of  self- 
importance  antl  exultation  on  retui'iiing  as  tJie  first 
officer  of  the  United  Statiss  appointed  in  that  country. 
Hut  as  his  connnission  as  governor,  oi-  rathei'  magis- 
trate, was  only  verlml,  and  depended  on  the  will  of 
the  colonists,  it  was  prudent  at  least  to  ascertain  the 
sentiment  of  the  j)eo])k',  and  that,  too,  before  the  ar- 
rival of  the  Hastings  wing  of  the  immigration,  whose 
influence  was  likely  to  be  thrown  against  him. 

The  position  in  which  White  found  himself  on  pre- 
s(Miting  his  credentials  to  the  colonists  was  not  an 
enviable  one.  A  meetiMg  was  called  at  Cham})oeg 
on  tl:  '  23d  of  September,  which  was  addressed  at 
some  nigth  by  the  doctor,  who  gave  such  information 
as  he  It  himself  authorized  to  give,  as  he  expressed 
it,  coi  jrning  the  intentions  of  the  government  in 
regard  >  the  colony,  and  the  feeling  of  the  jieople  of 
the  Un  .ed  States  toward  it.  Resolutions  were  then 
l^ssed,  oo  the  effect  that  the  })eople  of  Willamette 
Valley  were  ha})j)y  that  the  government  had  niani- 

'■'^Lovcjoy,  who  was  of  Hivstings'  party,  had  heeii  left  behind  to  search  for 
a  lost  companion.  When  he  reached  Walia  Walla,  Hastings  had  gone,  so  ho 
remained  at  the  mission,  and  in  the  following  month  was  engaged  to  accom- 
pany Whitman  to  the  Stjites. 


KKCKPTION   IN   THE  WILI.AMKITE. 


2<J3 


toHted  its  inti'iitioii,  tlnoiioli  its  iij^t'iit,  Doctor  Wliite, 
of  extending  juiisdictioii  aiul  protection  dvcr  tiie 
country;  jrratiHcd  that  an  Indian  aj^t'iit  liad  boon 
a|H)ointcd  to  j-cj^^ulatc  and  i^uaj'd  the  interests  of  the 
nativi's;  and  pleased  with  thi'  api)ointnient  of  White, 
with  wiioni  tliev  proniisetl  to  cordially  cooperate. 
They  wore  also  j^^ratet'ul  for  the  liberal  desij^n  of  the 
•government  to  lend  its  siippoit  to  education  nnd  liter- 
ature aniono-  tlie  colonists.  It  would  ^ivc  them  the 
hi*(hest  satisfaction  to  be  J)rout(ht  as  soon  as  |)ossil)lc 
into  this  l.-ppy  estate,  and  they  tlosire<l  that  their 
views  expressed  in  their  resolutions  mij^ht  be  trans- 
mitted to  the  ifovernment.'*'  There  was  nothin*';  un- 
friendly  in  these  j^uarded  expressions,  but  it  was  soon 
ronuirk(!d,  with  ditt'erent  de<rrees  of  acrimonious  criti- 
cism, that  White  assumed  ])owers  not  belon<j^in<(  to 
him,  claiming  to  be  virtual  governor  of  the  colony, 
whereas  he  luid  no  commission  except  a  letter  <»f  in- 
structions as  sub-ai^ent  of  Indian  atiairs.'"  The  em- 
barrassments  of  his  anomalous  position  constantly 
increased.  The  missionary  colonists,  as  has  alieady 
boon  shown,  wore  divided  amongst  themselves.  Those 
who  diti'ered  from  Jason  Lee  as  to  the  proper  business 
of  men  in  the  emj)loy  of  missionary  societies  liad 
already  begun  to  leave  the  country.  Those  wlio 
remained,  especially  those  in  the  Willamette  Valley, 
belonged  to  the  Lee  faction,  and  were  opposed  to  the 
pretensions  of  White  because  Lee  was  opposed  to 
them.  The  settlers  belonging  to  the  Mission  wei'c 
governed,  as  the  uneducated  classes  usually  are,  by 
the  opinions  of  the  man  with  the  best  facilities  for 
mahing  himself  popular,  and  although  Jason  Lee's 
popularity  with  this  class  was  not  what  it  once  had 

'«  WhUe'x  Ten  Ymrx  in  Or.,  168-70. 

"  Hines  says:  'Tliu  subject  of  organizing  <a  govenimunt  wius  .again  revivftl 
in  Septoniber  1842;  but  l)r  VVbitc,  who  was  now  in  the  country  as  sulj-agent 
of  luilian  affairs,  contended  that  his  office  was  ec^uivuk-nt  ti;  that  of  governor 
of  the  colony.  Some  of  the  citizens  contended  that  the  doctor's  business  was 
to  regulate  the  intercourse  l)etween  the  In<lian8  and  whites,  and  not  to  con- 
trol the  whites  in  their  intercourse  among  themselves.'  Or.  JIM.,  421;  Aj>j>lt- 
<j(t(c.t  Vkwn,  MS.,  3G;  Mws  Pioneer  Tlme-i,  MS.,  4. 


I ') 


2G4 


THE  SUB-INDIAN  AGENTS  COMPANY. 


been,  he  still  controlled  the  majority  of  American 
minds  in  the  Willamette  Valley.  This  being  the 
])osition  of  aftairs,  it  required  no  little  skill  to  avoid 
the  rocks  placed  in  the  current  which  White  was 
obliged  to  navigate  by  the  determined  and  often 
underhand  opposition  of  his  former  associates  of  the 
Methodist  Mission. 

TJie  importance  of  White's  innnigration  has  never 
been  fully  recognized.  First,  the  missionary  historians, 
Hines  and  Gray,  were  inimical  to  White,  each  in  his 
way  damning  him  either  with  faint  praise  or  loud 
condemnation.  After  them,  writers  on  immigration, 
finding  White  ignored,  fell  i'.ito  the  habit  of  speaking 
o  the  company  of  1843  as  the  first  innnigrants. 
Against  this  injustice  the  authors  of  several  manu- 
scripts protest.^**  Hastings,  who  wrote  so  minutely 
about  the  journey,  and  who  succeeded  White  in  com- 
mand of  the  company,  mentions  the  name  of  his  rival 
but  once  in  his  account  of  the  migration,  and  then  onlv 
to  doubt  his  authority  to  employ  a  guide.  From  all 
of  which  we  may  learn  that  if  a  man  desires  to  be 
properly  represented  in  history,  he  must  avoid  coming 
ill  conflict  with  the  ambitions  of  other  men  equally 
aspiring  who  may  undertake  the  rec<^rd  of  affairs. 

U\)on  the  same  authority  it  is  said  that  most  of  the 
innnigrants  were  disajjpointed  in  the  country.  They 
found  themselves  more  than  two  thousand  miles  from 
th*  land  of  their  birth,  without  houses  to  shelter 
them,  destitute  of  the  means  of  farming,  without  pro- 
visions or  clothing,  surrounded  by  unfriendly  natives, 
and  without  the  protection,  of  then'  government.  What 
wonder,  then,  if  discontent  j)revailed  r"  McLoughlin 
did  his  best  to  relieve  this  feeling,  engaging  many 
in  labor  at  fair  wages,  and  furnishing  goods  on  credit 
to  those  who  could  not  make  immediate  payment. 
The  Mission,  also,  whicli  was  in  need  of  laborers  for 


^^ Moan'  Pioneer  TinirM,   MS.,   10,    11;   Crair/onCji  Mm'toimrku,  MS.,    17; 
Wkite'»  Eitrlji  (loivrnwiit,  MS.,  1!). 
^■^ IhtMiiiijs  Or.  I'liil  CiiL,  'J*J. 


DISiSATlSFACTION   AND  DEPAKTUKE. 


265 


the  contemplated  improvements,  employed  many  me- 
chanics. Thus  out  of  the  industry  of  this  handful  of 
energetic  Americans  sprang  up  Oregon  City  in  the 
winter  of  1842-.'^.  There  were  thirty  buildingfs  in  the 
spring  of  184:1,  wliere  before  the  innaigration  there 
liad  been  l)ut  three  or  four.^"  From  tliis  it  would 
seem  that  most  of  the  men  with  families,  and  some 
without,  settled  at  Oregon  City.'"' 

But  there  were  others  among  the  immigrants  who 
could  not  be  i)revented  from  leaving  Oregon  by  prof- 
fers of  well-paid  labor  or  other  consideration.  Why, 
it  is  difficult  to  say.  They  had  had  as  yet  no  oppor- 
tunity of  estimating  the  resources  of  the  country  or 
the  advantages  which  niiffht  accrue  to  them  by  set- 
tling  in  it.  Possibly  Hastings  was  responsible  for  it. 
He  and  White  had  been  at  enmity  throughout  the 
overland  journey,  and  as  the  latter  carried  a  govern- 

'"> Moxn'  Pioneer  Time.^,  MS.,  29. 

'■'-  Medorum  Cr  iwforil  went  to  Salem,  and  taught  the  Mission  school  during 
its  last  session,  after  wliich  he  returned  to  Oregon  City  and  entered  upon  the 
business  of  transporting  goods  around  the  Falls  with  ox-teams  for  the  greater 
eonvenience  of  the  settlers  above  the  portage.  He  was  born  in  the  state  of 
New  York,  being  21  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Oregon.  He  married  in 
1843  Miss  Adeline  Brown,  who  catne  in  the  same  company.  Mrs  Crawford 
died  in  June  1879,  leaving  6  children.  CraifJ'ord'H  MiMxionai-ien,  MS.,  4.  This 
manuscript,  was  dictated  from  memory.  It  agrees  in  the  main  with  other 
accounts  of  the  emigration  of  1842,  and  refers  to  many  Oregon  matters. 
•Sid. icy  W.  M(i;i8  assisted  in  building  the  original  Oregon  Institute  on  Wal- 
lace's prairie.  He  was  born  in  Bourbon  County,  Indiana,  March  17,  1810, 
was  a  stone-mason  by  trade,  and  finally  took  up  his  residence  at  Oregon  City. 
He  appears,  from  his  Pietiire-s  of  Pioneer  Timex,  to  have  been  a  man  of  strong 
l)iases,  giving  his  opinions  incautiously,  though  in  the  main  his  statements 
were  c  rcct.  H.,i  wad  of  a  literary  turn,  and  was  interested  in  founding  the 
first  association  for  n.'utual  improvement  in  Oregon  in  the  autumn  of  184;{, 
callc'!.  the  Falls  Debating  Society.  Moss  says  that  wliile  on  the  way  to 
Oregon,  and  during  the  winter  of  1842,  he  wrote  a  story  called  the  f'rairie 
Floirer,  which  he  giive  for  publieatu>n  to  Overton  Johnston,  an  emigrant 
from  Indiana,  wlio  roturned  to  the  States  in  184:1;  and  that  it  fell  into  the 
liandr  of  Emerson.  Bennett,  who  polished  it,  and  published  it  as  his  own, 
securmg  considerabli;  fame  thereby,  as  it  was  the  first  <>f  a  series  of  those 
sketches  of  border  life  whicli  afterward  l)eeanie  popular.  Bennett  subse- 
tjuently  wrote  a  secjut'l,  Leni  Leofi.  Matx'  Pioneer  7V/«('.>i,  Oregon  City,  1878, 
is  a  valuiilile  maimsci  ipt  treating  ably  of  a  great  vari;;ty  of  historial  topics, 
chielly  relating  to  Oregon  City.  David  AVeston,  a  Idacksmith  associated  witli 
Hul)l)ard,  with  I)orn  in  Indiana,  .July  4,  1820.  He  became  a  worthy  citizen 
of  the  young  common  wealtli,  serving  thiuigh  the  Caj-use  war.  He  died  Dec. 
19,  1875.  Siilein  Former,  Jan.  187().  .Manning  settled  on  a  farm  near  the  old 
Mission,  v/here  .,8  lived  7  years,  but  went  to  California  in  1849.  Sonoma  Co. 
Hisf.,  ()12.  Crocker  was  ilrowned  in  the  Willamette  in  February  1843,  as 
mentioned  in  a  previous  chapter. 


U'i 


i 


ik  n 


m-' 


260 


THE  SUB-INDIAN   ACENT'S  COMPANY 


ment  ai)p()intmeiit,  Hastings  may  have  thought  that 
his  ambition  would  be  more  fully  gratified  by  seeking 
fresh  fields.  Wherever  Hastings  went  his  adherents 
were  willing  to  follow,  and  the  result  was  that  he, 
started  for  California  in  the  spring  witn  about  a  third 
of  the  adult  male  members  of  the  original  company, 
together  with  a  number  of  women  and  children."  The 
party  rendezvoused  at  Champoeg,  and  began  their 
march  on  the  30th  of  May.  Nothing  occurred  to  in- 
terrupt their  journey  until  Rogue  River  was  reached, 
where  the  savages  crowded  about  them  in  large  num- 
bers, profiering  the  use  of  their  canoes  in  cr.  o^'ng. 
The  travellers  accepted  the  offer,  but  prudc!itly  di- 
vided their  armed  men  into  two  parties,  half  being 
on  the  farther  side  to  receive  and  protect  the  goods, 
and  half  left  to  })rotect  the  families  which  had  not  yet 
crossed.  In  this  maimer,  by  great  watchfulness,  and 
occasionally  driving  the  natives  back  by  discharging  a 
gun,  this  dangerous  point  was  safely  passed. 

Several  days'  travel  below  Rogue  River  they  en- 
countered a  company  en  route  to  Oregon,  headed  by 
J.  P.  Leese  and  John  McClure.  Thi'  meeting  was  the 
occasion  of  serious  discussion,  both  parties  encaniping 
in  order  to  consider  the  relative  merits  of  the  two 
countries.  The  result  was,  that  about  one  third  of 
Hastings'  })arty  turned  back  to  Oregon  with  Leese 
and  McClure.''"*     Hastings'  company,  reduced  to  six- 

'''  Hastings  gives  the  whole  mimuc*  ns  53,  and  of  men  hearing  arms  '25.  J. 
M.  Hiulspetli,  wlio  was  horn  in  Alahaina  Fehruary '20,  181'2,  'a  civil  gentle- 
man,' as  Moss  says,  was  one.  Sonoma  Co.  Hint.,  478-1).  N.  Coonihs,  who 
settled  in  Napa  Valley,  was  another  He  died  Decemher  1877.  AiUioc/i 
fii'dijer,  Jan.  5,  1878.  T.  J.  Shaddcn  is  also  mentioned.  He  returned  to 
Oregon  and  settled  in  Yamhill  County.  Crau[f'ord\H  Min.sioiitiries,  MS.,  29. 
Among  tlio  rest  M-ere  W.  Bennett,  V.  Bennett,  0.  Sunnier,  A.  Smith,  A. 
Coneland,  (r.  Davis,  S.  B.  Davis,  Jo'iu  ]-)auhenbi88,  G.  W.  Bellamy,  H.  Jones, 
and  Mr  Briilges.  Four  of  tliese  had  families.  San  Jomc  /'ioiini;  May '20,  1877. 
(Jraj'  remarks  that  Hastings  relieved  the  colony  of  a  numher  of  not  very 
valuahlo  settlers,  referring  to  the  fact  that  tliey  were  furnished  l)y  McLough- 
lin  with  BUjiplies  for  their  journey  to  California,  for  which  tli  i  most  of  them 
neglected  to  make  payment  to  Mr  Ilae  at  San  Francisco  as  agreed.  McLotuili- 
I'm  X  Primtf,  J'apern,  MS.,  '2d  ser.  8.  But  the  subsequent  career  of  these  nieu 
proved  them  no  worse  in  this  respect  than  some  who  remained  in  Oregon. 

''  McClun!  was  from  New  Orleans,  wliere,  according  to  Moss,  something 
happened  tu  cause  him  to  leave  that  part  of  the  world.     Hu  settled  at  Astoria, 


HASTIXdS  IN  C'AUFOKNIA. 


267 


teen  armed  iiieii,  proceeded  to  their  destination,  being* 
twice  attacked  by  Indians,  once  at  SliasUi  River,  and 
again  on  the  Sacramento,  with  no  other  damage  than 
the  wounding  of  Bellamy,  and  tlie  loss  for  several 
days  of  two  men  who  became  separated  from  the  com- 
pany, and  who,  having  exhausted  their  amnmnition 
narrowly  escajied  death  from  starvation.  At  Sutter 
Fort  all  were  kindly  received  and  cared  for,  and  Has- 
tings, after  remaining  a  short  time  in  California,  during 
which  he  gathered  nmch  floating  information  regard- 
ing the  country,  pul)lished  a  narrative  of  his  travels 
and  observations  for  the  benefit  of  succeeding  emi- 
grations. 

liis  land  claim  forming  a  part  of  the  town  site,  and  married  a  native,  a  sister 
of  the  wife  of  (ieorge  Winslow,  colored,  of  the  many  aliases,  wliose  business 
as  'medical  doctor'  was  so  unfeelingly  hroken  up  by  Dr  Barclay,  at  Oregon 
City.  James  John,  M.  C.  Nye,  James  Daw.son,  and  Benjamin  Kelsey,  his 
wife  Nancy  and  one  daughter,  were  of  the  California  emigration  to  Oregon. 
Tiie  Kelseys  did  not  Icmg  remain,  but  returned  to  California;  and  Dawson  Wiuj 
drowned,  in  the  Columbia  River  in  1847.  Sun  Jodi/iiiii  Co.  HiM.,  15;  Sutter  Co. 
Hkl.,  2-). 

'■'*  Till'  Bi)iiijrivils'  (liiiilc  to  Orcijoii  niiU  Cali/oniin,  CoDtAiiuiiiij  Smii-.i  mid 
Inriid'nlii  of  a  J'arfi/  of  l)n'</oii  Emiijraiits;  A  JJc.srription  of  Ort'ijon;  Scihvh 
tfiif/  /iiridi'iiln  of  a  Par/if  nf  Cnlifoniin  Euiiiinintx,  iiml  a  Dcxrrip/iou  of  <  'itli- 
I'ornid,  with  a  Dexcription  of  the  Diffcrrnt  Jioiitcx  to  thoMC  Coinitrifn,  onil  all 
Xfrcssari/  hifonnotion  lidittiir  to  the  Ei/liijrmciit,  Siijiplii'n,  iiiitl  the  Method 
of  Triavlliii;/  By  Lansford  W.  Hiistings,  leader  of  the  Oregon  and  Cali- 
fornia emigrants  of  1842.  I'inciiinati,  1845.  This  compendious  title  to  a 
book  of  152  pages  sutticiently  explains  the  nature  of  its  contents,  which  are 
written  in  a  fair  style.  Hastings  was  from  Detroit,  Michigan.  He  is  described 
as  a  man  of  practical  talent,  but  of  a  seltish  and  arbitrary  disposition,  and  is 
charged  with  having  wormed  himself  into  the  command.  Loirjofs  /'orllund, 
MS.,  'X  He  headed  an  expedition,  says  Moss,  to  some  southern  island, 
Pioimr  Tinien,  MS.,  8;  and  I.,ovejoy  adds  that  he  married  a  Spanish  lady. 
/fiisliw/n'  Einii/ntid  Cnidi'  wAti  repu!)lished  in  1849  at  Cincinnati,  an<l  bound 
with  a  number  of  other  pamphlets  on  the  same  subject,  uiuler  the  title  of  A 
//istorif  ofOnyoii  and  California. 


CHAPTER   XI. 

WHITE'S  ADMINLSTRATION  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 

1842-1845. 

The  Indian  Aoknt'm  Troubles — Hi.s  Nkhotiations  with  the  Cayusea  and 
Nez  Perceh — A  Code  op  Laws  for  the  Indians— The  Peace  Broken 

AOAIN,  AND  AOAIN  PATCHED  VI'-WhITE's  TROUBLES  WITH  ILLICIT  DIS- 
TILLERIES— The  Killinu  of  Cw^kstock — The  Oreoon  Rangers — Yel- 
low Serpent's  Disastrous  Expedition  to  California — Death  ok  his 
Son  Elijah — White's  Interview  with  Chief  Ellis — His  Conciliatory 
Promises,  /.nd  how  They  were  Kepf — His  Departure  from  Oregon. 

Thk  new  Indian  agent  had  not  been  many  weeks 
in  Oregon  before  lie  was  called  upon  to  act  in  his  offi- 
cial ca[)acity.  Word  came  to  Fort  Vancouver  that 
the  Cayuses  had  burned  a  mill  at  the  Waiilatpu  mis- 
sion, besides  insulting  Mrs  Whitman,  and  that  the 
Nez  Forces  had  threatened  violence  and  outrage  at 
Lapwai.  This  news  greatly  alarmed  the  colonists,  as 
it  seemed  to  confirm  a  rumor  then  prevalent  that  all 
the  Oregon  tribes  were  preparing  for  a  general  attack 
on  the  settlers.^ 

New  to  office,  White  acted  with  promptness.  He 
consulted  with  the  veteran  McKay,  by  whose  advice 
it  was  decided  to  visit  the  disturbed  localities  without 
delay.  Accordingly,  on  the  15th  of  November,  White 
and  McKay  set  out,  accompanied  by  six  well-armed 
men  and  two  interpreters,  Cornelius  Rogers  and  Bap- 
tiste  Dorion.  At  the  Dalles  they  found  Mrs  Whit- 
man, who  had  abandoned  her  home'  together  with 
Littlejohn  and  his  wife,  and  (jeiger.     Littlejohn  and 

^  Mn/tiiii'ii's  /tt/iiiiii ,  MS.,  i:{;  W'hitr'n  Ti'ii  Vnjrx  hi  Or.,  17(5-7;  /tinea' Ore- 
I /nil  I  fist.,  14'i. 

1268) 


ANOTHER  FATHER  FOR  THE  JNI>IAN, 


'2im 


Goiter  joimnl  White's  party,  who  received  anotlur 
important  addition  at  Walla  Walla  in  the  person  of 
MeKinlay,  who  declared  that  he  would  make  common 
cause  witli  the  Americans  in  dcjaliniy^  with  the  Cayusi-s. 
But  few  natives  were  found  at  Waiilatpu,  and  those 
were  shy;  so  leaving*'  an  a})pointment  for  a  meetinj^ 
with  the  Cayuses  on  their  return,  the  party  [)roceedcd 
to  Lapwai.  A  courier  had  been  sent  in  atlvan<e  to 
collect  the  Nez  Perces,  and  when  Spalding's  station 
was  reached  on  the  3d  of  December,  White  was  re- 
ceived by  the  assembled  chiefs  with  <(ravity  and 
reserve.  Wishing  to  ginn  the  confidence  and  good- 
will of  the  natives  l)efore  meeting  them  in  council. 
White  b(!gan  by  visiting  and  prescribing  for  the  sick, 
and  holding  informal  C(jnversations  with  the  chiefs,  in 
the  course  of  which  he  took  care  to  praise  the  per- 
formance of  their  children  at  school,  and  otherwise 
to  judiciously  flatter  them. 

At  the  general  conference  which  followed,  he  made 
an  approf)riate  and  well-turned  speech  exi)laining  tln' 
nature  of  his  ofKc(^  He  told  them  that  the  oljject  of 
his  visit  was  to  show  them  the  friendly  intentions 
of  the  United  States  government,  which  would  pro- 
tect them  in  tlunr  rights,  even  against  white  nuMi  who 
would  do  them  wrong;  he  dwelt  upon  the  high  esteem 
in  which  the  missionaries  were  held  by  their  great 
chief,  the  president  of  the  United  States,  and  the 
oflfencc  which  would  be  given  by  injuring  tliem  in 
their  persons  or  estate. 

MeKinlay  also  addressed  them,  alluding  to  the 
forn\er  got)d  understanding  betwe<!n  the  Nez  J'erces 
and  the  fur  company;  and  assuring  them  that  English, 
French,  and  Americans  were  one  in  interests  and  feel- 
ings, and  allied  in  the  same  maimer  as  were  the  con- 
federated tribes,  the  Cayuses,  Walla  Wallas,  and  Xcz 
Perces,  liogers  next  made  an  ai)peal  to  tlunn,  as 
their  former  teacher,  antl  hoped  they  would  avoid  the 
troubles  into  wliich  some  of  tin;  tribes  east  of  the 
Kockv  Mountains   had   fallen    throu'j^h    unreasonable 


ir 


210 


WHITK'S   A1)MINI^^TRATI()X   OF   IXUIAX   AFFAIRS. 


resistance  to  the  jui^t  measures  of  white  men.  But 
perhaps  the  most  eflfective  speed i  of  all  was  that  made 
by  McKay,  who  addressed  the  chiefs  in  their  own 
tongue  and  picturesque  style  of  oratory.  He  reminded 
them  of  the  tragical  death  of  his  father,  and  of  the 
many  years  he  himself  had  spent  among  them,  during 
which  they  had  fought  and  suffered  together,  and 
enjoyed  their  peaceful  s})oi'ts  in  connnon.  Now,  how- 
ever, he  was  growing  old,  and  thinking  to  enjoy  repose, 
had  settled  on  a  farm  in  the  Willamette.  But  at  a 
moment  when  all  was  quiet,  the  voice  of  his  white 
brethren  had  arc-.^^^jd  him,  and  he  had  come  in  haste 
to  tell  them,  his  former  friends  and  associatiis,  to  be 
advised,  and  not  to  stop  their  ears,  for  the  children 
of  the  great  chief  were  as  numerous  .  'i  the  stars  in 
the  lieavens  or  the  leaves  on  the  trees,  and  they,  wln> 
were  not  fools,  as  their  advancenient  in  learning 
showed,  surely  would  not  refuse  to  hearken  to  the 
voice  of  wisdom. 

When  McKay  had  ended,  several  of  the  leading 
chiefs  replied,  avowing  friendliness  toward  the  white 
men,  and  expressing  their  grat'tude  to  tlie  United 
States  government  for  sending  an  agent  to  look  after 
their  welfare.  White  next  proposed  that  for  their 
better  government  and  organization  the  Xez  Perces 
elect  a  head  chief,  with  authority  to  control  the  young 
men  and  punish  them  for  wrong-doing,  the  sub- chiefs 
acting  as  his  aids,  each  with  a  suite  of  five  men  to 
execute  his  orders.  He  also  read  to  them,  clause  by 
clause,  a  code  of  laws  which  he  suggested  they  should 
adopt." 


^   \ 


"Following  are  the  oflFencea  named  and  penalties  attached:  Murder  and 
purposely  Inirniuj,'  a  <lMolling,  hanging.  Burning  an  out-ltuililing,  six  months 
imprisonment,  50  lasliets,  and  payment  of  damages.  Burning  property  through 
carelessness,  payment  of  damages.  Kntering  a  dwelling  without  pern\issiou 
of  occuj>ant,  punishment  left  to  the  cliiefs.  Tlieft  of  property  of  the  value  of 
a  beaver-skin  or  less,  pay  hack  twofold,  and  L'.")  laslies.  Theft  of  property  worth 
more  tlian  a  heaver-ski  .,  pay  back  twofold,  and  50  lashes.  Lsing  another's 
horse  or  other  property  without  perniission,  '20  to  "Jo  lashes,  as  the  chief  directs, 
and  payment  for  use  of  the  horse.  Injuring  crops  or  fences,  payment  ot 
damages,  and  'J5  lashes.  Oidy  those  travelling  or  living  in  the  game  country 
might  keep  a  dog.     If  a  dog  kill  u  domestic  animal,  the  owner  must  pay  the 


LAWS   FOR  TUK   SAVACJK. 


'J71 


against 


Althougli  this  code  was  specially  levelled 
the  class  of  iiiisdeiueanors  from  wliicli  settlers  and  mis 
sionaries  suffered  most  annoyance  at  the  hands  of  the 
Indians,  yet  its  provisions  were  readily  a[)proved  and 
accepted  by  the  chiefs,  who  even  pro})osed  that  in 
some  instances  the  penalties  should  be  made  heavier. 
But  they  were  by  no  means  so  unanimous  in  the 
matter  of  eloctinu'  a  head  chief.  The  canvassinu:  caused 
much  agitation,  on  account  of  jealousies  among  them- 
selves, but  after  a  great  deal  of  anxious  consultation 
with  one  another  and  the  Americans,  who  endeav- 
ored not  to  give  advice  in  this  important  matter, 
Ellis,  the  educated  son  of  the  Bloody  Chief,  was  at 
length  chosen,  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the  tribe.^ 
Appreciating  the  truth  that  the  shortest  road  to  an 
Indian's  heart  lies  through  his  stomach,  White  had 
provided  a  fat  ox  for  a  barbecue,  together  with  abun- 
dance of  corn  and  pease.  After  the  feast  the  pipe  was 
smoked,  and  then  both  the  civilized  and  savage  gave 
themselves  up  to  song  and  merritnent.  On  the  fifth 
day  of  the  visit  a  final  council  was  held,  when  White 
took  occasion  to  lecture  the  savajjes  on  their  bey:<jini; 
propensities,  explaining  to  them  as  well  as  he  could 
the  low  estimation  in  which  beggars  were  held  by 
white  })eo})le.  Fifty  garden-hoes  were  then  presented 
to  the  chiefs  and  Mr  Spalding  for  distribution  among 
the  industrious  poor ;  together  with  some  medicines, 
to  be  given  as  needed.  Then,  with  a  parting  admo- 
nition not  to  disagree  among  themselves  or  with  their 
teachers,  and  an  intimation  to  the  chiefs  that  they 
were  to  be  held  responsible  for  the  good  conduct  of 

damage  and  kill  the  dog.  This  law  w.os  suggested  l)y  the  Indians  thenistlves. 
liaising  a  gun  against  a  white  man,  to  he  puni.-died  at  discretion  of  cliiefa.  If 
a  white  man  do  tlie  same  to  an  Indian,  ho  is  to  he  punishc'i  I)y  white  men.  An 
Indian  breaking  these  laws  is  "to  he  punished  hy  his  chiefs;  a.  white  man  hreak- 
iug  them  is  to  bo  punished  by  the  Indian  agent.    White'n  Or.  Tr>:,  181^. 

* Hines  describes  Kllis  as  having  'a  smattering  of  the  English  language, 
and  a  high  sense  of  his  own  importance,'  and  says  that  after  he  was  appointeil 
he  pursued  a  very  haughty  and  overbearing  course.  Ore(/oii.  Jlinf.,  143.  Whiti.' 
describes  him  as  'a  sensible  man  of  3'2,  reading,  speaking,  and  writing  the 
English  language  tolerably  well;'  that  he  had  a  tine  small  plantation,  a  few 
sheep,  some  neat  stock,  and  no  leas  than  1,100  head  of  horses.  Ten  Yeui-fi  in 
Or.,  18G-7. 


'-1 


l.'7'J         WHlTirs  ADMINISTRATION   OF  INDIAN    AFFAIRS. 

their  pet)plo,  the  agent  and  liis  party  returned  to 
Waiilatpu,  being  escorted  several  miles  upon  their 
way  by  the  Nez  Perces. 

On  reachinj;  Whitman's  station,  White  found  oidv 
a  tew  of  the  Cayuse  chiefs  assembled,  and  the  people 
still  shy.  Hearing  that  the  Nez  Perces  had  so  read- 
ily accepted  laws,  and  chosen  a  high  chief,  they  were 
much  distressed.  It  seemed  to  them  as  if  their  rela- 
tives and  allies  had  turned  against  them,  while  the 
presence  of  McK.inlay,  and  especially  of  McKay, 
warned  them  that  all  the  white  j)eoj)le,  English  and 
Americans,  were  likely  to  combine  for  their  punish- 
ment. McKay  spoke  first  and  was  followed  by  Rogers. 
Their  earnest  reproaches  had  considerable  effect  upon 
their  hearers,  one  of  whom,  Tauitau,  formerly  head 
chief  of  tlie  tribe,  made  a  long  speech  deploring  the 
incorrigible  wickedness  of  his  people,  and  expatiating- 
upon  his  own  sincere  but  fruitless  efforts  to  control 
them.  White  replied  in  terms  of  encouragement, 
taking  care,  however,  to  warn  the  savages  that  there 
was  trouble  in  store  for  them  unless  they  mended  their 
ways.  Finally,  it  was  arranged  that  a  meeting  be- 
tween the  agent  and  the  Cayuses  should  take  place  in 
April,  when  it  would  be  expected  that  a  satisfactory 
settlement  of  the  existing  troubles  should  be  had. 

Returning  to  the  Dalles  on  the  25th  of  December, 
and  findiny;  the  natives  much  excited  between  the 
warlike  rumors  they  had  heard  and  curiosity  about 
the  mission  of  White,  several  days  were  spent  in 
instructing  and  inducing  them  to  accept  the  laws 
instituted  for  the  Nez  Perces,  to  which  they  finally 
consented.  Having  thus  smoothed  the  way,  W^liite 
reconnnended  that  Mr  and  Mrs  Littlejohn  should 
proceed  to  Lapwai  to  reenforcc  the  Spaldings,  which 
they  did  innnediately  after  the  winter  holidays,  while 
he  returned  to  the  Willamette  Valley.'' 

'  Tlie  only  child  and  son  of  Littlejohn  was  drowiifil  in  the  inill-race  afc 
l^ipMiii  thu  following  suininur.    Li,-  nnil  Frost'n  Or.,  -12. 


rLAYI!^G  THE  MA(iISTKATE, 


White  liad  liardly  reached  home  when  he  was  called 
to  tlio  mouth  of  the  Columbia  to  take  measures  for 
the  arrest  and  punishment  of  George  (ieer,  a  sailor 
who  had  deserted  fnmi  an  American  vessel  which  hatl 
been  in  the  river  sellincj  liquor  to  tlu!  natives.''  Geer 
had  acted  as  aji^ent  in  this  nefarious  business,  which 
had  occasioned  battles  and  l)loodshcd  amonjjf  the  Clat- 
sops  and  Chinooks;  and  Frost  had  protested  some- 
what wannlv,  as  his  own  life  as  well  as  the  lives  of  the 
contestants  was  endangered.  This  so  enraged  Geer, 
who  was,  as  White  expressed  it,  "a  fool  as  well  as  a 
villain,"  that  he  offered  a  bribe  of  five  blankets  to  the 
natives  to  murder  Frost.  White  arrested  the  man, 
Vmt  not  knowing  what  to  do  with  him  in  the  absence 
of  any  law,  prevailed  on  McLoughlin  to  allow  him  ti) 
accompany  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  express 
across  the  mountains,  on  a  promise  never  to  return  to 
the  country. 

By  the  1st  of  April,  184:3,  White  had  eight  prisoners 
on  his  hands,  mostly  Indians,  guilty  of  various  crimes, 
[)rincipally  horse-stealing  and  petty  larceny  of  articles 
of  food.  He  says  in  his  report  that  "crimes  are  mul- 
tiplying with  numbers  among  the  whites,  and  with 
scarcity  of  game  among  the  Indians."  The  crimes  of 
which  the  white  men  were  guilty  seem  to  have  been 
few,  and  were  probably  violations  of  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  reu;ulatini>'  intercourse  with  the  natives. 
In  his  zeal  to  perform  his  whole  duty.  White  may  have 
sometimes  listened  to  complaints  which  might  have 
i>een  disregarded.  He  was  confessedly  in  doubt  as  to 
his  authority  to  prevent  certain  acts  which  he  found 
injurious  to  the  general  }>eacc,  and  was  compelled  to 
ask  the  commissioner  of  Indian  aftairs  for  specific 
instructions  in  the  premises."  Letters  received  from 
Spalding  and  Brewer  testified  to  the  better  behavior 
<»f  the  natives  at  their  stations  during  the  winter,  but 


m  Hiif 


I 


■'This  was  the  lilnne/ic,  Capt.  f'hepman,  from  Boston.   Mrr,ouiifiliii'.i  Prirnte 
nopcr-'i,  MS.,  2il  ser.  7;  Lee  und  Frost' ■■<  <),:,  .32? 
'■  ]Vhif'''s  Trn  }V'»/-s  h,  Or.,  200. 

JlinT.  Or.,  Vol.  I.    18. 


274         WHITES  ADMINISTRATION  OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS. 


it  was  rumored  that  at  the  Jesuit  stations  the  priests 
had  been  robbed  of  their  cattle  and  were  in  fear  for 
their  Hves/  The  peace  at  the  Protestant  missions 
was  not,  however,  of  long  duration.  In  the  s[)rint>- 
White  received  information  from  Lapwai,  Waiilatpu, 
and  the  Dalles  tiiat  the  natives  were  ai»ain  threat- 
enmg  the  extinction  of  the  settlers,  assigning  as  a 
reason  that  the  white  men  intended  to  take  away 
their  lands.  The  Cayuses,  Walla  Wallas,  and  Nez 
Perces  were  exasperated  because  there  were  so  many 
strangers  in  the  country,  and  rumor  had  it  that  they 
contemplated  cutting  off  Whitman,  who  was  expected 
soon  to  return  from  the  States  with  a  party  of  colo- 
nists.** 

The  alarm  was  great  and  general.  Almost  every 
mail  had  a  plan  of  his  own  for  averting  the  impending 
catastrophe,  for  should  the  savages  combine,  it  was 
probable  that  the  settlers  would  be  exterminated. 
Several  isolated  families  abandoned  their  liomes  and 
sought  the  settlements.  Some  urged  the  Indian  agent 
to  erect  a  strong  fortification  in  the  midst  of  the 
colony,  and  furnish  guns  and  ammunition.  Others 
thought  it  better  to  go  witli  an  armed  force  into  the 
midst  of  the  conspirators  and  bring  them  to  reason 
with  words,  if  possible,  and  if  these  failed,  to  use  force. 
White  himself  wished  the  settlers  to  pledge  them- 
selves, under  forfeiture  of  a  hundred  dollars  in  case 
of  delinquency,  to  keep  on  hand,  ready  for  use,  a  good 
musket  or  rifle,  and  a  hundred  rounds  of  annnunition ; 
and  to  hold  themselves  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's 
notice  to  any  part  of  the  country,  not  to  exceed  two 
days'  travel,  for  the  purpose  of  repelling  the  savages 
should  they  attempt  to  invade  the  settlements.  But 
no  plan  could  be  formed  upon  which  all  would  unite. 

To  add  to  the  general  excitement,  the  Indians  in 
the  Willamette    Valley    became    unusually    insolent, 

'  No  hint  of  this  is  given  by  tho  Catholic  authors,  except  the  acknowledg- 
ment of  having  built  a  stockade  about  one  of  their  stations.  1  heir  policy  was 
to  represent  the  natives  as  being  everywhere  rejoiced  at  their  advent. 

^Mim'  Or.  llixt.,  143-4;    niiitc'i  Ten  Years  in  Or.,  213-14. 


si(;ns  ok  wau. 


owino-  to  a  quarrel  between  some  Molallas  and  the 
iie<;j;;ro  (Jeorire  Winslow,  or  Winslow  Aiulersoii  as  hv 
now  called  hiniiself.  Moreover  there  was  hostile  ayfita- 
tion  among  theCalapooyas  because  White  had  ordered 
some  of  them  to  be  Ho<>i>'ed  for  stealing  from  the 
missionaries." 

On  tlie  20th  of  April  White  received  a  letter  from 
Brewer  urging  him  to  come  U]>  to  the  Dalles  without 
delay,  and  endeavor  to  (juiet  the  excitement  among 
the  natives.  He  was  under  an  migagcment  to  visit 
them  this  month,  and  immediately  began  to  prepare 
lor  the  expedition,  whicli  involved  the  raising  of  both 
nien  and  means.  On  all  other  occasions  when  the 
Americans  lacked  anything,  they  had  obtained  what- 
ever they  needed  at  Fort  Vancouver,  and  from  the 
Canadians.  But  Spaulding's  report  and  the  Abernethy- 
Shortess  petition  had  given  great  ott'ence  to  Mc- 
Loughlin,  who  declared  that  henceforward  he  would 
extend  no  favors  to  the  authors  of  that  memorial, 
whoever  that  might  be.  Nor  did  McLoughlin  favor 
White's  jiroposal  to  go  among  the  Indians  with  an 
armed  force.  Such  a  step  he  thought  might  bring  on 
a  conflict,  whereas  to  remain  quiet  might  soothe  their 
excitement — an  oj)inion  which  he  communicated  to 
White  by  letter. 

The  Americans,  however,  held  different  views.  But 
when  White  was  ready  to  proceed,  not  a  Canadian 
could  be  induced  to  accompany  hhn,  so  that  when  he 
set  out  only  Le  Breton,  one  Indian,  and  an  Hawaiian 
servant  were  with  him.  Nor  were  the  requisite 
oquij)menta  at  hand,  or  the  funds  to  procure  them  at 
Fort  Vancouver.  On  arriving  at  the  fort,  where 
according  to  Hines  they  "  found  it  rather  squally,"  ^'^' 
White   requested   provisions,   annnunition,   and   arti- 

«  //»!««'  Orenon  Hist.,  146. 

'"  Hines  says  lie  inquired  of  McLonghlin  if  lie  had  refused  to  grant  supplies 
to  those  Americans  who  had  signed  the  inuinorial  against  him,  when  the 
tloctor  replied  that  he  had  only  said  that  of  its  authors.  '  Not  being  one  of 
the  authors,  but  merely  a  signer  of  the  petition,  I  did  not  come  under  the  ban 
of  the  company;  consequently  I  obtained  my  outfit  for  the  expedition."  Or 
nut.,  149-50. 


!,  <' 


270 


WlllTK'.S   ADMINISTRATION   OK   INDIAN    AriAllW. 


cleH  for  j)rusoiits,  on  an  order  <ni  tlu'  Ignited  States 
treasury,"  wliich  request  was  granted,  notwithstand- 
ing the  lato  aftront  to  the  conipany  and  its  eliief  otH- 
eer  in  Oregon,  and  on  tiie  29th  tht;  [)arty  proceetled 
hy  canoe  to  tlic  Dalles,  ^^here  Wliite  was  visited  l»v 
a  deputation  of  Indians  from  near  the  mission  of  l^ee 
and  J*erkins.  Tlio  chiefs  complained  that  they  had 
much  difficuii-y  in  enforcing  the  laws,  as  the  people 
resisted  the  whipping  peiialt}'.  The  chiefs,  however, 
were  in  favor  of  continuing  the  code  on  account  of 
the  authority  it  gave  them.  As  for  those  who  had 
been  whipj)ed,  they  in(|uired  of  Wliite  what  benefit 
the  whipping  system  was  going  to  be  to  them;  they 
had  been  Hogged  a  good  many  times,  they  said,  and 
had  received  nothing  for  it.  If  this  state  of  affairs 
was  to  continue,  the  law  was  l)ad  and  they  did  not 
want  it.  But  if  blankets,  shirts,  and  gifts  were  to 
follow,  they  had  no  objection  to  its  contiimance. 
When  White  told  them  not  to  expect  pay  for  being 
whipped  if  they  deserved  it,  they  laughed  and  dis- 
])C!rsed,  giving  their  guardian  plaiidy  to  understand 
that  they  did  not  })ropose  to  suiier  the  penalties  of 
civilization  for  nothing. 

White  found  on  coming  nearer  to  the  seat  of  dis- 
turbance that  rumor  had  not  overstated  the  serious- 
ness of  its  as))ect.  The  Indians,  to  justify  themselves, 
asserted  tliat  r>aptisi:e  Dorion,  while  acting  as  White's 
interpreter  OTi  Ini.  first  visit,  had  told  them  that  the 
Americans  d<.'signed  taking  away  their  land.  The 
young  CayUrtOi,  were  in  favor  of  raising  a  war  party  at 
once,  surprising  the  Willamette  settlements,  and  cut- 
ting off  the  colony  at  one  blow,  which  by  concert  of 

"  Of  course  the  Hiulson's  Ray  Compiuiy  found  no  one  in  Washington  to 
honor  Dr  Wliito's  hills,  amouuting,  in  iiil,  to  S!(!,(MH).  By  a  proper  represen- 
tiitiou  of  the  facts,  the  friends  of  Oregon  in  congress,  after  some  years  delay, 
procured  the  passage  of  an  act  authorizing  the  payment  of  these  hills.  In 
the  mean  time  theT)oard  of  management  in  London  passeil  an  order,  which, 
hesides  heing  an  imperative  command  for  the  future,  was  a  sarcastic  rebuke 
for  the  p.ist.  The  orilers  info;  mcd  their  traders  in  Oregon  '  that  they  did  not 
understand  government  securities,'  and  forbade  them  to  deal  in  them,  and  for 
the  future  to  '  stick  to  their  beaver-skius.'  Appleyate's  Vicwa  oj  Hist.,  MS.,  37; 
White's  Or.  Tcr  ,  04- C. 


COUNCIL  CALLKl). 


277 


ton  t<' 
roseii- 
leliiy, 
.  In 
hit!h, 
elmkc 
id  not 
nd  for 
!S.,37j 


action  could  easily  have  been  done.  But  the  older 
chiefs  counselled  more  cautious  measures,  j)ointiiit(  out 
the  lateness  of  the  season,  and  the  difficulty  of  cross- 
iiiti"  the  mountains  in  the  snow.  It  would  be  wiser  in 
any  case,  they  added,  not  to  be  the  first  to  attack,  but 
to  be  prepared  for  defence  should  the  Americans 
attcunpt  their  subjugation,  So  impressed  were  they 
that  such  design  was  in  contemplation,  that  they  could 
not  be  induced  by  Geiger  to  prepare  the  ground  for 
cultivation,  as  usual,  early  in  spring,  and  could  with 
difficulty  be  made  to  believe  that  White's  small  party 
was  not  the  advance  guard  of  an  armed  forte. '"^  The 
Cayuses  declared  that  the  laws  introduced  by  Whiti' 
a»i ong  the  Nez  Percds  liad  effected  more  harm  than 
good,  being  made  an  excuse  for  petty  tyranny  to  such 
an  extent  that  the  new  code  was  regarded  by  the 
Indians  as  a  device  of  the  white  })eople  to  accomplish 
their  subjection.  They  were  uneasy  also  because 
McKinlay  and  McKay  had  intimated  their  determi 
nation  to  act  with  the  Americans,  if  the  Indians 
exhibited  a  hostile  purpose. 

In  their  perplexity  they  had  sent  Peupeumoxmox 
to  ask  McLoughlin  what  course  he  intended  to  pursue 
in  case  tliey  were  attacked  by  the  Americans.  For 
answer  McLoughlin  advised  them  to  keep  quiet,  assur- 
ing them  that  they  had  nothing  to  fear  from  either 
the  Americans  or  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  so 
long  as  tliey  behaved  themselves. 

News  now  reached  White  that  seven  hundred  Nez 
Perces,  fully  accoutred  for  war,  were  coming  to  the 
appointed  rendezvous  at  Waiilotpu.  It  was  thought 
important  to  prevent  a  conference  or  a  quarrel  between 
them  and  the  Cayuses,  by  holding  a  council  with  the 
latter  at  once,  and  ever}^  endeavor  was  made  by  the 
whole  company  of  the  Americans,  which  now  embraced 
Geiger,  Perkins,  and  Mrs  Whitman,  to  bring  about 

—     '^ '  I  actually  found  them,   says  White,  '  aufifering  more  from  fears  of  wai 
from  the  whites,  than  the  whites  from  the  Indians — each  party  resolving,  how 
ever,  to  remain  at  home,  and  tliere  fight  to  the  last — though,  fortunately,  some 
:{00  or  400  miles  apart.'  Ten  Yearn  in  Or.,  214. 


ii 


w 


WHITL'S  ADMlXlvrUATlON  01'  INKIAN   AFFAIRS. 


this  object,  but  witliont  success;  the  Cayuses  would 
not  talk  until  they  had  seen  Chief  Ellis.  When 
White  proposed  to  go  to  Lapwai,  and  bring  the  Nez 
Perces  at  once,  they  were  suspicious  that  his  intention 
was  to  prevent  the  coming  of  Ellis,  and  objected.  At 
length  White  and  his  aids  were  allowed  to  go,  and 
were  received  with  a  grand  parade,  such  as  had  been 
given  to  the  missionaries  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  in 
1836,  and  were  escorted  back  to  Waiilatpu  by  several 
hundred  of  the  principal  men  of  the  tribe  with  tiieir 
families,  Ellis  signifying  his  intention  of  influencing 
the  Cayuses  to  accept  the  laws  ado})ted  by  the  Nez 
Perces. 

It  was  not  until  the  23d  of  May  that  the  chiefs  on 
both  sides  were  ready  for  council,  the  meeting  being- 
opened  by  Tauitau.  The  savages  were  assured  that 
the  white  men  had  not  come  there  with  the  design  of 
deceiving  or  injuring  them.  If  they  would  be  united, 
would  cultivate  the  ground  and  obey  the  laws,  they 
might  become  a  great  and  happy  peo|)le;  but  if  they 
persisted  in  disorder,  disob(^dience,  and  an  unsettled 
manner  of  life,  their  condition  could  never  be  bettered. 

On  the  laws  being  called  for  and  read,  Peupeumox- 
mox  arose  and  inquired :  "  Where  are  these  laws  from  !* 
Are  they  from  (xod,  or  from  the  earth?  I  would  that 
you  might  say  they  were  from  God ;  but  I  think  they 
are  from  the  earth,  because,  from  what  I  know  of 
white  men,  they  do  not  honor  these  laws."  When 
told  that  the  laws  were  recognized  by  God,  and  im- 
posed on  men  in  all  civilized  countries,  the  chief  ex- 
pressed himself  pleased  to  hear  that  it  was  so,  because 
many  of  his  people  had  been  angry  with  him  when 
they  were  whipped  for  crimes,  and  had  declared  that 
he  would  be  sent  to  hell  for  it.  Therefore  he  was 
relieved  to  know  that  his  conduct  was  pleasing  to 
God.  Here  Tiloukaikt,  jealous  of  the  apparent  c(»n- 
sent  of  Tauitau  to  the  proceedings,  and  thinking  he 
might  be  looking  forward  to  a  high  chieftainship,  in- 
quired why  the  laws  were  read  to  them  before  they 


THE   LAWS  ACCEPl'ED. 


279 


I  ez 


liad  indicated  a  desire  to  adopt  thein.  "We  do  not 
take  the  laws  because  Tauitau  says  so,"  said  the  chief, 
angrily.  "He  is  a  Catholic,  and  as  a  people  we  do 
not  follow  the  Catholic  worship."'^  But  White  ex- 
plained that  the  Americans  had  different  modes  of 
worship,  yet  obeyed  one  law. 

A  Nez  Percd  sub-chief,  called  the  Prince,  complained 
that  the  white  people  had  not  given  them  cattle,  but 
they  had  been  compelled  to  pay  for  them.  He  wanted 
something  tangible,  cattle  and  presents,  because  his 
people  had  been  kind  to  Lewis  and  Clarke.  Illutin, 
also  a  Nez  Perce,  declared  that  he  was  wearied  with 
the  wickedness  of  the  young  men,  and  asserted  that 
it  was  because  they  had  stolen  property  in  their  pos- 
session that  they  objected  to  the  laws.  But  the 
prince  argued  that  the  white  people  had  long  since 
been  promising  them  benefits,  though  they  passed  on 
and  left  no  blessing  behind.  If  the  Americans  de- 
signed to  do  them  good,  why  did  they  not  bring  pres- 
ents, like  the  British  traders,  who  not  only  promised 
but  performed.  To  this  very  pointed  argument  White 
replied  that  the  Americans  among  them  were  mis 
sionaries,  and  not  traders.  Thus  the  first  day  passed 
without  anything  definite  being  accomplished.  After 
the  meeting  adjourned  i^Uis  and  Lawyer  came  pri- 
vately to  the  sub-agent  to  tell  him  that  they  expected 
l)ay  for  beiny  chief>s.  The  former  had  counted  the 
months  h'^  had  been  in  office,  and  thought  there  nmst 
be  enough  duo  him  to  make  him  wealthy.  It  certainly 
was  a  singular  civilization,  this  of  White's,  which  al- 
lowed officials  no  salary,  and  criminals  no  recompense. 

On  the  following  day  it  was  found  somewhat  easier 
to  proceed  with  the   business  of  the  council.     The 

'■'  This  was  truo,  though  the  Cayuscs  were  protty  evenly  divided  between 
I'roteataiitisiu  and  Konianisin.  Of  the  chiefs,  oidy  Tauitau  was  a  (.'atholic. 
His  brother,  Five  Crows,  was  a  Protestant;  Tih>ukaikt  was  a  I'rote^jtuut;  and 
"O  was  Sticcas.  I'eupuunioxiiiox  of  the  W-dhi  Wall-,  ("ayuses  was  also  a 
Protestant.  Parrish  calls  Peupeiunoxiriox  :>  ni.-igriiUviit  man.  but  gives  no  ■ 
better  reason  for  tiiis  opinion  than  that  lio  sent  his  uni  Klijah  Hedding  to  the 
Methodist  Mission  to  ue  ducated.  Or.  A  iicdof.eji,  iVl8.,  95.  Ho  seems  to 
have  been  an  intelligent  savage,  an<l  beii!(!  ri^^'h  as  well,  possessed  great 
influence. 


i 


1    :.. 


280 


WiliTE'S  ADMINISTRATION   OF  INDIAN  AFFAIRS, 


Cayuses  accepted  the  laws,  and  Tauitau  was  elected 
high  chief,  thes=o  matters  being  probably  expedited  by 
the  prospect  of  the  feast  which  followed.  But  on 
the  following  morning  Tauitau,  remembering  what 
Tiloukaikt  had  said,  when  the  natives  were  assembled 
voluntarily  resigned  the  chieftainship,  saying  that  it 
was  better  so,  on  account  of  the  difference  in  religious 
matters  between  himself  and  the  majority  of  the 
people.  His  brother,  Five  Crows,  was  thereupon 
elected  in  his  place,  the  day  closing  with  another  feast 
of  fat  beef.  On  the  27th  of  May,  White  took  leave 
of  the  Nez  Perces  and  Cayuses,  well  satisfied  wit!» 
having  averted  the  thunderbolt  of  war.  Mrs  A\  '(M- 
man  returned  to  the  Dalles  with  the  fur  company ')s 
brigade,  just  down  from  the  upper  forts,  and  there 
remained  till  the  return  of  her  husband  in  the  autumn. 

Thus  ended,  more  fortunately  than  might  have 
been  anticipated,  White's  second  official  essay  for  the 
protection  of  citizens  of  the  United  States  in  Oregon. 
But  though  he  was  frequently  called  on  to  interpose 
his  authority  in  conflicts  between  the  white  inhabi- 
tants and  the  natives,  or  where  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  concerning  intercourse  with  the  natives  were 
being  violated,  he  was  no  nearer  being  recognized  as 
governor  of  the  colony  than  on  his  arrival,  the  mis- 
sionary influence  being  dii;!cted  against  him,  and  the 
number  of  aspirants  for  that  office  belonging  to  the 
Mission  party  causing  the  other  colonists  to  oppose 
the  election  of  such  dignitary." 

During  White's  administration  the  colony  adopted 
a  provi.sional  form  of  government — an  action  which 
was  undoubtedly  hastened  by  missionary  jealousy  of 
White's  preteu!^  ions  in  connection  with  another  matter, 

'*  Tl»o  only  one  of  tlio  inissionariex  who  seemed  disposea  to  give  Wliitc  a 
fair  iiulorsL'ineiit  wiis  Hiiien,  wlio  at  VVIiite's  request  wrote  a  letter  to  the  sec- 
I'etary  of  war,  declaring  tliat  he  had  discharged  his  duties  witli  diffidence, 
hut  with  energy  and  decision;  for  the  performance  of  wliich  he  was  entitled 
to  the  'warmest  respect  of  this  infant  and  helpless  colony,'  and  to  the  conli- 
dcuce  of  the  department.    Whilv'ti  <h\  '/Vc,  4,  5. 


.SUPPRESSION  OF   DISTILLERIES. 


281 


led 


of  which  I  shall  give  the  history  in  its  proper  place. 
Ill  January  1844  complaints  were  made  to  tJie  Indian 
agent  that  a  distillery  was  in  operation  at  Oregon 
City.  His  authority  for  interfering  was  su})posed  to 
be  derived  from  the  laws  of  Iowa  touching  the  sale 
of  liquor  in  the  Indian  territory,  the  colonists  having 
adopted  the  Iowa  code.  Since  the  United  States  had 
not  extended  the  laws  of  Iowa  over  Oregon,  he  had 
really  no  authority.  But  he  was  sustained  by  public 
sentiment,  and  even  required  by  the  colonists  to  pro- 
ceed in  the  matter.  Accordingly,  he  seized  and  de- 
stroyed the  distillery,  and  placed  *^  the  offender  under 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  three  hundred  dollars.  Be- 
fore the  smnmer  was  over  another  distillerj'  was  in 
operation.  This  also  was  promptly  suppressed.  Con- 
ner, who  was  owner  in  both  adventures,  challenged 
Wliite  to  fight  a  duel,  for  which  he  was  fined  five 
hundred  dollars  by  the  circuit  court  and  disfranchised 
for  life,  but  was  restored  to  citizenship  by  the  legisla- 
ture of  1844.^« 

Considering  that  he  was  waging  this  war  on  whiskey 
with  no  better  warrant  than  the  sanction  of  those  set- 
tlers who  did  not  care  to  buy  or  drink  it,  one  would 
think  that  White  would  at  most  have  taken  notice 
only  of  cases  where  the  liquor  was  supplied  directly 
to  the  natives.  But  this  did  not  satisfy  his  zeal,  which 
several  times  led  him  into  embarrassing  positions.  On 
«>ne  ocn.sion  he  boarded  a  vessel  of  which  J.  H.  Couch 
s/as  master,  and  attein})ted  to  search  for  liquors,  but 
Couch,  knowing  his  rights  and  duties  better  than  the 
Indian  agent,  ranged  his  guns  fore  and  aft  along  the 


i 


'■"This  (Ustillery,  the  first  attempted  since  183G,  was  owned  Ijy  James 
Conner,  who  liad  been  in  tlie  country  since  18.38.  It  consisted  of  siieet-tin 
pipes — the  tin  purchasetl  from  Abernethy — joined  like  a  worm-fence,  and 
placed  in  a  large  wooden  trough  with  water  flowing  through  it,  tiie  whole 
iieing  covered  with  boards  placed  in  the  form  of  a  house  gable.  Moiu'  Pionefr 
Timeg,  MS.,  5.3-4. 

"This  second  distillery  belonged  to  .Tames  Conner,  Richard  McCrary,  and 
Ifiram  Straight.  It  consisted  of  a  large  kettle,  with  a  wooden  top,  and  a 
worm;  and  the  whi.skey,  called  'blue  ruin,'  was  distilled  from  shorts,  wheat, 
and  molasses.  HVi/Ve'^  Or,  Tvi:,  40;  Wnltx  Firxl  T/iiiujn,  MS..  10,  11;  Omjon 
Laii'M,  1843-9,  83. 


282 


WHITE'S  ADMINISTRATION   OF  INDIAN   AFFAIRS. 


deck,  whereupon  the  search  was  rehnquished  as  hastily 
as  it  had  been  begun.  Private  individuals  also  came 
in  for  a  share  of  his  officious  attention.  For  instance, 
F.  W.  Pettygrove,  described  as  "  a  merchant  of  good 
liabits,"  was  put  under  bonds  in  the  sum  of  one  thou- 
sand dollars  for  having  in  his  house  wine  and  brandy 
for  his  own  use.  White  also  attempted  to  confiscate 
the  whiskey-barrel  of  an  Englishwoman  named  Cooper, 
but  +' nought  it  advisable  to  desist  when  the  Amazon 
vigoi  rotested  "in  the  name  of  Great  Biitain, 

Ireland,        i  Scotland." 

There  was  but  one  instance  of  serious  trouble  with 
the  Indians  in  the  Willamette,  and  that  was  brought 
about  by  the  quarrel  between  the  negro  W^inslow  and 
the  Molallas,  to  which  I  have  already  alluded.  It 
appears  tliat  Winslow  overreached  an  Indian  named 
Cockstock  in  some  business  transaction.  To  right 
the  account,  the  latter  appropriated  a  horse  belonging 
to  the  negro,  but  was  compelled  by  White  to  restore 
it.  Thereupon  Cockstock,  who  was  a  bold  and  vicious 
fellow,  vowed  vengeance  against  Winslow  and  another 
negro  named  James  D.  Saules,  who  was  in  some  way 
involved  in  the  dispute.  Saules  complained  to  White, 
who  offered  a  reward  of  a  hundred  dollars  for  the 
safe  delivery  of  the  Indian  into  his  hands,  intending 
to  send  him  to  the  Caj'uses  and  Nez  Pcrces  to  be 
tried  by  their  laws.  This  so  enraged  the  turbulent 
Cockstock  that  on  the  4th  of  March,  1844,  he  called 
together  a  few  followers,  and  putting  on  his  war-pair:t, 
rode  into  Oregon  City  with  many  hostile  demon- 
strations. After  creating  some  alarm,  he  crossed  the 
river  to  a  village  in  search  vS  recruits.  When  shortly 
afterward  he  reap})eared  on  the  Oreg  jn  City  side,  his 
landing  was  opposed  by  a  confused  crowd  of  white 
men,  wjio,  without  a  leader,  or  concert  of  action,  en- 
deavored to  capture  him,  some  for  the  reward,  and 
others  with  a  more  deadly  pur[)()8e.  Fire-arms  were  dis- 
charged on  both  sides  sinmltaneously,  and  in  the  melee 


WHITE,  REI>,  A^D  BLACK. 


Cockstoc'k  was  killed,  and  three  Ainericajis  wounded, 
George  W.  Lo  Breton  and  a  Mr  Rogers  mortally/^ 
The  death  of  Le  Breton,  who  was  an  active  young 
American,  and  conspicuous  in  the  early  politics  of 
the  colony,  was  severely  felt;  and  a  public  meeting 
was  called  at  Champoeg  to  consider  the  subject  of  the 
outbreak,  the  result  of  which  was  the  formation  of  a 
volunteer  company  of  mounted  riflemen  under  the 
name  of  Oregon  Rangers,  this  being  the  first  mili- 
tary o/*?anization  in  the  territory."*  Resolutions  were 
})assed  n.  'orsing  and  supporting  the  measures  taken 
by  White  in  his  official  capacity,  the  reason  for  this 
sti  p  being  that  McLoughlin  had  censured  the  conduct 
of  the  Americans,  alleging  that  the  killing  of  Cock  • 
stock  was  an  assassination,  a  view  which,  liowever 
well  founded  in  the  fact  that  the  cilizoiis  had  not 
waited  for  the  overt  act,'"  was  extremely  offensive  to 
the  Americans.  An  investigation  was  (»rdered  by 
the  executive  committee,  and  White  cited  to  appear 
before  the  colonial  judge,  ( ).  Rus.sell,  to  vindicate  him- 
self, and  remove  the  stigma  from  the  fair  name  of  the 
American  colonists.""     Probablv  the  trial  never  took 


his 
^hite 

en- 

and 

dis- 

lelee 


"  lioMlOH  MUk.  Ho-.tUl,  Nov.  1844.  lilanchet,  in  liis  llrnt.  dUli.  Cli.  in  Or., 
145-7,  gives  a  different  version,  intended  to  make  it  appear  that  tlie  killing 
of  Cockstock  was  a  deed  of  unprovoked  brutality  on  the  part  of  the  Ameri- 
cans; but  as  White,  in  his  report  to  the  secretary  of  war,  gives  the  corre- 
.spondence  and  particulars,  I  see  no  rciuson  to  depiirt  from  tliat  record.  A  part 
of  Blauchet's  bitterness  ij  accounted  for  where  he  says,  '  Le  Breton  will  pay 
daarly  for  his  apostasy.'     Le  Breton  had  become  fi  convert  to  the  Catiiolie 


faith  at  St  Pauls  in  184'-!,  but  seeint;  he  could  not  get  the  girl  he  expected,  ho 
■  fro  n  tlie church.   A/.,  \i];  <iriii/'/i  //lit.  Or.,  871:    WiiIiIo'h 
('ritii/ucs,  SilS.,  5,  (i;  Unroii'-'i  Jfrr.  Li/<' Or.,  MS.,  25. 


withdrew  gradually  1 


""Tiiis  meeting  was  called  by  tlie  executive  committee  of  tiie  colony,  and 
w:i8  held  at  tlie  house  of  La  ("liapellc,  on  Frencii  I'rairie,  .Marcii  1),  1844. 
W.H.  Willson  wa."  chairman,  and'l'.  1).  Kai.ser,  secretjiry.  (Iron'r'xOr.  A  rr/ihr.t, 
■Ui  7.  The  men  enlisted  at  the  time  were  T.  1).  Kaiser,  who  was  elucted  cap- 
tain; J.  L.  Morrison,  1st  lieutenant;  R.  .F.  Cason,  ensign;  Charles  1'.  Matt, 
Ira  C.  Hutcliins,  R.  H.  Kkin,  Peter  Brainard,  Natiian  Sutton,  William  l)c- 
lany,  James  R.  Patterson,  John  Kdiuonds,  Niucveii  Ford,  William  .1.  Martin, 
James  Martin,  Wcbley  Hauxhurst,  Jolin  Anderson,  Joel  Tuniham,  .1.  M. 
•  iarrison,  Joseph  Holinan,  John  Ford,  Charles  E.  Pickett,  John  11.  Kaiser, 
i>aniel  Waldo,  Lindsey  Applegate,  and  W.  }1.  <»ray.  Commissions  were  issued 
to  the  officers  April  3d,  signed  by  1).  Hill,  J.  C.ale,  and  A.  Fieers,  executive 
committee,  and  ()verton  Johnson,  secretary.  <^r.  Archiwg,  MS.,  10,  12. 

^'^liliiurhi'l'.'*  llist.Cith.  Vh.inOr.,m-^. 

'•■"The  letter  of  .Mr  Beers  of  the  executive  committee  is  to  Im  found  in  Or. 
A  rrhiri  ■*,  MS.,  ,")  7. 


-'>S4 


WHITES  AUMINISTHAIION   OF  INDIAX   AFFAIRS. 


})la('e,  as  no  record  of  it  exists.     It  is  likely  enough 
that  wiien  the  excitement  had  died  awa}',  and  all  the 
circumstances  were  known,  it  became  apparent  that 
the  encounter  might  have  been  avoided  by  the  exer- 
cise of  cooliKiss  and  moderation. 

Not  long  after  the  affair  of  the  4th  of  March, 
Saules,  the  negro  who  had  complained  of  Cockstock, 
was  himself  arrested  for  joining  the  Clackamas  Indians 
in  making  threats  against  the  life  and  property  of 
Charles  E.  Pickett.  There  being  no  prison  in  which 
to  confine  him,  he  was  permitted  to  go  to  Clatsop 
with  his  Indian  wife,  where  he  was  employed  about 
the  Mission  until  its  suspension  in  184G,  soon  after 
which  he  was  arrested  on  the  charge  of  murdering 
his  wife,  but  the  necessary  proof  being  wanting,  he 
was  disv'iiarged.'"^  The  trouble  occasioned  by  Winslow 
and  Saules  aroused  a  strong  prejudice  against  persons 
of  African  blood,  which  was  exhibited  in  a  communi- 
cation sent  by  White  to  the  secretary  of  war,  inquir- 
ing if  the  emigration  of  negroes  could  not  be  prohibited, 
and  in  the  subsequent  legislation  of  the  colonists. 

As  to  the  Indian  relatives  of  Cockstock,  they  were 
pacified  by  McLoughlin  paying  to  the  wid«)W  of  the 
chief,  on  White's  order,  some  blankets  and  other 
goods,"^  and  there  the  matter  ended,  so  far  as  thej^ 
were  concerned. 

The  executive  committee,  however,  being  deter- 
mined to  oppose  the  policy  and  advice  of  McLough- 
lin, declared  that  "the  idea  should  be  hooted  out  of 
countenance,  that  they  allowed  Indians  to  be  nmr- 
dered,  and  paid  for  it  with  blankets."  If  White  found 
it  necessary  to  take  such  measures  as  he  had  taken, 
he  should  go  on,  and  the  committee  would  "support 

••"  Oriyoii  SfX'cMor,  Dec.  24,  184G. 

"  Petty ijroirK  Or.,  MS.,  G,  7;  Or.  Arc/iiirA,  MS.,  1."?.  About  70  Dalles 
IiuliaiiM,  aceortling  to  White,  presented  themselves  as  relatives  of  the  dead 
chief,  and  demanded  indemnity,  according  to  their  customs;  hut  White 
showed  them  that  as  the  Americans  had  lost  two  men,  by  their  rule  there 
■would  I)e  due  the  Americans  twice  what  they  claimed,  on  which  representa- 
tion they  consented  to  accept  a  present  for  tlie  widow.   Or.  Tcr.,  'M. 


TlIK  OUKCiON   KAN(H-:U.S. 


•-M5 


him  witli  thirty  mounted  riflemen." -'^  This  was  easy 
to  promise,  but  tlie  riflemen  tliemselves  must  liave  a 
voice  in  the  matter.  The  officers  of  the  ran<^ers  wrote 
to  the  committee  demandint^  to  k/iow  if  after  all  tliero 
had  been  any  cause  for  raising  troops,  or  if  there 
existed  any  need  of  their  services  at  that  moment. 
They  were  also  anxious  to  be  informed  where  the 
military  stores,  provisions,  and  pay  were  to  come 
from,  and  concluded  by  remarking  that  if  they  were 
expected  to  fight  at  their  own  expense,  tliey  had 
enoujjh  to  do  to  fiijht  their  own  battles.'^  The  forma- 
tion  of  the  company  was  m  fact  a  mere  piece  of 
braggadocio,  intended  (juite  as  much  to  alarm  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  as  to  awe  the  natives.  The 
only  service  in  which  the  rangers  were  engaged  wa.>  in 
tlie  pursuit  now  and  then  of  a  band  of  hungry  savages 
who  had  stolen  a  beef  White  himself  ridicules  the 
course  of  the  committee  in  calling  out  the  troops 
because  a  miserable  party  of  natives,  whose  single 
gun  was  broken  and  unserviceable,  had  been  tempted 
to  kill  an  old  ox  which  chanced  to  stray  in  their 
vicinity,  and  for  which  they  were  forced  to  pay  the 
gun  and  eight  horses.  Several  of  these  small  affairs 
sionalized  the  existence  of  the  Oregon  Rauijers.  The 
last  of  the  kind  occurred  in  July  184G,  when  a  small 
party  of  natives  from  east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains, 
being  encamped  on  the  Santiam  River,  near  ]jOoney's 
l)lace,  and  suspected  of  stealing  some  Jiorsc^s  beh^iging 
to  him,  were  surrounded  and  fired  on  without  further 
inquiry,  though,  as  afterward  transpired,  tlvey  were 
innocent  of  the  theft. "'^ 


i 


The  next  serious  troubl(>  with  t1u>  natives  came 
from  an  unex})ected  source.  Early  in  the  spring  of 
1845  White  received  a  connnunication  from  Whitman 
at  Waiilat})U,  informing  liim  of  the  return  of  a  party 

'■"Letter  of  A.  Beers,  in  (h:  ArchiiH'n,  MS.,  5-7. 

'"  Letters  of  Kaiser,  Morrison,  anil  Brainard,  in  Or.  Arcfihvn,  MS.,  12,  13. 
'^^(h-cijoii  Sycrtntdi;  Aug.  1(5,  184(i;  M'nilo's  Enrhj  Dni/n,  MS.,  38-40;  Kni- 
M):r'ii  A^ar.,  Mis.,  12-14;  Kai-irr'-t  E'lil'jnin/  Itoiul,  MS.,  7-i). 


U80 


WIHTK'S  ADMIMSTKATIOX   OF   IN'UIAX   AFFAIRS. 


of  Spokanes,  Cayusos,  aiiJ  Walla  Wallas  from  Califor- 
nia, under  circunistam-es  wliirh  hd  him  to  fear  for  the 
safety  of  the  settlers  in  the  upper  country,'""  as  Elijali 
Hedding,  the  son  of  Peupeumoxmox,  had  been  killed 
by  an  American.  Before  the  excitement  caused  by 
this  information  had  subsided,  White  was  surprised 
by  a  visit  from  Ellis,  high  chief  of  the  Nez  Percds, 
who  came  to  recount  to  him  the  particulars  of  this 
unfortunate  affair.  The  story  told  by  Ellis  was  that 
the  natives  had  seized  upon  the  idea  of  procuring 
cattle  from  California,  and  taking  their  surplus  furs 
and  horses  to  exchanoe  foi-  cows,  had  set  out  on  this 
expedition  under  the  leadership  of  Peupeumoxmox, 
or  Yellow  Serpent,  who  was  accompanied  by  his 
converted  son,  Elijah  Hedding.  The  journey  was 
fraught  with  danger,  as  they  were  obliged  to  pass 
through  a  country  inhabited  by  tribes  with  whom 
they  were  not  friendly ;  but  being  well  mounted  and 
equipped,  they  reached  California  in  safety,  and  were 
well  received  by  the  white  population  at  Sutter  Fort. 
An  agreement  to  trade  was  entered  into;  all  went 
well  until  the  natives  in  hunting  met  witli  a  band  of 
freebooters  from  whom  they  took  a  prize  of  twenty- 
two  stolen  horses.  On  returning  with  them  to  the 
settlements,  the  animals  were  claimed  by  their  former 
owners.  The  Oregon  chiefs  remonstrated,  saying  that 
in  their  country  the  horses,  having  been  recovered 
from  an  enemy  at  the  risk  of  life,  would  belong  to 
those  who  reca})tured  them.  But  the  others  insisted 
that  accordino'  to  the  laws  of  California  the  animals 
must  bear  a  transfer  mark  before  they  ceased  to  be 
the  prt)perty  of  their  original  owners.  As  the  Indians 
refused  to  take  that  view  of  it,  a  ransom  of  first  ten 
and  then  fifteen  cows  was  offered  for  the  captured 
estrays.  But  Peupeumoxmox  was  sulky,  and  would 
not  reply,  so  the  negotiations  were  broken  off, 

A  day  or  two   later,  an  American,  seeing  a  nmle 
which  had  been  stolen  from  him  among  the  animals, 

'•"^  Jfoiiolulii  Fr!eml, 


•-'9. 


ASSASSINATION  OF   ELIJAH. 


287 


roughly  doinanded  his  property,  and  declared  that  lu- 
would  take  it  himself  if  it  was  not  promptly  surren- 
dered. Thereupon  Elijah  Hedding  deliberately  loaded 
his  rifle,  and  turning  to  the  American  said  signiticantlv  : 
"Go,  now,  and  take  your  mule."  The  white  man, 
considerably  alarmed,  asked  Elijah  if  he  intended  tt) 
kill  him.  "  O,  no,"  carelessly  re})lied  the  young  chief, 
"I  am  only  going  to  shoot  that  eagle  on  yonder  tree." 
But  his  looks  ajid  manner  belied  his  tongue,  so  the 
American  thought  it  best  to  leave  the  mule. 

Oi  the  following  Sunday  some  of  the  natives 
attended  religious  services  at  Sutter  Fort.  After  the 
close  Elijah  was  invited  into  another  apartment,  to- 
gether with  his  uncle.  Here  they  were  menaced,  and 
.subjected  to  much  wordy  abuse.  Finally  the  man 
who  had  had  the  dispute  about  the  mule  said  to 
Elijah,  "  Yesterday  you  were  going  to  kill  me;  now 
you  must  die,"  at  the  same  time  drawing  a  pistol. 
Elijah  said,  "Let  me  pray  a  little  first;"  and  dropping 
on  his  knees,  was  shot  dead  in  that  attitude. 

Suca  was  the  story  as  told  by  Ellis  to  White,'"  and 
as  reported  by  the  latter  to  the  secretary  of  war.  As 
Elijah  was  a  convert,  the  same  version  was  generally 
accepted  by  the  missionaries;'^**  but  the  truth  of  the 
matter  is,  that  Elijah  was  a  turbulent  fellow,  and  met 
his  death  in  a  quarrel  which  he  himself  provoked. 
This  side  of  the  story  I  have,  however,  related  in 
detail  elsewhere.^" 

Having  made  the  most  of  his  story,  and  put  forth 
liis  finest  arts  to  impress  White  with  a  proper  sense 
of  the  enormity  of  the  crime  which  had  been  com- 
mitted,  the    wily  Ellis    went   on    to  talk   about  the 


"  While's  Or.  Ter.,  49-50. 

■'» Parri«ri\o  Or.  AnealoteH,  MS.,  00;  Mitnion  Life  Sketches,  20.3.  Thi.s 
latter  is  a  work  of  229  pages,  IGiuo,  and  appears  to  have  been  published  as  a 
contribution  to  Sunday-school  literature.  The  author's  name  is  not  given, 
l)ut  from  wliat  he  says  of  himself  I  infer  he  was  H.  X.  W.  Perkins,  who  canio 
with  the  mission  family  of  1840.  His  account  of  Elijah's  death  is  substantially 
the  same  as  White's. 

'^  Hist.  Californid,  this  series.  See  also  lieirre'x  Tour  of  Dtitij,  154;  Lur- 
kins  Doc.  l/isf.  Ciii,  MS.,  iii.  227. 


'JS8 


WHITES  AUMINlSTKATIOxX   OF  INDIAN   AFFAIKS. 


retaliation  wliicli  iniglit  ho  expected.  Yellow  Ser- 
pent, lie  said,  had  returned  to  Oregon  hurning  with 
rajie  and  srriet',  and  swearin<i:  to  avenijfe  the  murder  of 
his  son  in  the  near  future.'"'  Not  only  the  bereaved 
cliiefs  own  tril>e,  but  others  that  were  allied,  related, 
or  friendly  to  it,  were  furiousl}'^  excited  against  the 
white  men,  both  on  account  of  the  murder  of  Elijah 
and  because  certain  persons  from  tlie  Willamette  Val- 
ley, now  settled  in  California,  had  called  the  Oregon 
Indians  'dogs'  and  'thieves.'  So  furious  was  the 
indignation  of  the  tribes,,  continued  the  envo^  ex- 
tr-aordinarv,  that  a  scheme  was  on  foot  to  raise  two 
thousand  warriors  among  the  Cayuses,  Walla  Wallas, 
Nez  Perces,  Spokanes,  Pend  d'Oreilles,  and  Shoshones, 
and  march  at  once  into  California  to  exact  retribution 
by  pillage  and  slaughter.  There  was  an  influential 
party  among  the  natives,  Ellis  added,  who  were  for 
holding  the  Americans  in  Oregon  responsible  for 
Elijah's  death,  since  it  was  one  of  their  countrymen 
who  had  killed  him.  Should  this  be  avoided,  however, 
he  was  specially  charged  to  learn  whether  the  Oregon 
settlers  would  remain  neutral  while  the  people  of  Cali- 
fornia were  being  swept  from  the  face  of  the  earth. 

Such  a  relation  was  enough  to  make  one  shudder; 
and  it  was  all  the  more  alarming  when  the  hearer  was 
officially  responsible  for  any  trouble  that  might  occur 
with  the  natives.  Perha})s  White  showed  agitation ; 
at  all  events,  the  envoy  pushed  his  advantage  by  refer- 
ring to  another  source  of  discontent  which  had  nothing 
to  do  with  the  matter  innnediately  in  hand.  It  seems 
that  when  the  immigration  of  1844  was  expected, 
White  had  sent  to  the  natives  a  number  of  ten-dollar 
drafts,  presumably  made  payable  by  the  government, 
with  which  he  said  cattle  mio^ht  be  bought  from  the 
innnigrants.  This  he  claims  to  have  done  in  order  to 
deter  the  natives  from  plundering  the  new-comers. 
But  the  immigrants  had  declined  to  accept  the  drafts, 

'"  Tliis  threat  was  nevcv  fulfillod,  though  the  C'aliforniaus  aubsequeutly  had 
caiiso  to  rciiienil)yr  tluit  it  had  huuii  made.  See  Hltt.  C«l.,  this  series. 


BKOKKN    I'RO.Ml.Sl-X 


•on 


img- 


;uk1  ii(»\v  cliicf  Klli.s  was  anxious  to  know  liow  Wliito 
was  ^oin^  to  coinpensate  liis  jicoplo  for  tli«'ir  disa))- 
poiiitnuMit. 

At  liis  wit's  end  liow  to  conciliate  and  prevent  tlie 
threatened  destruction,  tlie  uidui)){)y  agent  resorted  to 
Hattery  and  fair  proniisiis.  He  feasted  liis  savage 
guest  to  liis  soul's  content,  sJiowod  his  library,  |)erst)n- 
allv  conducted  him  over  his  i)lantation,  and  in  every 
way  treated  him  with  great  consideration.  Besides 
this,  he  promised  to  write  to  the  governor  of  California 
and  Captain  Sutter  concerning  the  recent  disturbance, 
and  also  to  address  the  United  States  government  on 
the  subject.  Furthermore,  he  gave  Ellis  letters  for  the 
chiefs,  sym})athizing  with  them  for  the  wrongs  they 
had  suffered,  and  inviting  them  all  to  visit  him  in  the 
autunm  of  1845  and  exchange  their  worthless  drafts 
for  a  cow  and  a  calf  each  out  of  his  own  j.ords. 
Finally  he  promised  them  that  if  they  would  defer 
their  invasion  of  (California  for  two  years,  and  assist 
liim  to  the  amount  of  two  beaver-skins  each,  he  would 
establish  a  good  school  for  the  children,  adjust  favor- 
ably all  their  grievances,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time 
would  give  them  five  hundred  dollars  out  of  his  own 
purse  with  which  to  buy  cattle  in  Calif()rnia. 

Flattered  by  the  attentions  he  had  received,  and 
elated  by  the  success  which  he  imagined  had  attended 
his  mission,  Ellis  returned  home  to  use  his  influence 
for  peace  with  the  chiefs  of  the  Walla  Wallas  and 
C'ayuses.  But  his  trium})h  was  not  of  long  duration, 
for  before  the  autunm  of  I  K4o  White  wj^«  on  his  way 
to  the  States,  caring  littU;  for  his  en*;;;;  j^  nents,  and 
leaving  no  one  behind  to  redeem  his  promises  tf>  ])ay.^' 


The  sub-Indian  agent,  from  the  moment  he  entered 
upon  his  duties  in  Oregon,  encountered  serious  diffi- 
culties.    So  awkwardly  did  he  find  him.self  situated, 

'"  In  his  report  to  the  secretary  of  war  Wliite  bestows  praise  upon  tlie  good 
coniliict,  progress,  industry,  and  prosperity  of  Ellis  and  liis  people  with  an 
••iithusiasni  which  his  own  experie'   e  certainly  diil  not  call  for.     Such  a  re- 
[port,  however,  rellected  credit  on  his  own  efforts. 
Hist.  Olt.,  Vol..  I.    19 


bi 


too 


WHITK'.S   AI»M1N1STUAT10N   OF  INDIAN   AFFAi  ..S. 


that  ill  1844  he  wrote  that  lie  was  stroiii^ly  inclined 
to  leave  the  country,  but  was  deterred  hy  tlie  tiiought 
that  his  ])resen<'e  was  beneficial,  and  the  hope  of  beino- 
relieved  from  his  enibarraHsnients.  Wiiatever  were 
his  schemes,  it  is  due  to  him  to  say  that  in  opposin*^ 
the  introduction  of  intoxicatinj^  liquors,  aiid  in  set- 
tling difficulties  between  the  white  inhabitants  and 
the  natives,  his  services  to  the  colony  were  of  im- 
portance."'^ 

Not  the  least  of  White's  embarrassments  arose  from 
the  fact  that  the  njen  in  Washington  wlio  had  become, 
verbally  at  least,  responsible  for  the  payment  of  his 
salary  and  ex|)enses,  were  no  longer  in  a  position  to 
befriend  him.  Before  his  accounts  were  settled  there 
was  a  change  in  the  administration,  and  persons  who 
did  not  know  White  were  in  the  places  of  Webster, 
Tyler,  Spencer,  and  Linn.  Being  solici'^-^d  by  the 
legislative  assembly  of  the  provisional  g  nnient  in 
1845  togotv)  Washington  as  the  bearer^  memorial 
to  the  United  States  government,  he  presented  him- 
self at  the  capital,  and  was  requested  to  continue  in 
his  office  of  Indian  agent.  He  was  obliged,  however, 
to  remain  at  the  east  until  a  bill  should  be  passed  by 
congress  for  the  payment  of  debtj  due  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  and  granting  him  additional  compensa- 
tion for  services.  A  year  was  consumed  in  waiting, 
during  which  time  certain  representations  were  made 
by  his  political  enemies  in  Oregon  which  lost  him  the 
position,  and  closed  his  connection  with  Oregon  affairs."' 
He  returned  in  1850  and  engaged  with  James  D.  Hol- 
man  to  build  a  town  on  the  claim  of  the  latter,  which 
he  called   Pacific  City,  which  was  afterward    trans- 


'■'  Applegate'ti  Marginal  Nofat,  in  Grui/'x  IlinL,  259. 

^^  \VhUeii  Ten  Ymrs  in  Or.,  322-5;  iVhite'n  Or.  Ter.,  64-6;  Allen'  RegMter, 
Ixix.  407.  The  occasion  of  White's  loss  of  place  was  the  belief  in  Oregon 
that  he  would  make  an  offinrt  to  get  a  scat  iu  congress  as  delegate  from  the 
territory,  whenever  tlie  expected  settlement  of  boundary  was  consummated, 
and  a  territorial  government  established.  That  he  so  intended  in  1845  seems 
probable,  from  tlie  fact  that  on  passing  through  Missouri,  the  St  Louis  Era 
spoke  of  him  as  a  delegate  from  the  self-constituted  government  of  Oregon, 
going  to  ask  for  a  seat  in  congress. 


'ri/iiitci; 
Oregon 
om  the 
niatetl, 
i  seems 
lis  A'/" 
)regon, 


SKETCH   OF    WHITK. 


Lit  I 


I'tTivd  to  other  liaiuls.      He  then  wtsiit  to  reside  at  San 
Fraueisco,  where  he  died  in  March  1871).'^ 

"  While  on  a  tour  througli  Oregon  in  1878  1  was  informed  that  Klijali 
Wliite,  a  most  important  witnuus  in  thu  early  annals  of  the  state,  was  living 
in  San  Francisco,  and  then:  on  my  rctarn  I  fonml  him  practising  medicine, 
liis  ortici!  liL'ing  withiti  a  stone's  throw  <if  my  Lihrarj.  He  w;ji  exceedingly 
atiahle,  with  an  intelligent  tiiough  not  very  intellectnal  face,  with  hright, 
penetrating  eyc^s,  and  for  one  so  well  advanced  in  years,  active  on  his  feet  and 
well  preserveil,  thongli  how  mnch  of  him  was  pa<lding,  anil  what  was  tin; 
true  color  of  his  well-dyed  hair  and  wliiskers,  I  cannot  say.  Tliereafter  u.til 
his  death  he  was  a  freijnent  visitor  at  my  Lil>rary,  and  there  gave  me  an 
exceedingly  valuable  dictation,  which  I  called  Kiiiiiinitinn  to  Oinjon,  Klling 
many  gaps  left  open  by  the  printed  material  especially  conceriung  the  immi- 
gration of  184*2.  His  7V/I  Yearn  in  (hrijoii,  Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  18i)<),  contains  the 
incidents  of  his  journey  to  and  residence  in  Oregon,  as  physician  to  the  Mis- 
sion, his  return  to  the  States,  snl)se(|nent  emigration,  his  laliors  lus  Indian 
agent,  explorations,  etc.,  with  an  account  of  the  formation  of  the  provisional 
government,  and  some  extracts  from  Kr»'mont"s  journal  of  explorations  in 
Oregon.  Previous  to  the  publication  of  this  book  he  issued  a  pamphlet  in 
Washington  City,  containing  his  correspondence  with  the  Indian  commis- 
sioner and  other  documents,  tlir  obji.  t  of  which  was  to  assist  the  passage  of 
a  bill  reind)ursing  him  for  expenses  ii  irred  in  the  administration  of  authority 
as  Indian  agent.  This  book  is  calleii  a  Coiirise  View  of  Oreijon  Tcrritorji,  lU 
Coloniixl  (iml  Indian  Relalionit,  etc.,  72  pages.  Another  pamphlet  called 
While  K  TeMtimoiiKiln  contains  some  of  the  same  matter,  with  other  letters, 
ami  was  apparently  intended  to  assist  him  in  a  reappointment  to  Oregon. 


^>y 


^hicli 
fans- 


CHAPTER   Xll. 


i: ,    n 


OROANI/JATION  OF  THE  PROVISION  A  I.  (JOVKKXMKNT. 

1843.  J 

MkIiIODIST   GfKICIAI.S— a    ProBAIK   Coi'KT   NkKDEI) — MKKTIN(i  l)K   TlIK  SKT- 

i:,Ki!s Okfk'ials  (.'hoses-  Witiidhawal  ov  tiik   Iukmu   Caihoi.ic 
Klement-    KriiTiiEii    Political    Elements — The    Okeuon    Lyceim    • 

THESH      OVEKTIKES    TO    THE    CaNAKIANS — ThE     LaND    LaW — AnOTHEK 

Methodist  Movement  -The  'Wolk'  ORdAxiZATioN-^TnE  Canadians 
BuorciHT  in     New   Selection  ok  Okkicials — Rei-okt  of  the  LEtasLA- 

TIVE  CoMMiriEE-    ( ioVEH\:..'ENT  Exi'EXSES  -  ThE  FoVH  (iREAT  DiSTKICIS 

— Measures  aijainst  McLol'vUilin — Inflience  of  Siiohtess  on  Polit- 
ical Affairs. 

I  havk  alreadv  nioiitioiicd  that  as  oarH'  as  1H;^S 
tlio  Methodist  Missions  f'uiiiishod  tlic  colonists  with 
a  magistrate  and  coiistaiilf,  not  so  niueli  hecause 
the  .services  of  those  otticers  wcic  nee<le(l  as  because 
tlie  Anieiieans  wen'  detennini'<l  not  to  he  heliind  tlie 
British  tur  conipii'iy  in  tlie  exercise  of  civil  juris- 
diction. The  ar'rival  of  the  great  missionary  rcen- 
foi'cement  of  I  S40,  hv  incr'easino-  the  colonv,  made  it 
aj)})arent  that  some  form  of  government  would  sooner 
or  later  he  necessary.  Still  such  (juiet  and  good  ordt'i' 
had  hitherto  [irevailed/  that  it  is  difficult  to  say  how 
long  the  attempt  to  institute  even  a  |)rimiti\e  form  of 
government  would  have  heen  post[»oned  had  not  an 
unexpected  event  fui'nished  particular  occasion  for  it. 
This  was  the  death  of  Ewing  \'oung  in  the  M'inter  of 

'  Up  to  this  time  the  only  aenous  tTimo  tliat  li;ul  lieen  comniittuil  wii.s  the 
iiiurdi'T  of  McKay  by  some  Iiiilimis  at  the  HuiIhiiu'.s  Hay  Company's  tislicry  at 
PilhiT  Hock,  on  the  h)WL'T  Cohiniliia,  Au^'.  Hi,  1H4().  A  paTty  tToni  FoTt  Nis- 
ipially  .shot  one  of  tlie  inurdoTeTs  anil  eajitiiTeil  another.  The  latter  was  trieil, 
convicted,  and  hanj,'e<l  at  Astoria  on  the  2!tth,  and  in  the  presence  and  witli 
the  aid  of  a  great  nuniber  of  settlers.  Aw  aiiif  Frnxl'ii  Or.,  2/4;  Tolmte'-s  Pinjrf 
Sound,  MS.,  8,  I);  Fitzgerald's  11.  B.  Co.  and  Vane.  Id.,  174. 


i:\vix<;  vouNU's  i'uoi'kkty 


'Mi 


IS40- 1.  This  audacious  pioneer  left  a  large  property, 
to  which  there  were  no  lej^al  claimants  or  known  heirs  ; 
and  as  there  was  no  prohate  court,  the  administration 
of  his  estate  hecame  a  })er[)lexinu;  (question.  Murder, 
theft,  and  wJiiskev-makiiij^  mi}>'ht  he  nuinnuiHl  without 
law,  but  property  for  which  there  was  no  owner-  alas 
for  the  luck  of  it!  The  thrifty  settlers  t-ould  not  see 
it  go  to  waste.  And  so  the  needed  excuse  to  those 
who  were  anxious  for  legislation  was  at  liand,  and 
without  delay  a  connnittee  of  arrangements  called  a 
)iiass-meeting  of  the  settlers  to  be  held  at  the  Metho- 
dist Mission  the  17th  and  18th  of  February,  1841.- 

The  meetina'  on  the  I7th  was  <'omiu)sed  chiefly  of 
the  members  of  the  Mission,  Jason  Lee  being  chosen 
t'hairman,  and  (lustavus  Hines  secretary.  The  only 
business  transacted  was  the  passing  of  ri.solutions  to 
elect  a  connnittee  of  seven  to  draught  a  code  of  laws 
f  )r  the  ofovernment  of  the  settlements  south  of  the 
(^)lumbia;  to  admit  to  the  jtrotection  of  those  laws 
all  settlers  n(*rth  of  the  Columbia  not  connected  with 
the  fur  comoany:  and  the  nomination  of  candidates 
for  the  several  ofliices  of  governor,  supreme  judge 
with  probate  j)owers,  three  justices  of  the  peace,  three 
constables,  l^hree  roati  cttnnnissioncrs,  an  attorney- 
general,  a  (;]erk  of  the  couits  and  [)ublic  recorder,  a 
treasurer,  and  two  o\erseers  of  tlu'  ])oor. ' 

The  second  day's  meeting  being  attendtid  by  the 
French  and  Anierican  settlers,  the  proceedings  took 
a  less  sectional  tone.  To  propitiate  and  to  securi' 
the  cooperation  of  the  Canatlians  were  the  aims  of  tlic 
leading  Americans;  as  without  them,  or  o[)[)osed  by 
them,  there  would  In;  difliculty  in  organizing  a  gov- 
ernment. David  Leslie  being  in  the  chair,  with  Sid 
nev  Smith  and  Hines  as  secretaries,  the  minutes  ot' 


I     1'  ii 

■*     ^  5 


,  '    IS 


)- 


-  Acoording  to  Hiiics,  the  comimttee  o '  arriiiiginiu'iitH  wan  clioscu  iit  Young's 
i'liiit'i-il.    Ori'iioii  //is/..  4IH. 

^Iii  till!  prooecdiiigs  ot'  tlie  first  ilay's  meeting,  t'ouixl  in  Orn/oit  Archini'H, 
Mil  ineiitioii  is  iiiade  ot  tlic  r.u'ii  noiiiinateil;  l)ut  from  tliuir  'iiimltcr,  sevciitoen, 
there  must  liave  been  an  orticer  to  about  every  other  Anieriean  in  tlie  Mi.suion 
colony.     Two  overseers  o'  tlie  poor  aonnds  like  irony. 


w 


I  I' 


•_'".t4 


( URBANIZATION    OF   I'KOVI.SIOXAL  (iOVKKX.MEXT. 


'i  'i         ! 


tlio  previous  mooting  woro  prosontod,  aim  acroptod  so 
far  as  ohoosiiii;'  a  coimnittoo  to  framo  a  constitution 
and  rode  of  laws  was  conoerned.  Tlio  conimittoe 
named  consisted  of  F.  N.  Blanch  et,  Jason  Lee,  David 
Donpierre,  Gustavus  Hines,  Charlovon,  Robert  Moore, 
J.  L.  Parrisli,  Etienne  Lucior,  and  William  Johnson. 
The  oidy  one  of  the  number  who  hnd  any  practical 
knowledge  of  le<»;islation  was  Moore,  'ind  most  of  the 
others  were  probably  iij^norant  of  even  the  theory  of 
law.  By  making'  Blanchet  chairman  of  the  com- 
mittee, tlie  Mission  party  hoped  to  secure  the  French 
( 'atholic  influence,  and  harmonize  sectarian  rlifliculties, 
wliile  the  settlers  were  to  be  cajoled  by  the  liberal 
bestowinent  of  small  orti(vs. 

It  was  found  expedient  to  defer  the  election  of  a 
governor  to  a  more  convenient  season,  owing  to  the 
jealously  of  several  missionary  aspirants,  and  the 
op[)osition  of  the  settlers  to  a  govemoi-  from  that 
party.  This  matter  being  settled,  I.  L.  Babcock  was 
chosen  supreme  Judge  with  j)robate  powers,  George 
W.  IjO  Breton  clerk  of  tli(^  courts  and  public  recorder, 
VV^illiam  Johnson  high  sheriH",  and  Zavier  Ladaroot, 
Pierre  Billicjue,  and  William  ]\[eCarty  constables.  A 
resolution  was  then  j)asst'd  that  until  the  code  of  laws 
should  1)0  dvanghted.  Judge  Babcock  should  be  "in- 
structed to  act  according  to  the  laws  «>f  the  state  of 
New  York."'  The  conviMition  then  adjourned  to 
meet  again  on  the  7th  of  Jnni'  at  St  Pauls. 

But  when  that  day  arrived,  and  the  people  were 
gathered  to  hear  the  re|)ort  of  the  coimnittoo  on  con- 
stitution and  laws,  it  was  found  that  no  rejiort  had 
boon  pre[)ared,  as  Blanchet  had  not  called  that  body 
together,  and  that  he  now  desired  to  be  excused  from 
si'i'ving  as  chairman.  This  re([iiest  being  granted,  W  . 
J,  Bailey  was  chosen  in  his  jdace,  and  the  committee 
were  instructed  to  meet  on  tht>  first  Monday  of  Au- 
gust for  the  transaction  of  business,  and  to  re[)ort  to 


*  Hini'H    Ori'ijoii  J/ixf.,  41i(.      At  this  tiiiio  tlicio  was  lint  one  copy  nf  tlic 
laws  i)f  tln!  stati'  iif  Xi'V  York  in  tlic  I'oloiiy. 


MULTIPLRATION    OF   FACTIONS. 


•-"Jo 


Jill  adjourned  session  of  the  convention  on  the  first 
Thursday  in  October.  In  the  mean  time  they  were 
advised  to  confer  with  the  commander  of  the  United 
States  exi)loring  expedition,  then  in  tlie  Columbia 
River,  and  with  John  McLout;hhn  of  Fort  Vancouver. 
Resolutions  were  then  jmssed  rescinding  the  nomina- 
tions made  at  the  [)revious  meeting,  and  instructing 
the  committee  on  constitution  and  laws  to  "take  into 
consideration  the  number  and  kind  of  offices  it  will 
be  necessary  to  create  in  accordance  with  their  con- 
stitution and  code."  The  report  of  the  nominating 
committee  was  to  be  referred  to  the  ley;islative  com- 
mittee.  An  adjournment  was  then  taken  to  the  Octo- 
ber meeting  at  the  Methodist  Mission. 

The  withdrawal  of  Blanchet  from  the  chairman- 
slii})  of  the  legislative  committee  was  taken,  as  was 
probably  intended,  to  signify  that  the  Canadians 
would  take  no  part  in  the  organization  of  a  govern- 
ment; hence  the  rescinding  of  the  nominations  em- 
1  tracing  a  number  of  their  names  T.is  revived  the 
discussion  as  to  the  necessity  of  a  governor,  and  in  fact 
threw  many  difficulties  in  the  way  of  the  scheme  for 
an  organization.  Moreover,  some  of  the  most  influ- 
ential persons  in  the  country  and  some  of  the  mem- 
ber's of  the  legislative  committee  were  o[>[>osed  to  th(^ 
idea  of  a  government  so  long  as  peace  and  harmony 
existed  witliout  it.'' 

Besides  this  formidable  opposition,  Wilkes,  on  being 
consulted,  condemned  the  sclieiiie,  on  tlie  grounds  that 
only  a  small  miiiorit}'  of  the  iiihai)itants  desired  to 
establish  a  government,  that  laws  were  not  necessary, 
that  they  would  be  a  poor  substitute  for  the  nwn-al 
code  tliey  all  followed,  that  there  would  be  great  diffi- 
culty   in   enforcing   them    within   any   definite  limits, 

''^Villialll  ■liiliiiMon.  who  was  tlu'  oiily  mi<^  of  the  m'ttU'r  class  not  Freiicli 
oil  the  I'omiiiittw,  saiil  tiiat  thi'iv  was  as  yi-t  'no  nt'(M!ssity  for  laws,  lawyers, 
or  iiia^'istratcs.'  Hlaiicliet  '  was  of  ojiiiiioii  that  tlif  iimnlier  of  settlers  in  tli- 
Willamette  Valley  would  not  warrant  the  estalilishineiit  of  a  constitution, 
and  as  far  as  his  ])eo[)le  were  concerned,  then;  wa-i  no  netH'ssity  for  tnw,  nor 
had  lie  anv  knowledge  of  crime  Imving  Ueen  yet  committed.'  WiUci^  \<ii:, 
iv.  ;17»  4.  ' 


i\ 


m 


I  III 


to  1 


21)1 ; 


()U(;.\NlZATION    OF   I'KOVLSIONAL  GOVKRN.MKNT. 


tliat  the  majoiity  ot"  the  population  being  Catliolics, 
tliey  would  elect  their  ofHecTS,  which  would  be  dis- 
pleasing to  the  Protestants,  and  that  an  unfavorable 
impression  would  be  produced  in  the  United  States 
concerning  the  influence  of  missions  which  were 
obliged  to  resort  to  a  criminal  code. 

Finding  themselves  baffled  at  every  turn,  but  eii- 
('ouraged  to  believe  that  the  United  States  govern- 
ment would  soon  extend  its  jurisdiction  over  theni, 
the  missionary  party  now  reluctantly  consented  to  let 
drop  their  political  scheme  for  the  present,  and  for  a 
year  there  was  no  more  agitation  of  the  subject  of  an 
established  form  of  «jovernment  in  Oreijon. 

The  arrival  of  White  in  1842,  with  the  commission 
of  sub-Indian  agent  and  a  provisional  claim  on  the 
governorsliip  of  the  colony,  stirred  afresh  the  advo- 
cates of  legislation.  The  idea  of  White  beconiinii' 
the  civil  head  of  the  connnunity  was  intolerable,  but 
on  the  other  hand,  the  fact  that  he  was  indirectly 
recommended  for  that  position  by  the  United  States 
government  was  a  great  point  in  his  favor;  so,  with 
characteristic  discretion,  the  missionary  party  quietH 
used  their  influence  to  snub  his  pretensions  without 
openly  working  against  him,  and  by  this  course  suc- 
ceeded, as  we  have  seen,  in  confining  his  authority  to 
the  management  of  Indian  affairs. 

But  though  the  mass  of  the  colonists  appeared  to 
be  satisfied  with  the  I'xisting  state  of  things,  tlie 
advocates  of  a  temporary  government  continued  to 
agitate  the  (piestion  during  the  winter  of  1842-;.{, 
discussing  it  in  a  debating  society  said  to  have  been 
established  in  Oregon  City  for  no  other  purpose.* 

"(iray,  /fi.if.  Or.,  2t)0,  has  confouniliMl  thu  ' Fall.s  Association'  with  the 
Oregon  Lyceuiii,  ami  culls  it  the  '  Multnonuih  ("ir<"il;iliiig  Library,' a  name 
not  in  use  till  long  after.  Tlie  lihrary  was  not  f(u-!'.e(l  until  .lau'uary  1844. 
W.  U.  l-leus,  an  in  migrant  or  that  year,  rolut.  s  that  when  the  immigration 
of  184H  arrived,  liniling  the  people  ilepriveil  ot  reading  matter,  having  no 
ncw.si)apers  ami  few  hooka,  there  was  fornieil  at  Oregon  t'ity  the  'Tioneer 
l.yeeum  ami  Literary  Clult, '  wiiieh  met  'to  iliseuns  tiie  wliole' round  of  liter- 
ary and  seientilic  pursuits,'     The  names  on  the  roll  of  tliis  cluh  were  .John 


THE   OUEUON    LVC'KLM. 


a>7 


The  question  of  e.stal)lishin_i>f  an  indepeiuleiit  i^oveni- 
nient  for  Oregon  was  also  discussed  by  this  body.  Tlii^ 
selienie  is  said  to  have  been  favored  by  MeLoughhn, 
and  openly  advocated  by  several  intlaential  Ajneriean 
colonists.  Hastings  went  so  far  as  to  ofler  a  resolu- 
tion in  favor  of  the  plan,  but  (jreorge  Abernethy,  tlicn 
residing  in  Oregon  City,  met  this  witli  anotiier,  to 
the  effect  that:  "  If  the  United  States  t;xtends  its 
jurisdiction  over  this  country,  within  four  years  it 
will  not  be  expedient  to  form  an  independent  govern- 
ment." This  resolution  was  warmly  discussed  and 
finally  carried." 

In  tlie  autumn  of  1842  overtures  were  aj^ain  made 
to  the  Canadians  to  assist  in  forming  a  temporary  gov- 
erimient,  and  meetimjs  to  consider  the  matter  were 
held  at  French  Prairie.  But  the  Canadians  declined, 
])resumably  by  the  advice  of  McLoughlin  and  their 
s})iritual  adviser,  Blanchet.  The  position  of  the 
former  at  this  juncture  was  enil)arrassing.  It  was 
evident  that  some  form  of  political  legislation  nmst 
before  long  grow  out  of  the  persistent  consideration 
of  the  subject.  To  aid  or  countenance  the  establisli- 
ment  of  a  government  owing  exclusive  allegiance  to 
the  United  States  would  be  di.sloyal  to  his  country 
and  to  the  interests  of  the  com{)any.  An  inde})endent 
government  would  l)e  preferable  to  this,  though  there 

H.  Couch,  V.  W.  IV'ttygrove,  J.  ^^.  Wair,  A.  L.  Lovejov,  Jesse  Applegatc, 

S.  M  .  Moss,  Kooert  Newell,  .1.  W.  Nesinitli,  K<1.    Otie,  H.  A.  (t.  Lee,  Freil. 

Pri^M.  C.  E.  Pit'lvL'tt,  Win  V.  Domeiit,  .Moildniiii  ( 'niwfonl,  Hiram  Straight, 
I     \\'.....i ^1.     w.,.    /'....I.;...      ^-  ••■      ■•     ■         ■••  '     •■     '••• 


was  seorotary  of  the  eliih.  Aiiinial  A<lili'f.ss  lu'l'cire  tiie  Oregon  Pioneer  As.st 
elation,  in  Or.  /'ionccr  As.inc.,  Tfoii^.,  IS7!I,  ]).  '27.  See  also  S.  W.  Moss,  in  I'io- 
iiiir  'iiini'.*,  MS.,  17,  IN,  where  the  'Falls  Deliating  Soeiety  '  is  spoken  ot. 
Applegate  says  the  lihrary  was  got  togetlier  in  the  winter  of  184H  4,  and  that 
he  e(mtri!)ute(l  The  Ffilcrnlist,  and  several  soientitie  works.  Marginal  notes  in 
(t'rui/'n  J/inf.  Or.,  '2i>0.  \o  two  authorities  eall  the  institution  hy  tht^  same 
name.  The  (hri/on  S}nrf<i/or  of  .Vpril  Hi,  l.S4<),  ealls  it  the  Falls  .\ssociation, 
hut  it  was  the  fashion  of  the  Methodists  to  speak  of  Oregon  City  as  'The 
Falls,'  merely  to  diseouutenance  .MeLoughlin's  right  to  name  the  place.  Thu 
proper  name  of  the  debating  society  of  1S4'J  was  th«^  Oregon  Ijyccuin. 
'  Abeniethy's  Letter,  ill  i,'rin/\  //!.■</.  Or.,  '2C>\). 


^ 


I! 


'2W 


OKCAMZATION    OF    PROVISIONAL   (.0\  EKXMLNT. 


llL"!  'Ill 


was  danger  tliat  sucli  an  organization,  l)eing  Ameri- 
can, niiglvt  enact  laws  depriving  him  of  liis  property 
j'iglits  south  of  the  Columbia.  Plaiidy  tlie  most  pru- 
dent course  Jie  could  follow  was  to  avoid  the  issue  if 
possible  until  the  two  governments  claiming  jurisdic- 
tion had  settled  the  matter.  It  was  with  this  eml 
in  view  that  he,  directly  or  indirectly,  inHuenced  the 
C.^anadians  to  reject  the  overtures  of  the  American 
settlers.  This  tliey  did  in  a  formal  reply,  evidently 
{treparcd  by  Blanchet,  which  though  written  in  very 
imperfect  English,  sufficiently  explains  the  views  of 
the  French  settlers.  They  professed  cordial  senti- 
ments toward  the  Americans  and  the  gentlemen  who 
had  invited  them  to  particii)ate  in  forming  a  govern- 
ment, and  declared  that  they  were  in  favor  of  certain 
regulations  for  the  protection  of  ptu'sons  and  property, 
and  were  willino;  to  vield  obedience  to  the  officers 
chosen  at  the  meeting  of  February  18,  1841,'^  although 
tliey  did  not  approve  of  all  their  measures.  They 
declined  to  address  a  petition  to  the  United  States, 
as  solicited,  until  tlie  boundary  should  be  established. 
They  were  opposed  to  the  land  law  in  contemplation 
by  the  supporters  of  the  government  scheme,  because 
they  had  no  guaranty  that  all  would  not  be  changed 
by  the  succeeding  government.  They  olyected  to  a 
provisional  form  of  government  as  being  cumbersome 
instead  of  heli)ful  to  the  colony.  Men  of  laws  and 
science,  they  said,  were  still  few  in  the  country,  and 
had  enousxh  to, do  without  ley-islatiny". 


'*'riio  aiiswor  of  tin;  Canailians  as  it  appears  in  the  On  :  m  Airhiven,  MS.,  in 
nut  dated;  Ijut  it  is  addressed  to  'Tlie  meeting  at  Chaniiioeg,  Mareh  4,  1843,' 
wliieli  shows  tliat  tliere  was  an  appointment  for  that  date,  when  their 
answer  was  expecteil;  and  as,  owing  to  the  popnlation  hc^nig  seattered  over  a 
lai'ge  area,  witli  shiw  and  ditlicnlt  modes  of  eoniinunication,  it  wiis  the 
custom  to  make  appointments  months  in  advance,  to  allow  time  for  the 
people  to  consider  the  matter  proposed,  and  prepare  their  opinions,  tlie 
invitation  w;is  probably  given  late  in  the  previous  year.  McLoughliu  says, 
in  his  I'rimiUi  Papcru,  iSlS.,  2d  ser.  7,  that  a  formal  proposition  was  niade  to 
the  Canadian  settlers  in  tJie  spring  of  1842,  to  nnite  with  the  Americans; 
lint  on  comparing  this  with  other  authorities,  I  am  convinced  it  was  in  the 
autumn  of  1842.  Another  evidence  is,  tliat  the  address  of  the  Canadians 
refers  to  the  '  measures  taken  liist  year,'  which  could  only  mean  the  choosing 
of  a  judge  and  other  otiicers  in  1841. 


ATTITUDE  OF  THE  FKENCH  SETTLEKS. 


'2\M 


Tliey  proposed,  liowover,  that  a  council  or  senate 
l»e  chosen  for  tlic  judgment  of  ott'enses,  except  capital 
ones,  and  to  make  suitahle  leoulations  for  the  [teople ; 
that  tlie  council  he  elected  and  com[)osed  of  memhers 
from  all  parts  of  the  country  to  constitute  a  [)arlia- 
ment,  the  presiilent  of  tlie  council  and  anothe)-  niem- 
i)er  heinj^  empowered  to  act  as  justices  of  the  peace  in 
each  county,  with  the  j»rivilcge  on  the  part  of  the 
people  to  appeal  causes  to  the  whole  council.  The 
members,  they  said,  should  be  inHueticed  bv  a  desire 
for  the  public  good,  and  not  for  their  own  gain.  Tax- 
ation they  pronounced  inexpedient,  and  espi-cially 
onerous  to  new  arri\als  in  the  colony  ;  and  they  would 
not  consent  to  be  taxed.  As  to  militia,  they  declared 
it  needless,  and  the  occasit)n  of  suspicion  to  tlu;  natives, 
as  well  as  a  hinderance  to  necessary  labor  and  an  ex- 
pense  to  the  people.  The  country,  they  contended, 
was  open  to  all  nations,  until  its  sovereignty  sliould  be 
determini'd,  and  })eo[)le  might  settle  in  it  witiiout 
l)eing  called  uj>on  to  declare  to  what  government  they 
would  give  allegiance  in  the  future.  Thev  desired  to 
be  in  unison^  with  all  respectable  citizens,  or  else  to  bo 
left  free  to  make  such  regulations  as  ajtpeared  most 
necessary  to  themselves,  until  the  coming  of  some  law- 
ful authority,  to  which  they  would  cheerfully  submit. 
While  they  did  not  forget  that  some  laws  might  be 
profitably  ado[)ted  vvvn  then,  they  held  that  the  more 
laws  there  were  the  greater  the  oj)j)()rtunity  for-  roguery 
and  for  sul)se(jU('nt  changes  which  might  not  l)e  profit- 
able. Besides,  in  a  new  country  the  more  men  em- 
ployed antl  paid  by  the  j)ublic  the  fewer  remained  for 
industry.  The  address  concluded  with  the  assurance 
tliat  none  could  hi'  more  desirous  of  the  peace,  ])ros- 
j)erity,  and  lilterties  of  the  colony  than  themselves, 
and  with  good  wishes  for  "al!  those  who  are  or  may 
become  our  fellow-countrymen."'' 

^  Hmrir's  Or.  Arr/ihis,  14-1').  UnfnrtnuHtcly  t"i>i-  the  iR'rfcct  continuity 
lit  liintory,  the  Oriyon  A  rr/iirc.i  do  not  coiitiiin  either  tin-  invitation  which  ciilleil 
out  this  imsw  "•,  Of  tlu'  ]iroceeiling»  of  the  meeting  at  I'liunipoeg  of  tiie  4th 


!.  ) 


I 


w 


I  1 


1 


iV- 


•Mi 


OUCANIZATION    OF    I'UOVISlONAJ.   (iOVKKNMKN T. 


Altliough  McJjoUij^liIii)  had  taken  no  ojkmi  jmit  in 
tliose  procoL'dings,  he  was  naturally  and  ii»>htly  suj)- 
posed  1)V  the  rebuked  and  offended  orit^inators  of  the 
provisional  government  idea  to  be  responsible  for  the 
attitude  taken  by  the  French  settlers,  and  a  feeling  of 
hatred  toward  him  had  much  to  do  with  the  drawing- 
up  of  the  ShortesH-Abernethy  petition,  the  history 
of  which  has  already  been  given. 

Meetings  were  likewise  held  in  other  parts  of  th(( 
colony;  one  at  the  Oregon  Institute,  where  (iray 
resided,  being  ostensibly  called  for  the  purpose  of 
devising  means  of  protecting  the  herds  of  the  country 
from  wild  animals,'"  but  really  as  a  device  by  which 
the  settlers,  French  and  American,  might  be  brought 
together,  and  the  plan  of  a  provisional  government 
broached."  The  minutes  of  the  meeting  occupy  less 
than  half  a  page,  the  only  business  accom[)lished  being 
the  ap[)ointing  by  Babcock,  the  chairman,  of  a  com- 
mittee of  six,  to  give  notice  of  a  general  meeting  to 
be  held  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Gervais  on  Monday 
the  6th  of  March. 

of  March,  to  which  it  wiis  addressed.  <!ray,  Jfitf.  Or.,  273,  nays  tliat  lit-  is 
aure  tlii.s  address  was  not  brought  before  any  public  meeting  of  tlie  settlers. 
This  suggests  an  explanation  of  the  absence  of  records  touching  this  porticin 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  missionaries,  namely,  that  when  they  found  the.se 
reasonal)le  objections  f)f  the  Canadians  so  well  stated,  they  quietly  suppressed 
their  reply  so  tliat  it  might  not  affect  ti';  feeling  of  the  Americui  settlers,  wlioni 
they  had  more  hope  of  bringing  over.  A  compilation  of  the  public  documents 
of  the  provisional  government  of  Oregon  was  made  in  1853  by  Lafayette 
( Jrover,  by  order  of  the  legislative  assembly.  Here  is  wluat  (trover  says  about 
his  work:  In  tlie  'preparation  for  publication  of  tlie  Oiri/on  Arr/iiiv.%  the  com- 
missioner has  met  witli  many  obstacles  to  the  perfect  success  ami  early  com- 
jdetion  of  tlie  important  work  assigned  him.  Within  tlie  proper  depository 
of  the  public  papers  lie  had  not  been  able  to  find  entire  and  .satisfactory 
records  of  all  tliat,  he  is  satisfied,  has  transpired  in  Oregon  of  a  pnl)lic,  gen- 
eral nature,  and  which  would  be  of  emimait  historic  importance.  In  this 
ciise,  he  has  spared  no  pains  to  searcli  out  from  other  authentic  and  reliable 
resources  all  sui^h  information  as  would  till  existing  blanks  or  furnish  suffi- 
cient explanaticn  of  seeming  discrepancies  and  wants.'  Preface  to  Grover't 
Or.  A  rr/iivcH. 

'"  '  When  we  came  here  the  wolves  ate  up  many  horses — fourteen  for  one 
company.  Cattle  would  tight  them,  but  horses  would  run,  and  the  wolves 
vould  run  them  down."  \i'iihto's('ritiiiiiej<,  MS.,  11.  I'arrisli  also  remarks  upon 
the  loss  of  «tock  of  every  kind  l)y  panthers,  wolves,  and  cougars.  Or.  Aiiec- 
ihlcs,  M.S.,  99.  White  speaks  of  Iteing  driven  into  a  tree  by  wolves,  and  of 
being  rescued  by  his  wife  and  hired  man.    Ten  Years  in  Or.,  88-9. 

"  Applegate  remarks:  'It  is  new  to  me  that  (Jray  was  a  prime  mover  in 
this  matter.'  Marginal  notes  in  //i.st.  Or.,  2CA. 


Till-;   \V()I,K  OlWiANlZATION. 


.m 


(itTvais  liad  always  hcon  tlie  active  liolpor  and 
tVit'iid  of  tlio  Methodist  Mission,  of  wliicli  lie  was  a 
sort  of  lay  member;  and  it  was  custoinary  to  hold 
meetings  of  a  religious  or  secular  iiature  at  his  house, 
which  was  a  convenient  centre  of  i)usiness  for  the 
settlers,  about  half-way  l)etween  Salem  and  (Miam- 
pocg.  As  almost  every  settler  had  sufi'eied  fiom  the 
ravages  of  wild  heasts,  the  meeting  was  fully  attendt^l. 
James  O'Neil  was  chosen  chairman,  and  (ieorge  W. 
Le  Breton  seerettiry.  The  business  for  which  the 
people  had  come  together  was  conducted  to  a  satis- 
factory conclusion  ;  a  bounty  being  fixed  for  every 
species  of  animal  killed.  A  committee  was  a})pointed 
to  receive  the  proofs,  a  treasurer  chosen,  and  i-egula- 
tions  M'ere  established.  The  association  thus  formed 
was  known  as  the  '  Wolf  Organization,'  and  was  what 
it  ])urj)orted  to  be,  a  measure  for  tlu^  jfroteetion  of 
domestic  animals. 

At  the  close  of  the  day's  business  a  resolution  was 
offered  and  j)as8ed,  "that  a  committee  be  appointed 
to  take  into  consideration  the  propriety  of  taking 
measures  for  the  civil  and  military  ])rotection  of  this 
colonv, "  and  another  that  it  shouki  consist  of  twelve 
))er8ons,  who  were  accordingly  chosen.  The  ciioice  of 
the  meeting  fell  on  I.  ]^.  Babcock,  El.jah  White,  .fames 
O'Neil,  Robert  Shortess,  Robert  Newell,  Etiemie 
Lucier,  Joseph  Gervais,  Thomas  .).  Hubliard,'"  W,  H. 
(Tray,  Sidney  Smith,  and  (ireoige  Gay.  The  pa.ssage 
of  this  resolution  was  brought  about  by  considerable 
mana'uvring,  Le  Breton  and  Smith  being  })reviously 
em})loyetl  to  ascer-tain  who  could  be  I'elied  upon  to  sup- 
])ort  it.  \roreover  it  is  hinted  that  certain  men,  notably 
the  clergy,  wen;  absent  through  prearraugenii'nt,  lest 
their  presence  should  alarm  the  settlei's.  who  were 
not  in  favor  of  a  irovermnent  1)V  the  missionaries.^"^ 

''^Some  new  names  ajjpear  on  the  journal,  J.  ('.  bridges,  McUoy  Torn, 
IWnalty,  and  Martin,  though  tlie  latter  i'lay  have  heen  H.  M.'iriiii  who  fame 
to  the  country  in  1840,  and  of  «hoin  not  laiich  is  known,  liridgi'.s  went  to 
•  'aliforiiia  witii  tlie  immigrants  of  1842,  a  few  weeks  later. 

''V.  H.  (iray  is  res)ionsilile  for  these  statements.  lu  1870  lie  pnldi.slie<l  a 
]lii<toni  oj  Ort'ijon  from  17!)-  to  KS4!t:  a  hook  of  &2i  jiages;  sohl  hy  Kidtserijition, 


.'  !| 


I      1 


I 

I    I 


S0!2 


OIKiANIZAlloN    OF   i'KOVlSIONAL  (iOVKUN.SlKNT. 


|i  I 


The  caution  used  not  to  provoke  t>))j)(isitioii  .s  aj)- 
))arent  iu  the  wording  c)f'  the  resolution  itself,  which 
only  ]jroj)oses  to  consider  the  propriety  of  taking 
measures.  But  the  coniniittee,  or  those  of  them  who 
were  mauaging  the  husiness  under  the  direction  of 
the  Mission,  held  stated  meetings,  at  which  they  dis- 
cussed more  than  anything  else  the  question  of  liow 
to  make  a  governor,  and  whom  to  pla(;e  in  tliat  posi- 
tion. They  also  <lrew  u\)  a  i-eport  which  was  an 
acceptance  of  a  form  of  j)rovisional  government,  and 
a  list  of  the  oftitrers  they  pi<)})osed  to  the  peo})le  to 
elect.  In  the  mean  time  the  subject  was  skilfullv 
agitated  anu)ng  the  settlers,  French  and  American, 
who  were  convinced  that  an  organization  was  inevi- 
table,  and  taught  to  believe  that  unless  they  would 
be  ruled  entirely  by  the  missionary  class,  they  must 
take  the  matter  of  the  proposed  government  into 
their  own  hands.  Amony  other  arii^uments  urtjed  was 
the  attitude  of  the  natives  in  the  interior,  the  need  of 
a  military  organization,  and  the  benefit  to  be  derived 
from  having  a  land  law.  These  were  the  ruling  mo- 
tives with  the  American  settlers;  but  that  they  did 
not  influence  the  Canadians  to  an}'  great  extent,  their 

in  Portland,  San  Francisco,  and  New  York.  As  a  book  of  reference,  when 
compared  with  other  authoriiies,  the  work  is  valuable,  contiiining  many  facts 
and  important  documents.  It  has,  however,  three  faults — lack  of  arrangement, 
acrimonious  partisanship,  and  disregard  of  truth.  A  notable  instance  of  its 
mendacity  is  the  dramatic  account  given  of  Whitman's  visit  to  the  United 
States,  its  cause  and  purpose,  an<l  the  alleged  instrument."'.lity  of  Whitman  iu 
raising  the  emigration  of  1843,  almost  tlie  whole  of  which  must  be  relegated 
to  the  domain  of  fiction.  Gray  had  a  jmpular  style  of  writing,  however,  as  is 
shown  by  the  reluctance  of  the  public  to  give  him  up  as  an  authority  even  after 
fair  examination  by  critics  had  shown  him  to  be  unreliable.  He  is  charged 
by  Robert  Newell  with  resorting  to  liis  imagination  in  giving  the  history  of 
the  proceedings  of  the  early  provisional  government.  See  Strirturen  o)i  Oray, 
in  Portland  ])emocratic  Jlcralil,  Oct.  18G(),  et  seij.,  in  which  Newell  repays  with 
interest  some  of  (tray's  rather  broad  caricatures  of  him.  Criticisms  of  (Jray's 
Ifistorji,  on  the  ground  of  unfairness,  may  be  found  in  the  writings  of  several 
of  his  contemporaries,  viz.:  Mohs'  Pioneer  Tiinex,  MS.,  1(5,  17;  C'rtufjonl'n  Mis- 
MioiKiriex,  MS.,  8;  Whites  Early  Government,  iAi'i.,  40;  Waldo' m  CritiijueH,  MS., 
4;  Rolterts'  Recollections,  MS.,  17;  Tolmie's  Pvi/et  Sound,  MS.,  24-5;  and  in  the 
writings  of  Evans,  Victor,  Strong,  Blanchet,  Burnett,  and  Applegate.  As  an 
exhibition  of  the  feeling  entertained  by  certain  persons  in  (Jregon  40  years 
ago,  toward  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain,  and  professors  of  the  Catholic  faith, 
it  is  striking,  though  perhaps  somewhat  overdrawn,  and  is  all  the  more  im- 
pressive in  that  the  writer  speaks  as  if  those  past  days  were  still  present  to 
nim. 


THE  t'HAMPOEO  t'ONVKNTION. 


:<(K( 


.'^ 


toruiul  luldrt'ss  is  ovidenoe.  However,  if  tliere  was  to 
l)e  a  governnieiit,  .the  latter  wisiied  to  sliare  its  heiu;- 
tits,  ami  anxiously  conferred  on  the  subject  anioiijjf 
theniselvtfs.  The  time  bein*^  now  i-i|H!  for  action,  tin- 
committee  called  a  mass-nieetin*^,  to  be  held  on  the 
•2d  of  May  at  ( 'hampoi^sr,  to  hear  their  report. 

On  the  ap})ointed  day,  about  an  equal  mnnl)er  of 
French  and  American  settlers  beinj^  assembled,  the 
nieetin<i^  was  orjj^anized  in  the  open  air  by  the  election 
of  Ira  L.  Bai)cock  as  ])residont,  and  Le  Breton,  (^ray, 
and  Willson  as  secretaries.  The  report  of  the  com- 
mittee was  then  read,  and  of  course  proved  to  be  in 
favor  of  a  political  orj:janization,  to  continue  in  force 
until  the  United  States  should  establish  a  teiritorial 
fi^overnment.  This,  (mi  a  motion  to  accept,  was  thoui»lit 
to  be  rejected  on  the  first  vote,  wIk^ii  considerable 
confusion  followed,  occasioned  by  the  sj)eaker  beino- 
unal)le  to  determine  on  which  side  was  the  majority.'^ 
The  ayes  and  noes  being  called  for,  there  was  still  a 
doubt,  when  Le  Breton  nu)ved  that  the  meeting 
divide  in  order  to  be  counted.  Gray  seconded  tlu' 
motion,  and  the  order  was  given  for  those  in  favor  of 
organization  tt)  file  to  the  right,  while  the  opposite 
party  took  the  left. 

The  first  to  step  to  the  right  was  Joseph  L.  Meek, 
his  splendid  figure  clad  in  the  ragged  habiliments 
common  to  the  improvident  mountain  men.*"  With  a 
sparkling  eye,  a  voice  of  command,  and  the  air  of  a 
major-general,  the  hero  of  many  wild  adventures  in 
the  Kocky  Mountains  stepjied  to  a  niche  in  history 
as  he  strode  to  his  ])osition,  crying  out,  "Who's  foi- 
a  divide  I  All  in  favor  of  tlie  report  and  of  an  organ- 
ization follow  me  I" 

Meek  could  always  influence  his  comrades,  and 
several  took  their  places  in  his  colunm,  but  half  an 
hour  elapsed,  with  some  sharp  remarks  on  both  sides, 

^*  Evans'  XewelVx  Stricturea  on  Gray,  p.  4 — a  compilation  of  Newell's 
articles  in  the  Portlnml  Demorrafic  Heralil,  1860. 

'*  Burnett  says  that  Meek  wore  a  rich  vest  of  white  silk,  wliile  the  reniaiii- 
tler  of  his  clothing  was  exceedingly  shabby,   /'((■oll'-'clioiin  of  a  I'micvr.  IW). 


1;  V 


m 


W 


:m\ 


(»m;AXlZATI()N    OF    I'lUJVlslOXAI.  (.«>\  KKXMKNT. 


Ix'fon!  the  count  could  lu-  t^ikcii.  Wlicii  every  man 
Im<l  at  lcii»rtli  (Icculcd,  it  was  found  that  a  wniall  ma 
jority  wcrt!  in  favor  of  (>ii»'ani/in«i^  n  temporary  ji;()vcrn- 
mont.  Xot  (juite  lialf  the  Americans  voted  for  the 
organization,  and  hut  for  tlie  aid  of  a  few  Canadians 
wlio  wi're  fiiendly  \o  the  missionai'ies,  tlie  victory 
would  have  heen  on  tno  otiier  side." 

The  dissenters  liavinj;'  with<hawn,  tlie  report  of  the 
committee  was  taken  up  ajid  disposed  of,  ar-ticle  by 
article.  The  result  of  the  |)rocoedin<ifs  was  the  elec- 
tion upon  the  spot  of  the  followinij^  officers:  \.  E. 
Wilson,  supreme  jud«;e  with  j)rol)ate  powers;  (Jr.  W. 
Le  Breton,  clerk  of  tlie  court,  or  recorder ;  J.  L.  Meek, 
.sheriff;  W.  H.  VV^illsoii,  treasurer;  Huj^h  Burns,  L. 
H.  Jud.son,  Charles  (^ampo,  and  A.  T.  Sinitli,  inatjris- 
trates;  G.  W.  Ehherts,  J^euheii  Lewis,  J.  C  ]^ridj/es, 
and  F.  X,  Matthieu,  constables;  John  Howard,  major; 
Wm  McCarty,  C.  McHoy,  and  Sidney  S..iith,  caj)tains ; 
David  Hill,  Robert  Shortess,  Robert  Newell,  Alausc  ii 
Beers,  Thomas  J.  Hubbard,  W.  H.  (xray,  James  C?\il, 
llobert  Moore,  and  WmM.  Doty,  were  chosen  to  con- 
stitute a  legislative  committee,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
drautxht  a  code  of  laws  for  the  tjovernnieiit  of  tfie 
colony.  The  legislative  comniittee  were  required  to 
complete  their  work  in  six  days,  and  had  their  salaries 
fixed  at  a  dollar  and  a  quarter  a  tlay,  the  money  to 
be  raised  by  subscrij'tion.  The  5th  of  July  was 
appointed  for  receiving  the  report  of  the  committee. 

The  object  for  which  so  much  striving  and  scliem- 
ing  had  been  carried  on  for  two  years  was  at  la.st 
accomplished.  The  i)eo})le  had  consented  to  a  provi.s- 
ioiiiil  government.     Ry  judiciously  kee])ing  out  of  siglit 

"'The  journal  in  tlie  aroliivfs.says  that  tlurc  was  a  '  larjio  majority.  <!iay 
says  two;  Xt'Wfll,  tivf.  (Irayalso  says  that  lumi'  of  the  (.'aiiadiaiis  jiresciit 
voted  for  the  organization;  but  Xewell  names  ( Jervais,  Lucier,  Billiijue,  Ber- 
nior,  Doniiierre,  and  Latourette,  who  did  so,  licsides  sjtnie  others,  (tervais 
!vnd  Lueier  were  on  the  committee,  and  eould  not  have  voted,  otherwise.  It 
is  jirohahle,  therefore,  that  Xewell's  account  is  oorreet.  .1.  L.  Parrish,  in  his 
(Jr.  Amfilo/'M,  MS.  admits  that  I..atourette  voted  with  those  in  favor  of  a 
government. 


I,i:( ilSI.A'I  I VP:   I'lK )(  KKDIXl iS. 


:«).-> 


■miiii 


the  cost  of  tln!  t'Xpcriincnt,  l»y  VK'Miiii,^  tlic  |toint  of 
taxes,  and  i)ioinisiii»jf  to  j^^'t  aloii<;'  without  a  o()vi'rn()r, 
tlie  missioiiaiy  party  liad  won  the  day.  It  was  only, 
however,  by  enrourajjjino-  tJie  settlers  to  belii've  that 
it  was  their  (  \ui  tiovcriinu'nt  that  this  success  was 
secured.  J.  S.  (IritHu  was  su<;<ifestt'd  as  a  iMeMd)er  «»f 
the  lejj^islative  conunittee,  l)ut  his  noniiuation  was 
opposed  on  the  j^round  that  clerjjcynien  should  liaxe 
nothinjj^  to  do  with  making  secular-  laws,  as  their  call- 
ing discjualified  them  from  fully  conij)rehending  the 
wants  of  tliJ  comiuunity.  They  had  been  tried  and 
found  wanting.  They  had  thus  far  controlled  the 
affairs  of  the  colony,  but  failed  of  the  objects  of  gov- 
ernment, which  were  the  prot<;ction  of  the  people. 

The  legislative  conunittee  held  their  sessions  on  the 
IGth,  17th,  iHth,  and  lUth  of  May,  and  the  27th  and 
28th  of  June,  ^Eoore  acting  as  chairman,  and  Le 
Breton  as  clerk.  Their  deliberations  were  carried  on 
with  open  doors,  in  an  unoccupied  granary  belonging 
to  the  old  Mission.  Few  of  them  had  any  experience! 
in  legislation,  and  few  books  on  law  existed  in  the 
country/^  Moore,  the  chairman,  and  Shortess  were 
better  informed  than  their  colleagues,  though  Gray, 
Newell,  Hill,  and  O'Xeil  were  active  in  suggesting 
wh.at  ought  to  be  done.  Gray,  Shortess,  and  Newell 
})repared  the  rules  for  the  business  of  the  house,  which 
wore  adopted.  The  following  connnittees  were  then 
appointed:  judiciary.  Beers,  Hubbard,  and  Shortess; 
ways  and  means,  Shortess,  O'Neil,  and  Doty;  military 
affairs,  Hubbard,  Newell,  and  Gray;  land  claims, 
Shortess,  Doty,  and  Hill.  A  conunittee  on  the 
division  of  the  country  into  districts,  consisting  of 
Gray,  Doty,  and  Beers,  was  also  formed.  This  com- 
pleted the  labors  of  the  first  day.  Of  the  deliberations 
of  the  legislative  body  oidy  the  barest  skeleton  is  in 
existence.  Newell  relates  that  Gray  wished  the 
s[)eeches   taken    down    by  the   clerk,  and    advocated 


-i,',i 


^' Stromj-i  Hixt.  Or.,  MS.,  61, 
Hist.  Ok.,  Vol.  1.    20 


I  ■  I ; 


!'   t 


I 


1.1? 


I!     1i 
I 


806 


OUCAXIZATIOX   OF   I'UOVISIOXAL  (iOVKHNMKNT. 


a  nioveiiiuiit  to  declare  Oregon  independent  of  tlie 
United  States,  a  measure  wliieli  Newell  opjxjsed  in 
another  s})eech,  and  which  was  defeated  hy  one  vote.'"* 
( )n  the  other  hand,  Gray  relates  that  Xewell  offered 
a  resolution  that  a  committee  be  a})pointed  to  })re- 
})are  a  paper  for  the  signatures  of  all  persons  wish- 
ing an  organization,  as  if  he  still  doubted  the  will  of 
the  people  on  the  .subject.  Perhaps  this  resolution 
was  intended  to  settle  the  question  of  an  independent 
government. 

However  these  forensic  contests  may  lave  origi- 
nated or  been  supported,  the  work  ])rogressed  well 
and  was  c-ompleted  in  the  ])rescribed  time.  The 
judiciary  committee,  whicji  was  embodied  in  Shortess, 
finished  the  organic  laws;  the  other  connnittees  per- 
formed their  work,  and  the  whole  was  submitted  to 
the  people  on  the  5tli  of  July  at  Champoeg.  Among 
the  usual  exercises  on  the  4th  was  an  oration  delivered 
by  Hines,  who,  while  dwelling  on  the  glorious  deeds 
of  the  founders  of  the  republic  of  the  United  States, 
was  careful,  in  view  of  the  work  to  be  done  on  the 
morrow,  to  avoid  offending  the  proper  pride  of  the 
other  nationalities  present. 

At  an  early  liour  on  the  oth  the  meeting  was 
opened.  In  the  absence  of  Babcock,  chairman  of  the 
meeting  of  May  2d,  Hines  was  called  to  preside : 
Robert  Moore,  chairman  t)f  the  legislative  committee, 
then  presented  his  report,  which  being  read  by  the 
clerk,  Le  Breton,  was  accepted,  and  the  adopti<jn  of 
article  after  article  begun. '^ 

'"  AVvx-i'  J\'iin'irM  S/rlriiircs  on  (Ivoi/a  IliM.  Or.,  (i.  If  (Jray  'liil  »>.ot  a.avo- 
cate  ail  iiulopendeut  ^ovoriinoiit  at  thi.s  tiiiio,  it  is  certain  tbut  tlu;ru  were 
those  who  did,  as  well  am  )iig  thu  Aiiiuricans  ai-  tiio  British  sul)ji:uts.  Sou 
J/ini-i'  Oni/oii  Hist.,  4'2'J. 

'"Report  of  the  iogisiative  eiiminitti^c  upon  the  jiidieiary  The  legislative 
committee  reeoiiuneiuled  that  tlic  following  laws  u])on  judiciary  he  accepted: 

'Sec.  I.  We,  the  i)eople  of  Oregon  Territory,  'or  purposes  of  mutual  pro- 
tection, and  to  secure  peace  and  i>rosperity  among  ourselves,  agree  to  adopt 
the  following  la\rs  laud  regulations,  until  such  time  as  the  United  States  of 
Anieric.k  extend  their  jarisiliction  over  Us.  Be  it  therefore  eiu'-teil,  hy  the 
free  citizens  of  Oregon  l\'rritory,  that  the  said  territory,  for  purposes  of 
temjxirary  government,  he  diviiled  into  not  less  than  W,  nor  more  than  ">, 
districta;   subject  to  be  extended  to  a  greater  number,  when  an   increase 


KNACTMKNT   OF    LAWS. 


WT 


The  minutes  of  the  meeting  show  tliat  a  son  of 
^ohn  McLougliHn  named  Joseph  McLoughhn,  who 
lived  on  a  faiiii  in  the  Wilhimette  Valley,  moved  the 
adoption   of  Article  I.,  L.  H,  Judson,  of  Article  II., 


of  population  shall  riMjuire  it.     Vur  the  purpose  of  fixing  the  prineiplt-s  m 
civil  and  riligiou.s  liberty,  as  the  hasi.s  of  all  laws  and  constitutions  of  gov 
ernniunt  that  may  luTeafter  Ite  adojited.      Be  it  enacted,  that  the   following 
articles  'je  considered  as  articles  of  compact,  among  the  free  citizens  of  this 
territory 

'Art.  1.  No  person,  demeaning  hiinsdf  in  a  pcacealile  and  orderly  maani^r, 
shall  ever  l)e  molested  on  account  of  his  mode  of  worsliip  or  religious  senti- 
ments. 

'Art.  2.  The  inhahitants  of  sari  territory  shall  always  be  entitled  to 
tile  benefits  of  tiie  writ  of  habeas  connis,  and  trial  l)y  jury;  of  a  [)roportionate 
representatl.i.i  of  the  people  in  the  '"gislature,  and  of  judicial  ]iroceedings, 
according  to  the  course  of  common  'aw.  All  persons  shall  be  bailal)le,  unless 
for  the  capital  offences,  where  the  '/roof  shall  be  evident,  or  tlie  presumption 
great.  All  tines  shall  be  mode  ite,  and  no  cruel  or  unusual  punishments 
inflicted.  No  n)an  shall  be  dej  .ived  of  his  liberty  but  by  the  judgment  of 
liis  peers,  or  tlie  law  of  the  lanM;  and  should  the  pul)lic  exigencies  make  it 
neces.sary,  for  tlie  comn;r>n  vre  ,ervation,  to  take  any  person's  proi)erty,  or  to 
demand  his  particular  ser'"?  js,  full  compensation  shall  \)v  uuule  for  the  same. 
And  in  the  just  preservati<.n  of  the  rigiits  and  property,  it  is  understood  and 
iledared  that  no  law  ought  ever  to  be  made,  or  have  force  iu  said  territory, 
that  siiall  in  any  manner  interfere  with  or  atl'ect  private  contracts,  or  engage- 
ments, bona  lide,  witlumt  fraud,  i)rcviously  formed. 

'Art.  'A.  Religion,  morality,  and  knowledge,  being  necessary  to  good  gov- 
ernment ami  the  happiness  of  mankind,  schools  and  the  means  of  education 
shall  be  forever  encouraged.  The  utmost  good  faitli  shall  always  be  observed 
towards  the  Indians.  Their  lands  and  property  shall  lU'ver  be  taken  from 
tliem  without  their  consent;  and  in  their  property,  rigiita,  and  liberty,  they 
sliall  nevf  r  be  invaded  or  disturbed,  unless  in  just  and  lawfid  wars,  author- 
ized by  the  repi'  sentatives  of  the  people;  but  laws  founde<l  in  justice  and 
hunumity  shall  from  time  to  tinus  be  made  for  preventing  injustice  being 
done  to  them,  and  for  preserving  peace  aiul  friendship  with  them. 

'Art.  4.  There  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor  involuntary  servitude  in  said 
territory,  otherwise  than  for  the  punishment  of  crimes  whereof  the  party  shall 
have  been  duly  convicted. 

'Sec.  II.,  Art.  I.  Be  it  enacted  by  tlie  authority  aforesaid,  that  the  officers 
elected  on  the  '2i\  of  May,  iiist.,  shall  contiiiiie  in  otiice  until  tlie  second  Tues- 
day in  May  1844,  and  ur.til  others  are  elec'.ed  and  (pialilied. 

'Art.  2.  Be  it  further  enacteil,  that  an  election  of  civil  and  military  offi- 
cers shall  be  held  annually,  on  tlie  seco.id  Tuestlay  in  May,  in  the  several 
lUstricts  of  such  places  as  shall  lie  designated  by  law. 

'Art.  'A.  Each  officer  heretofore  elected,  or  hereafter  to  lie  elected,  shall, 
before  entering  upon  the  duties  of  his  otiice,  take  an  oath  or  atlirmation,  t" 
support  the  laws  of  the  territory,  and  faithfully  discharge  the  duties  of  liis 
office. 

'Art.  4.  Every  free  male  descendant  o'  a  while  man  of  the  age  of  21  years 
and  upwards,  who  shall  have  been  an  int-.abitant  of  this  territory  at  the  tini'' 
of  its  organi/atioii,  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  at  the  election  of  ollicers,  civil 
and  military,  and  be  eligible  to  any  office  in  the  territory — provideil,  that  all 
rsous  of  the  description  entitled  to  vote  bv  the  provisions  of  this  section, 


1 

who  shall 


iig 


rated  to  this  country  after  organization,  shall  bo  entitled 


to  the  rights  of  citizens  after  having  residi'd  ti  nii/nths  iu  the  territory. 

'Art.  5.  The  executive  [tower  shall    be  vested  in  a  committee  of  .'1  per- 
sotis,  elected  by  the  (pialilied  voters  at  the  animal  election,  who  shall  have 


r 


!  . 


:ios 


OIKIAXIZATIDN    OK    rUOVISloNAL  ( iOV  KliXM  lAT. 


^Ml 


IS 


I 


i\  Mc'Roy,  ()!'  Article  III.,  and  Josepli  Holiiiaii,  of 
Aitic-le  IV.,  sliowino'  tliat  the  adoption  of  a  uvjvern- 
niont  did  not  depend  entirely  on  the  Americans. 

The  subject  of  an  executive  liad  tr-ouhled  the  leo-is- 
lativi'   coinmitttH'    not    a   little.      It  was   necessary  to 

powt'r  tfi  grant  jianloiis  ami  rejiriovos  for  otrciiri's  against  the  laux  of  tlii'  ti  r- 
ritory,  to  call  "(it  tlio  military  force  of  tlic  tci'ritory  to  icpcl  invasion,  oi' 
snpjtri'ss  insurrection,  to  take  care  that  the  laws  are  faithfully  executeil,  and 
to  recomnuMid  snch  laws  as  they  may  consider  necessary,  to  the  representa- 
tives of  the  jii'oj) »',  for  their  action.  Two  inend)crs  of  tiu'  connnittec  shall 
coustitue  a  ()ii(>ri'ni  to  transact  'm.sinoss. 

'i.rt.  ').  The  legislative  jiowcr  shall  he  vestt.'il  in  a  committee  of  0  per- 
sons, who  shall  lie  elected  hy  the  (|nalitied  electors  at  tlie  annual  election, 
giving  to  each  district  a  representation  in  ratio  of  its  population,  excluding 
Iniliaiis;  ;>.nd  the  -aid  meinliers  of  tlu;  connnittec  siiall  reside  ii'  the  district 
for  whi^ii  they  shall  he  chosen. 

".Art.  7.  'i  he  judicial  power  shall  I)e  vested  in  a  supreme  court,  consist- 
ing of  a  suprenuy  judge  and  '2  jiistices  of  the  peace.  The  jurisdiction  of  the 
supreme  court  shall  l)e  hoth  appellat''  and  original.  That  of  the  prohatt^ 
court  and  jnstices  of  the  peace  as  limited  hy  law — provideil  that  individual 
justices  of  the  peace  shall  not  have  jurisdiction  of  any  matter  of  controversy 
when  the  title  oi'  lioundary  of  land  may  he  in  dispute,  or  where  the  sum 
claimed  exceeds  fe-.')!). 

'Art.  S.  There  shall  he  a  recorder  elected  liy  the  (|ualitied  electors,  at  the 
annual  election,  who  shall  keep  a  faithful  record  of  the  ]iioeeedings  in  the 
legislative  committee,  suiu-emeand  prohate  courts;  also,  rcord  all  houndarief 
of  lands  jiresented  for  that  purpose;  and  all  marks  and  h'- mds  tised  for  mark- 
ing live-stock;  [irocnre  and  keep  the  standard  weightr,  and  measures  re(|uired 
hy  law;  seal  weights  and  measures,  and  keep  .t  record  of  the  same;  and  also 
lecord  wills  i'ud  deeils,  and  other  instruments  of  writing  re(|uired  liy  law  to 
he  recordeil.  The  rei'order  sliall  receive  the  follo\\  iiig  fees,  vi/. :  for  recording 
wills,  deeds,  and  other  instruments  of  writing,  ]'2  t'cnts  for  every  KM)  words, 
and  the  same  jn  ice  for  copies  of  the  same;  for  I'very  weight  or  me;i.snre  sealed, 
■J.i  cents;  foi'  granting  other  (iliicial  jiapers  and  the  seal,  'J.")  cents;  for  serving 
as  clerk  of  the  legislati\e  committee,  the  same  daily  pay  as  the  niemhers  of 
the  legishiture;  and  for  ;dl  other  services  re(|uireil  of  him  hy  this  act,  the 
same  fees  as  allowed  for  similar  services  hy  tlie  laws  of  Iowa. 

'Art.  ;>.  Tlu-re  shall  lie  a  treasurer  elected  liy  tiie  (jualitieil  electors  of  the 
territory,  who  shall,  het'ore  entering  upon  the  dtities  of  his  oliice,  give  hond 
to  the  executive  committee,  in  the  sum  of  !*1,"><H),  with  '2  or  more  sutlicient 
securities,  to  he  approved  by  the  executive  committee,  eomlitioned  for  the 
faitllf'  1  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  <i(ticc.  The  treasurer  shall  receive  all 
moneys  helonging  ^i  the  territory,  that  nuiy  he  raised  hy  contriluition  or 
otherwise,  ami  shall  procure  suitahle  hooks  in  which  he  shall  enter  an  ac- 
count of  his  rcceipt.t  and  dishursenicnts. 

'Art.  10.  The  treasurer  shall  in  no  casi'  pay  nuincy  out  of  the  treasury  hut 
acoortling  to  law.  and  shall  annually  report  to  the  legislative  committee  a 
true  account  <>*'  his  receipts  and  dishurseinents,  w  ith  necessary  voiichers  for 
the  sanu',  and  shall  deliver  to  Ids  successor  in  otiice  all  hooks,  money,  ac- 
counts, (jr  other  property  hehuigi'ig  to  the  territory,  so  soon  as  his  successor 
shall  hiei-me  inialilieil. 

'Art.  II.  '1  he  tre.'isurer  shall  recei\e  for  his  serviees  the  sum  of  .")  per 
cent  of  all  moneys  received  and  paid  out,  according  to  law,  and  H  per  cent  of 
all  nu)neys  in  the  treasury  w  hen  he  goes  out  of  oliice,  anil  '2  per  cent  i\pon 
the  ilisbursement  of  money  in  tin-  treasury  when  he  comes  into  otiice. 

'Art.  I'.V  The  laws  of  Iowa  shall  he  the  laws  of  this  territory,  ni  civil, 
nnlitary,  and  criiuiual  oases,  where  not  otherwise  provided  for,  and  wiiero  no 


l. 


IOWA  STATUTES  THE   MODEL. 


:ny.i 


f  0  pcr- 
plection. 


have  sucli  a  liead,  yet  tliey  were  instructed  by  the 
people  against  it,  and  against  taxation  tor  the  support 
of  a  government.  T'l  ^v  liad  evaded  the  issue  bv 
reconunending  to  the  pubhc  the  appointment  of  an 
executive  committee  of  three,  which  phin  was  finally 
adopted,  but  not  without  considerable  discussion  and 
amendment. 

statute  of  Iowa  Territory  applies,  the  principles  of  eoiiiiiuiii  law  and  ecpiity 
sliall  gov  M'U. 

'Art.  IS.  That  the  law  of  Iowa  Territory  regiilatiug  weiglits  and  niea.s- 
ures  siiall  he  tiie  law  of  this  territory — provided,  that  the  supreme  court  shall 
perform  the  duties  of  the  county  commissioners,  and  the  recorder  shall  per- 
form tlie  duties  of  the  clerk  of  the  county  coiiunissioners,  as  prescrihed  in 
said  laws  of  Iowa — and  provided,  that  tK)  pounds  avoirdupois  weight  shall  he 
tilt,"  standard  weight  of  a  hushel  of  wlieat,  whether  the  same  he  more  or  less 
than  2,  l.")0  '2  o  culiic  inches. 

'Art.  14.  Tlie  laws  of  Iowa  Territory  respecting  wills  and  administrations 
shall  lie  tile  law  of  this  territory,  in  all  cases  not  otherwise  provided  for. 

'Art.  I.").  The  law  of  Iowa  respecting  vagrants  is  lierehy  adopted,  as  far 
as  adapted  to  the  circumstances  of  the  citizens  of  Oregon. 

'Art.  Hi.  The  supreme  court  shall  liold  two  sessions  annually,  upon  tlie 
tliird  Tuesdays  in  April  and  Septendier;  the  first  session  to  he  held  at  Tliam- 
jioeg,  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  Septendier  1841^,  an<l  the  secoiul  session  at 
Tualatin  plains,  on  tlie  tliinl  Tuesday  of  .April  IS44.  At  tint  sessions  of  the 
.supreme  c<iurt,  the  supreme  judge  shall  preside,  assisted  liy  '2  justices 
provideil,  that  no  justice  shall  assist  in  trying  any  case  tliat  has  lieen  lirought 
liefore  tlie  court  liy  appeal  from  his  judgment.  The  supreme  court  shall  have 
original  jurisdiction  in  cases  of  treason,  felony,  or  breaches  of  the  peace, 
where  the  sum  claimed  exceeds  .'*,")0. 

'  .Art.  17.  All  male  persons,  of  the  age  of  1(5  years  and  upwards,  and  all 
females  of  the  age  of  14  and  upwanls,  sliall  have  right  in  engaging  in  mar- 
riage, provided  that  where  either  of  the  parties  shall  he  u.ider  the  age  of  '21, 
the  consent  of  the  parents  or  guardians  of  such  minors  .shall  he  necessary  to 
the  valiility  of  such  niiitiimonial  engagement.  Every  ordaineil  minister  of  the 
gospel,  of  any  religious  denomination,  the  supreme  juilge,  an<l  all  justices  of 
the  peace,  are  herehy  authorized  t<i  solemnize  marriages  according  to  law,  to 
have  the  same  recorded,  and  pay  the  recorder's  fee.  All  marriages  shall  lie 
ivcordecl  liy  the  territorial  recorder,  within  one  month  from  the  time  oi  such 
marriage  taking  jilace  and  lieiiig  made  known  to  him  otiicially.  The  legal 
fee  for  marria^'i;  shall  lie  ijl,  and  for  rcconliiig  the  same  oO  cents. 

'.Art.  I!(.  All  otiices  suhseciuently  made  shall  he  till"d  hy  election  and 
liallot  in  the  several  districts,  in  the  most  central  and  convenient  place  in 
each  district,  upon  the  day  appointed  hy  law,  and  under  such  regulations  as 
the  laws  of  Iowa  provide. 

'Art.  lit.  Resolved,  that  a  comnnttee  of  3  he  appointed  to  draw  up  a 
digest  of  the  doings  of  the  people  of  this  territory,  witii  reganl  to  an  organiza- 
tion, and  transmit  the  ^  a-  to  the  United  States  government,  for  their  iufoi- 
Illation.  Resolved,  that  the  following  portions  of  the  laws  of  Iowa,  as  laid 
dow  11  in  the  statute  laws  of  the  territory  yf  Iowa,  enacted  at  the  tirst  session 
of  the  legislative  assemlilv  <if  said  territory,  held  at  Burlington,  A.  I).  l!S.'{.S-!»; 
pulilished  hy  aci'.iority,  Uu  IJuiiue,  Bussel,  and  Reeves,  printers,  IH'Mh,  cer- 
titieil  to  he  a  correct  I'opy  hy  ^^'illlam  li.  ( 'oiiw;iy,  secret^iry  of  Iowa  'I'erritory- 
iio  adopted  iia  the  laws  of  this  territory;'  tlu'ii  follow  the  titles  of  the  laws 
alpiialietically  arranged,  with  the  [i.iges  where  they  are  to  he  found  in  the 
aliove-descrilieil  iditioii  of  the  Laws  of  Iowa.   Wrnrir'xOri'tion  Arr/iiitm.  28-3'2- 

//'■//(>.■  ih-nimi  Jiist.  4'_'t>-;ti;  ^'lVF*/^  ///.«/.  ",.,  ;ri,'t  7 


l^:i 


nn 


Fii 


■i 


iimiii 


u 


:ui) 


om.ASlZATlO'S   OF  rROVLSIOXAL  (iOVKUNMKN  T. 


The  question  of  government  exi)enscs  was  met  by 
a  subscription,  pledging  tlie  signers  to  pay  annually 
certain  sums  affixed  to  their  names,  providt'd  the  sub- 
scriber might  withdraw  his  name  on  paying  arrearages 
and  notifying  the  treasurer.  The  country  was  divided 
into  four  districts,  the  first  to  be  called  Twality  dis- 
tiict,  comprising  all  the  country  south  of  the  northern 
boundary  line  of  the  United  States  west  of  the 
Willamette  or  Multnomah  Kiver,  north  of  the  Yam- 
hill Kiver,  and  east  of  the  Pacific  Ocean.  The  second 
was  Yamhill  district,  and  embracetl  all  the  country 
west  of  the  Willamette  or  ^Fultnomah  Kiver,  and  a 
line  running  north  and  south  from  said  river  south 
of  the  Yamhill  Hiver  to  42°  north  latitude,  or  the 
houndary  line  of  the  United  Statt>s  and  California, 
and  east  of  the  T^icific  Ocean.  The  third,  Clackamas 
district,  comprelu'iided  all  the  territory  not  included 
in  the  )ther  three  districts.  The  fourth,  or  Cham- 
jiooick""  district,  was  bounded  on  tlu'  north  by  a  line 
supj)osed  to  be  drawn  from  the  mouth  of  the  Anchi- 
yoke  River  running  due  east  to  the  Kocky  ^[ountains, 
west  by  the  Willamette  oi'  Alultnomah  Kiver,  and  a 
supposed  line  running  due  south  from  said  river  to 
the  42d  j)arallel,  south  l)y  the  northern  boundary  line 
of  California,  and  east  bv  the  summit  (»f  the  Kockv 
Mountains.  Collectively,  these  districts  were  to  be 
designated  Oregon  Territory. 

The  military  law  provided  that  there  should  be  om- 
i»attaJion  of  militia  in  the  territory,  divided  into  three 
or  more  companies  of  mounted  riflemen.  This  law 
contained  nothing  deserving  of  comment,  except  in 
its  tenth  and  last  article,  which  made  the  militia, 
"with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee, subject  to  the  call  of  the  authorized  agents  of 
the  United  States  goveriiment,  until  troops  should  be 
sent  to  support  the  same:"  which  meant  that  with  the 
cop.sent   of   the  executive    connnittee.   White    might 

•"'riiis  spcllinj;  <>l  < 'lianiiiopp  waj*  .mite  c'lmniuii  in  tlii'  early  ueciipatidu  of 
the  NN'illuiiiette  VuUuy,  a»  Twulity  was  of  Tualatin. 


THE   LAND  LAW. 


:iii 


call  oil  the  military  companies  to  put  down  uprisings 
among  the  natives.  The  ntanner  in  which  White  and 
tlie  soldiers  used  their  authority  has  been  giveri  in  a 
previous  chapter. 

The  law  of  land  claims,  the  most  important  of  all 
to  the  original  agitators  of  a  provisional  government, 
required  that  the  claimant  should  designate  the 
boundaries  of  his  land,  and  have  the  same  recorded  in 
the  office  of  the  territorial  recorder,  in  a  book  kept 
for  that  purpose,  within  twenty  days  from  the  time  of 
making  his  claim;  unless  he  should  be  already  in 
possession  of  a  claim,  when  he  should  be  allowed  a 
year  for  recording  a  description  of  his  land.  It  was 
also  required  that  improvements  should  be  made,  by 
building  or  enclosing,  within  six  months,  and  that  the 
claimant  should  reside  on  the  land  within  a  year  after 
lecording.  Xo  individual  was  allowed  to  hold  a  claim 
of  more  than  one  square  mile,  or  six  hundred  antl 
forty  acres  in  a  square  or  oblong  form,  according  to 
natural  surroundings,  or  to  h<»ld  more  than  one  claim 
at  one  time;  but  havmg  conq)lied  with  these  ordi- 
nances, he  was  entitled  to  the  same  recourse  against 
trespass  as  in  other  cases  }m>vided  by  law. 

The  fourth  and  last  article  of  the  land  law  forl)ade 
all  persons  to  hold  claims  upon  city  or  town  sites, 
extensive  water  privileges,  or  other  situations  neces- 
sary for  the  transaction  of  mercantile  or  manufactur- 
ing operations.  Like  all  the  important  acts  of  the 
legislative  committee,  the  land  law  was  the  work  of 
Shortess,  who  was,  at  this  period  of  his  history,  in 
close  sympathy  with  the  Methodist  ^fission.  The 
fou?i:.h  article  was  directly  designed  to  take  from  John 
Mcljoughlin  his  claim  at  Oregon  City,  but  when  the 
luoticn  was  put  to  a(lo})t  tlu;  law  as  a  whole,  there 
arose  considerable  argumei't,  the  31ission  having  als(/ 
laid  claim  to  a  portion  of  the  land  at  Oregon  City, 
and  having  erected  mills  on  the  island  at  the  falls. 
In  order  to  quiet  this  discussion  and  satisfy  the  Mis- 
sion, a  proviso  was  proposed  "that  nothing  in  these 


J    I 


I     ! 


;{!•_' 


011(1  AXIZATIOX   OF  PROVISIONAL  GOVEKNMKXT. 


: 

h 
i  i 


laws  shall  be  no  construed  as  t(j  affect  any  claim  of 
any  mission  of  a  religious  character,  made  })revious 
to  this  time,  of  an  extent  not  more  than  six  miles 
square. 

The  reports  of  the  various  connnittees  having  been 
adopted,  Jason  Lee,  Harvev  Clark,  and  David  Leslie 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  draught  and  administer  an 
oath  of  office  to  the  ])ersons  elected  on  the  2d  of  May, 
and  to  the  supreme  judge,  who  should  thereafter 
([ualify  all  civil  and  military  officers  elected  by  the 
})eople.  Burns  having  resigned  his  office  as  justice 
of  the  peace,  Moore  was  chosen  in  his  place.  James 
O'Neil  was  also  chosen  justice  of  the  peace  for  Yam- 
hill district,  and  Anu^s  C(3ok  constable.  Joel  Turn- 
liam  was  elected  constable  for  Champooick  district, 
in  place  of  Bridges,  who  had  gone  to  California. 

The  choice  of  an  executive  committee  was  a  matter 
of  more  moment,  and  the  subject  of  active  canvassing; 
it  finally  fell  on  David  Hill,  Alanson  Beers,  and  Joseph 
(xale.  None  of  these  men  had  influence  enough  to 
l)e  dangerous  to  the  peace  of  the  coinnmnity;  two  be- 
longed to  the  settler  class,  and  the  third  was  but  a  lay 
member  of  the  Missior.  The  oath  of  office  was  ad- 
ministered the  same  day,  by  motion  of  the  meeting, 
and  thus  the  whole  business  of  starting  the  machinery 
of  the  first  u-overnment  of  Oretfon  was  concluded. 

With  reixard  to  the  influence  of  the  Methodist  Mis- 


'-'In  a  lotter  to  the  Om/OH  Speftdfor  of  Aug.  5,  1848,  (iray  affirms  that 
this  ])roviso  was  suggested  l)y  Jason  Lee  li'mself,  and  offered  by  Le  Breton, 
and  tliat  none  of  tlie  legislative  eonnnittee  were  responsible  for  it;  and  to  tliis 
he  says  he  has  made  oath.  In  liis  IlUtnrii,  338,  lie  informs  us  tliat  Le  Breton 
liad  Ijeen  ehoseu  seeretly  to  the  legislative  eonii  littee,  the  mend)ers  agreeing 
to  pay  his  2)er  diem  if  necessary.  Newell,  in  his  Slrictun'H  on  Onii/,  says  that 
the  word  '  Protestant'  was  inserted  in  tiie  proviso  l)efore  'missions,'  hut  that 
lie  argued  for  the  American  right  to  worshij)  (tod  according  to  his  conscience, 
and  succeeded  in  having  the  obnoxious  word  sti'icken  out.  <iray  adndts  that 
Newell  was  opposed  to  the  fourth  article  of  tlie  land  law,  hut  oidy  because 
he  favored  McLoughlin's  claim,  (irayalso  afiirnis  that  the  legislative  eom- 
'uittce  were  opposed  to  the  large  claims  of  the  Mission,  liut  feared  to  oppo.se 
tlieni  lest  they  should  combine  against  tiie  organization.  'J'hey  wei-e,  besides, 
.satisfied  that  the  Protestant  missions  would  finally  give  up  a  portion  of  their 
claims  in  order  to  force  the  <  'atholics  to  do  the  same,  and  tliis,  he  says,  is 
what  actually  took  place.  J/inl.  ' h-.,  347.  As  if  the  United  States  had  nothing 
to  do  with  tae  matter 


.SIGNIFICANCE   OF   THE   MEA.SL'llE.S. 


313 


sioii  on  the  oruaDizatioii  of  a  temporary  govermuent, 
the  student  of  history  can  arrive  at  but  one  conclusion. 
The  first  object  of  the  Missions  was  to  secure  large 
tracts  of  land.  Having  made  their-  choice,  finding  the 
United  States  government  slow  to  act  in  the  matter 
of  i)oundary  and  title,  and  fearing  the  encroachment  of 
immigrants  who  might  dis})ute  with  them  their  right 
to  a  land  mono})oly  in  certain  localities,  it  was  their 
only  recourse  to  secure  the  establishment  of  a  tempo- 
rary government,  or  even  an  independent  one,  which 
should  confirm  by  law  the  claims  already  taken  or 
that  might  be  taken  under  the  law.  It  was  not  their 
})olicy  to  seem  to  be  more  anxious  than  other  men, 
but  rather  to  strive  to  make  the  settlers  anxious  about 
their  welfare,  and  to  use  them  to  promote  their  own 
ends. 

The  scheme  of  government  framed  bv  the  lofifisla- 
tive  connnittee  of  184:5  had  a  political  significance 
imparted  to  it  by  Robert  Sliortess,  which  was  not 
comprehended  by  the  majority  of  American  settlers 
Avho  voted  for  it.  By  making  its  basis  the  ordinance 
of  1787,  passed  by  congress  for  the  government  of  the 
territories  north  of  the  Ohio  River,  besides  its  other 
excellent  provisions,  it  was  intended  to  settle  the  ques- 
tion of  slavery  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  as  had 
been  done  in  the  north-western  states.  Also  by  ex- 
tending jurisdiction  over  the  whole  of  (Oregon  up  to 
the  time  the  United  States  should  take  possession  of 
the  countrv,  the  ri<;ht  of  (;ireat  Britain  to  anv  ])ait 
of  it  was  ignored — a  stej)  in  advance  of  the  position 
}»ublicly  taken  at  this  time  by  the  government  itself. 

It  is  doubtful  if,  when  all  was  done,  the  British 
residents  of  the  territory,  even  IVtcLoughlin  himself, 
fully  recognized  the  importance  of  wliat  had  taken 
])lace.""  This  was  the  mistake  wliich  he  often  made 
in   regard   to  American    enterprises.     He  was    slow 


In 


i(. 


^'^Says  llolx'rts.  'T  wiis  present  in  tlio  fall  of  1842  at  a  jidlitical  meeting  at 
< 'lianipoeg;  l)Ut  like  Toots,  I  thought  at  thu  time  it  was  of  no  coiiseijiience 
Jtecollcctlotix,  MS.,  (it 


!'""■' 


1  :  I 

■ii  i 


:<I4 


OlUiANlZATlON   OF  PROVISIONAL  GOVERNMENT. 


to  learn  tlie  difference  between  men  trained  to  sub- 
serviency, Jind  the  (juick  reasoninjj^  and  alert  inde- 
j)endence  of  the  Americans,  who  though  sometimes 
dressed  in  skins  possessed  the  faculty  of  making- 
themselves  masters  of  whatsoever  destiny  fortune 
laid  uiH)n  them.** 

-'The  authorites  from  which  tliis  chapter  has  been  drawn,  besides  those 
already  quote<l,  are  Or.  Pioum'i-  Akmoc,  Tntii.i.,  1875,  (il;  Evans' Address,  in 
Or.  Pioneer  A  imoc..  Trans.,  1877,32;  lirownn  WillaineUe  Vallii/,  MS.,  31;  Atkin- 
.so»'«  Or.  Coloni.il,s,  3,  4;  Or.  Spectator,  May  12,  1847;  (iroirr'n  Or.  Archiven, 
"•7;  JJenfl!/'.s  HiM.  Or.,  MS.,  14,  74;  Thoriifon'.i  Oreijon  Hist.,  MS.,  6;  Emm' 
Hint.  Or.,  MS.,  2()5  71;  Mittthkii'n  IhJ'iuiee,  MS.,  19;'  Mari/muUe  Appeal,  Nov. 
4,  1805;  liurneit'.H  Rtrol/ectioiiK,  MS.,  i.  184;  Stroii<ffi  Hkt.  Or.,  MS.,  61; 
(ifroi>er'n  Pith.  Life,  MS.,  23-5;  J.  Q.  Thornton,  in  Or.  Pioneer  Ahuoc.,  Trans.. 
1874,  70;  Burnett,  in  mies'  J}e<jister,  l.wiii.  393. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


THE  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS— .MORE  OF  THE  PJIESBYTERIANS. 

1838-1847. 
(Ai.i,  (iK  TiiK  Fhkn(  H  Canadians— CoMix«;   of  Blanchkt  and   Dk.mkks— 

TlIK    VlCAK-tiKNKKAI.  AMONIi    TIIK    CaYVMRS — St  FkANCIS  XavIKU  ON  TIIK 

Cowlitz-  Pkoikstant  AND  Catholic  Rivalky— Lanclois  and  Bol- 

DIC — TlIK   jKsrilS  IN  THE  NORTll-WEST-    LaBOKS  OF  FaTHKU  ])E  S.MKT— 

Point  and  MAN(iAuiNi — St  Maryh  o:<  thk  BriTKit  Root — Mission  of 

TIIK     SaCHKD      HeAKT — I)E     VoS      AND      HoEKKN — JhsIIT'      ReKNFOKCK- 

MENTs — Blanchet  Madk  Archiushoi'- St  rAiLS— Affairs   at  Waii- 

I.ATI'U    AND    liAPWAl — JnsoLENI  E   OF  TIIK  SAVAliES — WhITMAN's  WiNTEK 

.ForuNEY  TO  THE  East — His  Treatment  iiy   ihe  Board — Rktirn  ash 

DlSAITOINTMENT. 

After  the  free  French  Canadians  of  tlie  Valley 
Willamette  had  become  fairly  settled  in  their  new- 
home,  they  found  time  to  turn  their  attention  to  tlu; 
moral  and  educational  advancement  of  their  little 
community.  Their  first  effoi-t  in  this  direction  was 
made  July  '3,  1834,  when  they  W'rote  to  J.  N.  Prov- 
cncher,  bishop  of  Juliopolis  in  the  Red  River  settle- 
ment, asking  that  religious  teachers  might  be  sent  to 
(Oregon.  The  arrival  of  the  Methodist  missionaries 
earlv  in  1835  made  the  Catholics  more  anxious  than 
ever  to  have  among  them  instructors  of  their  own  faith, 
and  on  the  23d  of  February  they  addressed  a  second 
appeal  to  the  bishop.  To  these  ju'titions  Proven- 
cher  replied  by  enclosing  to  McLoughlin  a  letter  of 
advice  and  consolation,  in  which  he  regretted  that  no 
priests  could  be  spared  from  the  Red  River  setth;- 
ment,  but  promised  to  obtain  help  from  Europe  or 
Canada  as  soon  as  possible. 

The  following  year  the  governor  and  a  committee 


I'f 


-Tj 


li'l 


:!■« 


YW¥ 


|M' 


II 


:iii> 


THi:   CATHOLIC   MLSSIONS-THE  rUKSBYTP:RIANS. 


of  tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  London  \v»  ve  askc<l 
jtassaj^e  for  two  priests  to  Oregon  \>y  the  t  t)nipuny's 
annual  express  from  jVIontreal,  the  object  being  to 
estabhsli  a  Catholic  mission  in  the  Willumtate  val- 
ley. The  comj)any  would  grunt  the  reipu^st  on  our 
co!idition,  namely,  tliat  the  })ro[)oscd  mission  should 
be  established  in  the  Cowlitz  V'^allcy,  the  reason  given 
beinij  that  the  sovercionty  of  the  British  north  of  tlu* 
Columbia  was  uiujucstioned,  while  the  right  to  tlie 
country  soutii  of  the  C(jlund)ia  was  still  undecided.' 

No  objection  being  made  to  this  nMjuirement,  tlu" 
archbishop  of  Quebec  appointed  tlie  Fiev,  Francis 
Xorbert  Blanchet,  then  cure  des  Cedres,  Montreal  dis- 
trict, to  the  charge  of  the  Oregon  Mission,  with  the 
title  oF  vicar-general,  antl  for  his  assistant  gave  him 
the  Rev.  Modeste  Demers  of  the  district  of  Juli()})olis. 
They  left  Montreal  in  May  1838,  with  the  company's 
express,  which  also  had  a  number  of  other  travellers 
under  its  protection.  All  went  well  till  the  Little 
Dalles,  on  tho  Columbia,  was  reached.  While  tlu' 
j)arty  were  descending  these  dangerous  i-apids  one  of 
the  boats  was  wrecked  and  nearly  half  the  com})an}' 
were  drowned.^  i 

At  Fort  Colville  the  priests  were  received  with 
the  same  demonstrations  of  pleasure  that  had  given 
encouragement  to  the  Protestant  missionaries  in  east- 
ern Oregon  on  their  first  ap})earance.  During  a  stay 
of  four  days  nineteen  persons  were  bai)tized,  mass  was 
said,  and  the  natives  a})i)earod  to  take  great  interest 
in  the  sacred  rites.^     At  Fort  Okanagan  they  met 

^  Shiij>.wii'/<  Letter,  in  Bltinrhet's  Jfist.  Culfi.  C/i.  in  Or.,  24-5.  Siinp.soii  ot 
course  know  tliat  tins  country  north  of  the  Coluinhia  wa.s  still  in  dispute,  hut 
ho  prohahly  helieved  that  the  British  had  a  l)etter  chaiu^e  of  eventually  getting 
it  than  the  southern  territory.  Hence  his  desire  to  strengthen  the  claim  by 
inducing  the  Canadians  to  settle  north  of  the  river. 

-Those  drowned  were:  Wallace  and  wife,  English  tourists;  Banks,  a 
botanist,  an<l  his  wife,  a  daughter  of  Sir  (Jeorge  Sinipsoa;  Mrs  Williams;  two 
little  girls  named  Trend)lay,  and  iive  others.  ToiVsNew  CoUdnniii,  MS.,  45-1}; 
/.(■('  mill  Froift'K  Or.,  215;  Cnrilioo  Smtind,  ii.  no.  12,  3;  Portland  Oregonian, 
April  19,  1879;  Blnnrhet'x  Cttth.  Vh.  in  Or.,  \Vl-,\. 

■'  Bldnc/ief'.i  Cath.  C/i.  in  Or.,  .'15.  Afterwai'd  Demers  wrote:  'Experience 
lia-s  taught  us  not  to  rely  too  iiuich  o!i  the  first  tknnonstrations  of  the  Indians, 
and  not  tt>  rely  much  on  the  first  dispositions  they  manifest.'  /(/.,  102. 


AKRIVAl.  OK    l'UIE!ST.S. 


817 


to 


uitli  similar  success,  and  l)a]>t  izcd  a  mmihor  of  jhtsohs. 
At  Fort  Walla  Walla  .a  few  natives  Mere  baptized, 
l>ut  liaviui;"  l>een  recently  taught  hy  Whitman,  they 
were  less  demonstrative,  though,  at  the  same  time, 
more  observ'ant  and  critical.  On  witiu'ssinj^  mass, 
with  all  those  accessories  which  a|>j)eal  most  power- 
fully to  the  ima<4ina,tion  of  the  savaijfe,  they  were, 
accordinjn'  to  the  vicar-LCeni  il,  "struck  with  amaze- 
ment." Had  Hlanchet  \)vv\\  more  fully  inlornied  con- 
ctTninsjf  the  relii^ious  antecod(Mits  of  tlu^  (\ivuses,  lie 
would  have  heen  al)lu  to  account  for  tlu;  inti'rest 
exhihited  l»y  them  in  this  mysti'rious  ceremony,  wliich 
hroui;ht  to  their  recollection  all  they  had  ever  heard 
frttm  their  Ii'o(juois  teachers,  or  learned  from  their 
intercourse  with  the  French  trap])ei's  and  voyaij^eurs, 
and  which  they  were:  now  wonch'rin^ly  contrastiniL*' 
\\  itli  the  less  (h'corative  and  moi'e  coldly  ideal  worshij* 
of  tlu'  Presbyterian  missionaries. 

The  appearance  of  the  ])rii  sts  in  their  dark  lohes, 
their  frequent  mystical  siijns  of  I'everence,  their 
chastity,  their  ajtj)arent  inditfert'nce  to  secular  affairs, 
all  impressed  the  natives  ^vith  the  su!  limity  and 
gravity  of  tlie  faith.  The  Umatilla  hr.uich  of  the 
Cayuses  esj)ecially  showed  a  stron;^  leanins^  toward 
this  religion,  so  that  already  the  'hlackgowns,'  as  the 
])riests  were  called,  he^j^an  to  divide  the  natives  ar^ainsfc 
themselves  in  thiui^s  spiritual.  On  arrivinjj^  at  Fort 
\'ancouver  the  (^atholic  missionriries  wer'e  Maited  uj»on 
I >y  a  delegation  from  tlu^  Canadian  settlement,  consist- 
ing^ of  Joseph  Gervais,  h'tieiuie  Luciei',  and  Pierre 
Belle(]U(^;  hut  no  promise  of  an  estalilishment  on  the 
Willamette  was  _i>iven  thiMn  at  this  time.  Mass  was 
first  celebrated  at  the  fort  on  tlu"  •Jath  of  Xovember; 
and  it  is  related  that  many  of  the  Canadians  were 
affected  to  tears,  not  havino-  enjoyed  this  religious 
]>rivilego  for  many  years.  After  remaininj^  some  time 
at  A^ancouver,  Planchet  visited  the  (\anadian  settle- 
ment on  the  Cowlitz.  ( )n  i  eturning  he  spent  a  month 
in  the  Willamette  A'^alley. 


'  1 


t 


318 


THK   CATHOLK     MISSIONS    THK   I'HKSHYTKIUAXS. 


One  of  till'  first  stt'])s  takt'ii  by  tlu'  Ciitholii'  tiitlu'is 
was  to  H».'|tai'atf  lor  a  short  tiiiR'  tlu'  ("aiiadiaiis  tVoin 
their  IiMhan  wives,  after  which  tliey  were  nmri-ied 
act'or(hii<i^  to  tlie  rites  of  the  i-liurch.  The  vicar-jj^eii- 
eral  sums  ii|>  liis  lahois  for  the  winti'r  imdt'i"  the  liead 
of  baptisms  one  hiiiuht'd  and  thirtv-four,  st'|iulture> 
nine,  and  marriay^es  fortv-nine.  Xot  oidv  (hd  ht;  mai'rv 
the  iinmari-ied,  hut  i-emarried  those  before  united  by 
tlie  Protestant  ministers,  to  the  unutteral)le  (hsijfust 
of  tlu>  latter.  He  also  withdrt'W  a  nund)er  of  pei'siMis 
from  till'  tem])eranee  society  fornieil  by  the  Meth- 
odists, and  from  their  pi'ayer-meetin^s. 

In  the  summer  of  183D  J)enieis  paid  a  visit  to  the 
interior.  For  thirty  djiys  he  taujjflit  the  natives  in 
the  vicinity  of  Fort  C'olville,  after  which  he  spent 
two  weeks  at  Fort  VN'alla  AValla  in  the  same  manner, 
III  the  mean  time  the  vicar-^eneral  had  established 
liimhcH"  amon.t;  the  Cowlitz  in  a  log  house  twenty  by 
thirty  feet  in  size  erected  for  his  use,  and  had  received 
the  lirst-frujts  of  the  mission  farm,  which  amounted 
to  si:v  bushels  of  wheat  and  nine  bushels  of  pease. 
His  farmer  had  fenced  twenty-four  acres,  and  plouinhed 
fifteen  besides  for  the  autumn  sowing.  His  house  was 
used  both  as  a  residence  and  a  chapel,  and  the  estab- 
lishment received  the  name  of  8t  Francis  Xavier. 
A  visit  was  made  to  the  natives  at  Nisijually  during 
the  summer,  and  in  the  autumn  both  Blaiichet  and 
JXnners  re[)aired  to  Fort  Vancouver,  where  they  I'e- 
ceived  permission  fioni  Douglas,  McLoughliii  not  yet 
havinijf  arrived  from  England,  to  form  an  establish- 
nient  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  the  governor  and 
committee  having  withdrawn  their  objections.  On 
what  grounils  the  prohibition  was  removed  does  not 
ajipear;  but  it  is  probable  tliat  McLoughlin  re})re- 
sented  to  the  directors  in  London  that  the  Canadian 
families  in  the  Willamette  were  ])ermanently  settled, 
and  being  free,  had  a  right  l;)  live  where  they  liked, 
and  choose  their  own  teachers. 

The    vicar-general    re[)aired    immediately    to    the 


HLANfllET  AND   DKMKU.S. 


31 'I 


Caiuuluiii  settleiiu'iit  on  tho  Willaiiu'tto,  wliore  ji  loi^ 
cliuivh  was  ahvadv  awaitin<'-  liiiii,  tour  iiiik's  aUovi* 
C'-ainpooi;',  luivini;-  Ihhjii  built  in  1H'A(\  wlu'ii  tlu-  Fii'iich 
l)eii^aii  to  (.;ntortain  tho  liopr  of  having'  priests  anion*;" 
tlieni.''  Hero  Blancliot  took  up  his  rcsicU'ni-o  Octohor 
1 2th.  On  the  2:kl  of  Di'ci'inber  lie  blessed  the  bell 
ho  had  brought  with  him,  and  on  the  Oth  of  January, 
1840.  the  liuniblo  editicr  was  foi-nially  dedicated  to  St 
I'aul,  and  mass  was  ccli'brated  for  tho  tirst  time  in 
the  Willamette  \'alley.  The  ni'xt  three  weeks  were 
chietly  devoted  to  ii'li^ious  exercises,  the  men  lu'in*; 
examined  to  ascertain  if  theii-  jirayors  were  remem- 
bered, the  women  and  children  instructed  in  tlu'ii- 
duties,  and  all  made  to  confess  their  sins.  The  fourth 
week  was  occuj)ied  in  visitinj4"  the  settleis  at  their 
homes,  and  in  selecting  a  square  mile  of  land  for  the 
Catholic  establishment. 

In  the  mean  time,  Demcrs,  havinij^  finished  his  visit 
to  Xis(jually,  was  assigned  to  the  cliari;e  of  the  Cow- 
litz establishment,  where  he  arrived  the  l;5th  of  Octo- 
ber, 183!),  Next  day  he  hun«^  and  rang  out  the  first 
church-bell  ever  heard  in  the  terr-itory.  There  were 
at  this  time  but  eight  families  on  the  Cowlitz,  includ- 
ing altogether  forty-six  peisons,  which  number  was 
oc-casionally  augmented  as  more  men  were  required  by 
the  Puget  Sound  Agricultural  (\)mpany.  To  these 
]»ersons  Demers  gave  religious  instruction  during  the 
early  jiortion  of  the  winter;  and  endeavored  in  the 
spring  to  iin})art  a  limited  knowledge  of  farming  to 
the  natives  within  reach,  in  the  hope  of  ameliorating 
their  condition. 

During  the  earlier  part  of  1840  the  jealous  rivalry 
between  the  Catholic  and  ^[ethodist  missionaries  was 
shown  with  much  bitterness  on  both  sides.  The 
former  regarded  it  as  impudent  intrusion  that  Prot- 
estant ministers  should  preach  their  heretical  creed  to 

*  This,  the  first  Imildint,'  erected  for  j)ul>lie  religious  services  in  Oregon,  was 
70  hy  .SO  feet  in  size.  I  suppose  it  to  he  ideutieiil  witli  that  iu  which  Jaaou 
I.ee  and  his  associates  preached  to  the  settlers. 


^■i 


m 


r3 


1' :i 


JiiL 


;  IM;  1 


4^-1 


I 


:wo 


THE  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS— THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


the  Catholic  Canadians,  or  even  atteni[)t  to  convert 
the  natives;  while  the  latter  naturally  took  an  exactly 
opposite  view  of  the  matter.  This  feeling  was  fre- 
quently the  cause  of  mutual  recriminations  wliich 
were  generally  without  foundation  in  fact,  while  in 
some  cases  the  missionaries  so  far  forgot  the  dig- 
nity of  their  calling  as  to  proceed  to  acts  of  mild 
hostility  against  each  other.  Thus  Blanchet  relates 
in  his  history"  that  Leslie,  in  revenge  for  his  action 
in  remarrying  those  persons  already  united  by  the 
Methodist  ministers,  instituted  a  revival,  which  was, 
however,  barren  of  fruits;  that  Daniel  Lee  endeav- 
ored to  make  proselytes  by  praying  in  the  houses  of 
the  Canadians,  and  that  the  Methodists  circulated 
among  the  Catholics  an  obscene  book,"  wliich  pre- 
tended to  give  awful  Usclosures  concerning  convtuitual 
life  in  Alontreal.  Furthci-,  that  a  complaint  v/as  made 
to  Douglas  by  the  Metliodists,  because  the  Catholic 
missionaries  were  using  their  influence  "to  keep  the 
lambs  of  the  flock  out  of  tlie  clutches  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  wolves,"  and  that  tlie  governor  told  his  inform- 
ant very  curtly  tliat  "it  was  none  o'' his  busim^ss." 

Blanchet  then  proceeds  artlessly  to  laud  his  own 
zeal  by  describing  how  he  meddled  with  Waller's  mis- 
sionary work  at  the  falls  of  the  V\'illaniette  in  1840, 
on  which  v»ccasion  lie  claims  to  have  christianizetl  the 
most  degraded  com[)any  of  sa\  ages  in  Oregon  in  seven 
days,  though  he  was  obliged  every  day  to  run  after 
the  lazy  Indians  to  bring  them  to  his  tent.  Finally 
he  baptized  eleven  children,  and  as  the  result  of  his 
week's  labors  found  that  "nine  families  out  often  had 

^llutorcial  SL-ffr/ii'y  of  the  Catholic  Church  in  Omjon,  rortlaiul,  1878.  Tliis 
work  is  not  graccfuUv  A-ritteu,  owiii^'  projaMy  to  tlu'  antlior'H  iiiipi-rfect 
kiiowludgt;  i>f  the  English  language,  Its  ooiiteutti  for  tlu;  most  part  appear 
pncrilt!  to  the  general  reader,  though  ilie  hlanie  of  tliis  may  he  ehargoJl  to 
the  nature  of  iia  themes.  Tlio  liiatorical  value  of  the  work  is  great,  thougli 
impaired  by  the  eoai-sely  abusive  tone  adopted  hy  ^il.'Moliet  when  referring 
to  the  Protestant  missionaries,  which  only  serves  to  tl  i''  .v  discredit  ui)ou  his 
own  statements.  So  far  as  the  Methodists  ha\e  writ'  I'W  of  the  Catholio  mis- 
sions, they  have  shown  more  charity  and  moderation 

"  Moria  Moid;  a  publication  whioli  at  one  time  .  -'^ated  a  great  stir  iu  the 
leligiuns  world. 


I 


i 


RELKJION   AND   POLITICS. 


321 


bev^n  rescued  from  brother  Waller."  In  return  for 
this  interference  with  his  mission,  Waller  pulled  down 
a  Hag  hoisted  on  Sunday  by  Blanchet's  order.  But 
the  latter  declares  that  he  was  consoled  for  tliis  insult 
because  son.e  Clatsoj)S,  seeing'  the  altar,  ornaments, 
and  vestn>ents,  spoke  disparagingly  of  the  IVotestant 
missionaries,  who  had  never  shown  them  such  pretty 
things.^ 

The  childish  quarrels,  )f  which  this  is  an  example, 
might  well  be  overlooks !.  were  it  not  necessaiy  to 
refer  to  sectarian  feuds  hereafter  to  account  for  events 
of  greater  importance. 

Despite  their  troubles  with  the  Methodists,  Blan- 
chet  and  De?ners  labored  industriously  to  disseminate 
their  religion.  Tliey  visited  distant  tribes  and  bap- 
tized a  vast  number  of  infant  savages,  attended  to 
the  spiritual  wants  of  the  fur  company's  servants, 
most  of  whom  were  Catholics  and  taught  diligently 
at  St  Paul  and  St  Xavier.  Aside  from  their  super- 
abundant zeal,  thev  were  excellent  men  and  faitlifullv 
discharged  their  duties  as  they  understood  them.  If 
thev  drew  awav  from  the  Methodist  snhool  the  chil- 
dren  of  the  French  settlers,  they  did  not  neglect  their 
education  afterward,  but  were  as  zealous  to  establish 
institutions  of  learning  as  Jason  Let;  himself  Nor 
were  tl>'  .  behind  in  erectiny:  mills  and  making  im- 
provements  which  might  give  them  a  title  to  the  lands 
o(  rupied  by  them  when  the  United  States  shoild  carry 
out  its  promise  of  free  farms  to  actual  settlei  •. 

The  innnediate  eU'ect  of  the  arrival  of  Blanc  let  and 
Deniers  was  to  unittj  tht*  Fi'ench  settlers  in  a  com- 
nuinity  by  themselves,  and  thus  weaken  the  pcAver  *>f 
the  Methodist  Mission  as  a  political  body.  This  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  tlu'  first  two  petitions  of  the 
si'ttlers  to  the  United  States  congress  were  signed 
e(jually  by  French  and  Americans,  but  the  subsequent 
memorials  by  Americans  oidy.     It  increased  the  lios- 

'  mnuryi'x  Cuh.  r/i.  Ill  Or.,  120-2. 

"  Porri.t/,'.i  Or.  .1  mnhtv^,  MS.,  'M;  ll'/nVc'^  Or.  Ter.,  IG;  Wilken'  X'ir.,  iv.  374. 
Hist.  Or.,  Vm..  I.    n 


! 


'  1 

f 


■I 


322 


THE   CATHOLIC   MISSIONS-THE   PRESBYTERIANS. 


■  ■IBM    I 


l: 


tility  of  the  latter  toward  the  fur  company,  and  es}3e- 
cially  toward  McLoughHn,  to  whose  jealousy  of  them 
the  Methodists  attributed  the  action  of  the  company 
in  allowing,  or  as  they  believed  in  inviting,  the  Cath- 
olics to  settle  in  the  territory.  This  suspicion  was 
strengthened  when  McLoughlin  joined  the  Catholic 
church  in  1842.  It  then  began  to  be  said  of  him  that 
he  had  always  been  a  Catholic,  and  a  very  Jesuitical 
one,  and  that  he  was  plotting  against  Protestantism 
and  American  progress  in  every  form;  and  though 
nothing  could  be  further  from  the  truth,"  these  accu 
sations  had  great  weight  with  those  opposed  to  him 
from  personal,  sectarian,  or  political  motives.  That 
neither  McLoughlin  nor  the  fur  company  had  any 
intention  of  covering  the  country  with  missions,  as 
the  Americans  had  done,  was  evident  from  the  refusal 
of  the  committee  to  allow  two  other  priests.  Rev.  A. 
Langh)is  and  J.  B.  Z.  Bolduc,  to  follow  the  first  two 
to  Oregon,  by  denying  them  a  passage  in  their  express 
in  1841,  although  this  did  not  prevent  their  coming 
the  year  following  by  sea. 


The  reader  will  remember  that  a  petition  of  the 
Flatheads  for  white  teachers,  sent  to  St  Louis  about 


I 


j 


"  Though  McLougliliii's  religion  has  been  tlio  subject  of  much  rancorous 
dispute,  there  is  really  no  mystery  about  it.  He  was  l)rought  up  in  the 
Anglican  church;  but  his  life  in  the  wililorness  had  separated  him  so  long  from 
religious  observances  that  at  the  time  the  first  missionaries  appeared  at  Van- 
couver he  might  be  sai<l  to  have  had  no  specific  creed.  Naturally  conscien- 
tious, he  reproached  himself  that  the  free  Canadians  should  have  forestfilled 
him  in  the  dirt^ction  of  religious  cultivation.  Nevertheless  ho  encouraged 
both  them  and  the  Methodists,  and  at  the  first  opportunity  suggested  to  the 
governor  and  coniniittee  in  London  the  propriety  of  sending  a  chaplain  to 
Vancouver.  As  we  have  seen,  they  sent  Mr  Beaver,  of  the  Anglican  cliurcli, 
who  ])roved  such  a  di.sagreeable  and  meddlesome  member  of  the  society,  that 
McLougidin  was  glad  to  be  rid  of  him  after  a  year  and  a  half.  This  episode 
was  followed  by  the  Methodist  war  upon  him  at  Oregon  City,  in  the  midst  of 
which  he  chanced  to  read  I'r  Milners  Em/  of  Con/roirrxi/,  which  seemed  to 
him  to  establisli  the  claim  of  tlie  Roman  Catholic  church  to  l)e  considered  the 
true  church,  and  he  decided  to  unite  with  it  at  once.  This  he  did  November 
KS,  1H42,  to  the  end  remaining  a  faithful  Catholic,  while  never  inter''ering 
with  the  religious  sentiments  of  others.  Blanchet,  who  wiis  proud  of  this 
notable  conversion,  boasts  on  page  !(  of  his  Calli.  Church  in  Or.,  of  havnig 
accomplished  it  in  1841;  lint  forgetting  this  statement,  he  gives  the  true  date 
on  page  00  of  the  same  work.  See  also  address  of  V\'.  H.  Roes,  iu  Or.  Fioiiter 
Aksoc,  Trans.,  1879,  30:  IliHt.  XoiihwcHt  CoaM,  this  series. 


FATHER  DE  SMET. 


323 


1832,  or  perhaps  even  earlier/"  was  really  the  original 
cause  of  the  missionary  movement  into  Oregon  which 
followed.  The  earlier  parties,  however,  either  did 
not  pass  through,  or  did  not  remain  in  the  region 
about  tlie  head  waters  of  the  Columbia,  and  it  was 
not  until  1840  that  the  Flatheads  began  to  reap  the 
benefits  of  religion  which  the  western  tribes  had  been 
enjoying  for  several  years.^^  In  the  spring  of  1840 
Pierre  J.  De  Smet,  a  Jesuit,  left  the  Missouri  at 
Westport  in  company  with  the  large  party  of  fur- 
traders,  immigrants,  and  independent  missionaries 
who  crossed  the  Rocl^y  Mountains  in  that  year. 
At  the  rendezvous  he  Wi\s  met  by  a  party  of  Flat- 
heads,  who  had  heard  of  his  arrival,  and  by  them 
escorted  to  their  country.  De  Smet  was  a  worthy 
member  of  his  order.  Young,  handsome,  intellectual, 
educated,  and  energetic,  he  was  well  fitted  to  make  a 
favorable  impression  upon  tlie  savages,  and  to  succeed 
in  a  field  which  others  had  either  shunned  or  aban- 
doned. On  becoming  acquainted  with  the  Flatheads, 
lie  was  surprised,  as  Bonneville,  Townsend,  and  Parker 
had  been,  at  the  similarity  between  their  religious 
[)ractices  and  those  of  his  own  creed,  but  this  he 
accepted  as  a  proof  of  the  special  power  of  his  religion 
to  impress  itself  at  once  upon  the  minds  of  the  heathen. 
The  evening  of  his  first  day  among  them  was  closed 
M'ith  a  prayer  and  solemn  chant,  and  prayer*  was  again 
<»ttered  in  the  morning.  On  the  second  day  he  trans- 
lated to  them,  with  the  aid  of  an  interpreter,  tlu; 
Lord's  Praver,  the  creed,  and  the  commandments. 
In  a  fortnight  tw(t  thousand  Flatheads  know  the 
prayers.  In  two  months  six  hundred  were  admitted 
to  baptism. 

This  gratifying  success  led  De  Smet  to  tiiink  of 
procuring  assistance  and  extending  his  labois  among 
the  savage  nations  of  Oregon.  But  to  his  suri)rist' 
he  now  for  the  first  time  learned  of  the  presence  in 

"See  p.  54,  this  voluine.  » 

"  See  p.  0.5,  tins  volume,  note  9. 


If! 
ill 


•'.  \  11 


F-ll' 


324 


THE  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS— THK  PRESBYTERIANS. 


the  territory  of  Bianchet  and  Demers,  and  of  their 
missions  to  the  tribes  on  the  upper  Columbia.  Ho 
fortliwith  wrote  to  Demers,  and  comnmnicated  Jiis 
plans  of  bringing  out  more  priests  for  the  work  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  at  once  set  about  carrying 
them  forward  by  hastening  to  St  Louis  and  returning 
the  following  year  with  the  Rev.  Gregorio  Mengarini 
of  Rome,  Rev,  Nicolas  Point,  a  Vendean,  and  three 
lay  brothers,  good  mechanics,  who  wero  needed  to 
erect  the  buildings  requisite  for  two  mission  establish- 
ments. 

The  site  of  the  Flathead  mission  was  selected  on 
the  Bitter  Root  River,  September  24,  1841,  the  cross 
planted,  and  the  mission  of  St  Mary  founded.  ])e 
Smet  then  proceeded  to  Fort  Colville  for  supplies, 
while  the  mechanics  constructed  a  residence  and 
chapel,  and  the  natives  were  instructed  by  Point  and 
Mengarini  Failing  to  procure  provisions  for  the 
winter,  the  natives  were  dismissed  after  Christmas, 
Point  going  with  tlie  hunters  to  the  chase,  and  brav- 
ing the  danger  of  the  Blackfoot,  while  De  Smet  and 
Mengarini  remained  to  teach  the  remaining  meml)ers 
of  their  charge.  The  lay  brothers  enij)loyed  them- 
selves in  erecting  a  ])alisade  about  the  mission  build- 
ings. They  did  not  by  any  means  pass  a  comfortable 
winter,  but  thanketl  (iod  it  was  no  worse.  In  the 
spring  De  Smet  visited  Fort  Vancouver  in  the  hope 
of  procuring  the  requisite  supplies  to  make  the  mis- 
sion among  the  Flatheads  a  permanent  one.  On  this 
journey  lie  narrowly  escaped  death  in  the  rapids  at 
the  Dalles,  for,  while  he  made  the  poi-tage  on  foot, 
the  boat  with  five  persons  in  it,  and  his  baggage,  was 
swallowed  by  a  whirlpool.'- 

At  Fort  Vancouver  De  Smet  again  failed  to  secur(> 
the  required  aid,  and  after  conferring  with  Bianchet 
and  Demers,  determined  to  make  a  further  a[>peal  to 
St  Louis  for  assistance.     Returning  to  St  Mary,  he 

'^ /)e  Smet'a  Or,  MimioiiK,  .S8;  Shea-'*  ll'mt.  CiitJi.  Mi>u<.,  474;  jVfc  Jftircii, 
CoHrkr  and  Jouritnl,  •July  1871. 


RETURN  OF  BLANCH  ET. 


directed  Point  to  found  a  new  mission,  under  t]ie  name 
of  the  Sacred  Heart,  among  the  Canirs  d'Aiene,  and 
set  out  in  August  for  the  Missouri  horder  to  lay  the 
wants  of  the  savages  before  liis  sui)eriors.  The  result 
of  his  appeal  was,  that  in  the  fv)llowing  year,  184.'}, 
fathers  Peter  De  Vos  and  Adrian  Hoeken,  with 
three  lay  brothers,  were  ordered  to  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, while  De  Sniet  himself  was  despatched  to 
Europe  to  enlist  other  aid  for  the  new  field  of  Ore- 
gon." In  the  same  year  seven  lay  brothers  came 
from  Canada  with  the  annual  brigade,  Blanchet  hav- 
ing made  such  rei)resentatiorjS  to  Simpson  at  Van- 
couver as  to  overcome  his  objections.** 

De  Smet's  jouriiey  to  Europe  was  eminently  suc- 
cessful. He  returned  to  Oregon  July  31,  1844,  ac- 
companied by  fathers  A.ntonio  Ravalli,  Giovanni 
Nobili,  Aloysius  Vercrnysse,  Michele  Accolti,  several 
lay  brothers,  and  six  sisters  of  Notre  Dame  de  Namur. 
They  arrived,  like  the  Methodist  reenforcement  of 
1840,  in  a  chartered  vessel,  the  bark  L' fnde f at i gable, 
from  Antwerp,  bringing  money  and  material  for  the 
prosecution  of  their  plans  of  esta])li.shiug  Catholic 
schools  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  and  Indian  missions 
in  the  more  remote  parts  of  the  territory.'^  The  sisters 
tot)k  possession  of  a  convent  erected  i'or  them  on 
French  Prairie,  called  St  Mary,  on  tl  e  IDth  of  Oc- 
tober, and  o])t'iied  a  school  for  girls  soon  after.  A 
boys'  college,  named  St  Joseph,  was  already  in  o|)era- 
tion,   under  the  charge  of  Rev,   J.   B.   Bolduc,  who 

'^Burnett,  in  his  /{ccollirtioti.-)  of  a  Pioufcr,  UfcJ,  speaks  of  meeting  De 
Niiiet  and  Do  N'cw  at  tlie  erossing  of  tlic  Kansas  River,  but  this  is  an  error. 
IK'  \'i)8  and  Hoeken  were  meant.  They  travelled  in  advaiiee  of  the  einigrunt.s 
of  1843,  a  part  of  the  time  in  eompany  with  a  hunting  jwirty  from  New  Or- 
leans, under  Captain  Stuart.     See  Nilc-'i'  HvijhU-r,  lx\ .  70. 

^*  Ilhmii't's  Cnf/i.  Ch.  ill  Or.,  VM,  VA\>.  The  archhishop  is  at  fault  agaan 
in  his  dates,  writing  1H4'J  for  1841.  Sir  (ieoige  is  also  maile  to  keep  'his 
promise  of  sending  assi»tantH, '  as  if  he  rt'cre  part  of  the  CathoUr  Mission, 
Mhieh  lie  was  far  from  l>eing. 

'"The  /iiilejati,;i<ilili'i>iittiveil  the  south  ehannel  >.'  tlie  Columbia,  an  entrance 
not  attempted  hefore.  Her  eommauder  was  witht  ut  any  ktiowleilat?  of  tin; 
river,  liut  hilving  lain  outside  four  ilays  waiting  for  a  pilot,  deeided  to  try  the 
mtranee,  and  sailed  straight  in,  being  several  times  m  peril  from  shallows, 
hut  arriving  safe  at  Astoria.  Suhsetjuently  th-  chanael  deepened  until  it 
eaue  into  eommon  u>e. 


ii.il 


¥/ 


i    I 


1 1'" 


:i26 


THE  CATHOLIC   MLSSIONS-THE   rRESBYTKKIAN.S. 


came  from  Canada  by  sea,  in  1842,  as  previously  men- 
tioned/^ 


During  De  Smet's  visit  to  Europe,  Oregon  was 
erected  into  an  apostolic  vicariate  by  Pope  Gregory 
XVI.,  who  appointed  Blanchet  arclibisht)p  of  the  ter- 
ritory, Deniers  succeeding  him  as  vicar-general.  The 
briefs  were  made  out  December  1,  1843,  and  reached 
Oregon  November  4,  1844.  Soon  afterward  Blanchet 
proceeded  by  sea  to  Canada,  to  receive  his  consecra- 
tion at  tlie  hands  of  the  archbishoj)  of  Quebec.  He 
then  made  a  voyage  to  Europe  to  devise  means  of  in- 
creasing tlie  resources  of  the  Oregon  mission.  He 
met  with  great  success  in  securing  funds  and  voluji- 
teers,^''  and  returned  to  Oregon  in  August  1847,  with 
twenty-one  recruits,  among  whom  were  seven  sisters 
of  Notre  Dame  de  Nanmr ;  three  Jesuit  priests,  Gaets, 
Gazzoli,  and  Menestrey,  with  three  lay  brotliers  ;  five 
secular  priests,  Le  Bas,  McCormick,  Deleveau,  Pretot, 
and  Veyi'et ;  two  deacons,  B.  Delorme  and  J.  F.  Jayol ; 
and  one  cleric,  T.  Mesplie.^** 

'*  An  ofi'er  was  made  by  the  Catholics  to  pnrcha.so  the  huildmg  and  grounds 
of  the  Oregon  Institute  tirst  erected  on  WaUace  Prairie,  and  offered  for  mdc 
hy  (Jary,  who  was  tdosii.g  u[i  tlie  Methodist  Mi:<.sion;  hut  that  gentleman 
declined  to  sell  to  tiie  suceessful  rivals  of  Methodism,  though  the  Methodist 
Society  would  liave  received  double  what  it  did  receive  Tor  the  property. 
J  fines' Or.  uml  Ins..  Kil 

"  Louis  Pli'lipjie  of  France  gave  ;<,()00  francs,  .uid  ordered  tne  ministers 
of  the  interior  and  'uarine  t<t  pay  eacli  7."2(K)  franca.  Tlie  Leopoldine  Society 
of  Vienna  gave  4,«((K)  tloritis,  and  other  societies  or  corporations  different 
sums.    Blanc/iit'x  CiitJi.  Ch.  in  Or.    l."-8. 

'*Tho  vt-ssel  which  brought  Blanchet's  I'atholie  colony  was  L'Etoilf  da 
Matin,  Captain  Menes,  Iw^longing  to  V  Marzion  &  (  o..  of  Havre  de  (!race, 
and  was  si  'it  by  them  to  <  )regon,  having;  a  half-cargo  for  Tahiti.  vShe  was  not, 
like  the  Iinlefittuialdc,  obliged  to  erost;  "iie  bar  without  chart  or  pilot,  but  was 
brought  safely  into  the  river  by  pihit  iteeves,  and  aseendecl  the  Columbia  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Willamette,  where  lier  cargo  wjih  unloaded.  Proceeding 
immediately  she  timshed  iier  voyage  to  Tahiti,  an/t  returned  to  France,  whence 
her  owners  once  more  des!»utclie<l  her  to  Oregiwi.  where  they  designed  estab- 
lishing a  French  colony.  '  )n  returning  to  tlie  <  oiuniliiaRiver  in '4ilor '50,  Cap- 
tain Mene.M,  after  waiting  outside  lor  a  pilot  r-trvenl  days,  undertook  to  cross 
the  bar  without  one,  but  his  vessel  struck  on  the  saiKlx.  where  she  pounde<l 
for  nine  hours,  and  suffered  seniMis  damage.  She  wa*  tinally  brought  into 
Baker  Bay  by  the  attsistance  of  L^ttii,  a  ])ilot  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
who  with  a  numlier  of  natives  w«iit  to  her  atwi^tiUi  ■.:,  and  i.t)nHtructing  a  box 
rudder  brniisabt  her  in.  Slie  wa«  iSterw»rtii- t^ken  t..-,  Portland,  where  lier  cargo 
wa«  iandei  and  the  hull  bam«ti  for  the  iron  and  copper.  «  .iptain  Menes 
tipeiied  a  French  store  at  Unpiu  City  lor  her  tiv.-ncris,  Mai-zion  &  Co.     In 


THE  THKEE  «EE,S  OF  OREUON. 


827 


Witli  the  aid  of  his  roeiiforcements  Do  Siiiet  did 
l)nive  work,  founding  in  rapid  succession  the  mission 
of  St  Ignatius,  among  the  Fend  d'Oreilles,  and  the 
chapels  of  St  Francis  Borgia,  among  the  Kahspehns, 
St  Francis  Regis  in  Colville  Valley,  St  Peters  at  the 
(xreat  Lakes  of  the  Columhia,  the  Assumption  on 
Flatbow  Lake,  and  the  Holy  Heart  of  Mary  among 
the  Kootenais.  De  Vos  and  Accolti  were  i)laced  in 
charge  of  St  Ignatius,  where  a  mission  farm  was  opened. 
De  Sniet  employed  nmcli  of  his  time  travelling  among 
the  aborigines;  and  as  there  was  nmcli  despatch  used 
in  making  converts,  it  was  claimed  that  between  1840 
and  184(5  six  thousand  nativi.'S  embraced  the  Catholic 
faith." 

During  the  absence  of  Archbishop  Blanchet  in 
Europe  his  vicariate  had  been  erected  into  an  ecclesi- 
astical province,  containing  the  threi^  sees  of  Oregon 
City,  Walla  Walla,  and  Vancouver  Island;  the  first 
liehig  allotted  to  tla;  archbishop,  the  second  to  his 
brotiicv  the  Rev.  A.  M.  A.  Blanchet,  canon  of  Mon- 
treal, and  the  third  to  Vicar-general  Demers,  The 
bishop  of  Walla  Walla  proceeded  fi'om  Montreal  to 
Oreoon  by  wav  of  St  Louis,  where  he  was  joined  bv 
nine  othei-s,  among  whom  were  the  Oblate  Fathers  and 
two  lay  !)rothers,  two  secular  priests,  namely,  J.  B.  A. 
Br«tuillet,  appointed  vicar-general  of  W^alla  Walla, 
and  Father  Rosseau;  and  a  deacon,  Ouillaume  Le- 
claire.      Brouillet  and  Rosseau  innnediately  took  up 

\SoO  MoLoughliii  Kvame  a  partner  in  the  firm,  ainl  so  remr.ineil  till  1S53, 
when  the  Imsiness  was  closed.  Captain  Menes  settleil  on  French  I'rairie, 
where  he  resided  up  to  his  death  in  I8t)7.  Oreijoii  CUij  EiUvryrusf,  March  21, 
18tW. 

'*The  good  missionary  was  fond  of  writing.  His  earliest  jmhUshed  work 
sieenis  to  have  been  Lett*,  >  iiml  Skrt^lici,  written  in  1841,  after  his  first  visit  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  prii.ted  in  1S4.H,  and  marked  liy  the  novel  impressions 
•cceived  from  coni '.et  witl'.  suiva^e.s.  Wis  '  'rn/oii  MU-iiDiis,  New  York,  liH47, 
is  u  hook  of  over  4' «>  pages,  and  contains,  I)e8ides  a  narrative  of  the  mission 
Work  in  the  Wiilumettt  Valley  and  a  brief  sketch  of  the  territory,  a  great 
number  of  hitters  tilled  with  descriptive,  scientilic,  unil  reliynms  matter.  He 
followed  this  with  st-veral  works,  little  more  than  reprnits,  in  P'rench  and 
Italian;  ami  published  in  lS(i.S  his  W'-steni  .\fi.isioii'<  "ih/  MisM/oniirits,  a  series 
of  letters  addre88<  I  to  the  editor  of  Pnrin  Histr>ri<iii's  at  Bru.ssels,  containing 
more  niformatiiwi  'I  a  jjeuerul  character  couceruLUg  the  country  than  his 
earlier  m  ortis. 


i-.- 


'-v.- 
i    'I 


\-  h 


328 


THE  CATHOLIC  MIS8ION8-THE  PRE.SBYTEKIANS. 


t     I'll 


tlieir  residence  at  the  Cayuse  camp  on  the  Umatilla, 
in  a  house  provided  by  the  chief  Tauitau,  while  the 
Oblate  Fathers  went  to  found  a  mission  amo.  "j  the 
Yakinias.*' 

By  tlie  1st  of  November,  1847,  the  Catholic  mis- 
sionary force  in  Oregon  Territory  consisted  of  three 
bishops,  fourteen  Jesuit  fathers,  four  Oblate  Fathers, 
thirteen  secular  priests,  including  a  deacon  and  a 
cleric,  and  thirteen  sisters  of  Notre  Dame  de  Nanmr, 
besides  the  lay  brethren.  Yet  there  was  not  a  priest 
to  spare  to  accompany  Bishop  Demers  to  Vancouver 
Island,  and  he  was  forced  to  make  a  journey  to 
Europe  in  1848,  to  raise  funds,  and  enlist  missionaries 
for  his  diocese. 

In  1  84."}  title  was  secured  to  a  site  for  a  church  in 
Oregon  City,  which  was  completed  and  dedicated 
Fel,>ruary  8,  1846.  On  the  24th  of  May  the  corner- 
stone of  a  new  brick  church  at  St  Pauls  was  laid, 
which  was  opened  for  service  on  the  1st  of  Novem- 
l)or."'  This  edifice  was  100  feet  in  length,  by  45  in 
breadth,  with  wings  20  feet  in  length,  used  for  chapels, 
and  a  belfry  tower  84  feet  in  height. 


That  the  Protestants  of  the  Willamette  Valley 
should  be  able  to  lo(»k  upon  the  achievements  of  the 
Catholics  without  jealousy  was  not  to  be  expected. 
Had  they  })ossessed  the  utmost  liberality  in  religious 
matters,  there  was  still  the  fear  of  foreign  influences, 
and  anti- American  sentiments  in  their  midst  at  a 
critical  period  of  the  colon^-'s  existence,  which  might 
defeat  tlie  most  impoi'tant  ends  at  which  they  were 

-"Blanchct,  froiii  whoso  Cnth.  C'l.  in  Or.  I  have  taken  the  account  of  tlic 
arrival  of  the  Itishop  of  Walla  Walla,  does  not  name  tlie  Ohlate  Fatliers  except 
KatiuT  Kichanl,  wiio  he  says  was  their  superior.  But  I  gather  from  various 
authorities  that  two  of  the  others  were  named  I'auilc  y  ami  C'herouse. 

-'This  was  the  lirst  ehun^li  huilt  of  hriek  in  Oregon,  Imt  not  thetirst  briek 
Iiuililing  erected,  as  Blancliet  supi)ose.s.  I'revioiis  to  this  George  (lay  huilt  a 
small  hriek  house  on  his  farm,  tlie  hri^iks  being  inaile  at  a  place  now  called 
Wlieatland,  opposite  the  old  Me.Miodi.^t  Mission,  by  John  McCaddon,  who 
also  made  tlie  first  bricks  in  Salem.  AbeTiiethy  built  a  brick  house  at  Oregon 
City  in  1844,  and  oiiened  a  ston.-  in  it.  The  iiricks  were  made  at  Bull  Creek 
tu  Oregon  City.  J/ox.i'  Pioneer  7'two,  MS.,  33. 


METHODLST  AND  TKESBYTEUIAN. 


3-2*J 


aiming.  This  feeling  of  appreliension  served,  on  .^re- 
(juent  occasions,  to  liold  the  balance  even  or  to  prompt 
certain  conciliatory  measures,  when  there  was  danger 
of  a  conflict  of  opinion  dividing  the  j)opulation  on 
colonial  questions,  as  will  be  more  clearly  illustrated 
in  a  future  chapter  on  govern nient  affairs.  In  the 
matter  of  religious  differences,  when  the  Methodist 
Mission  was  dissolved,  the  chief  cause  of  irritation  was 
removed,  and  Protestant  and  Catholic  labored  side  by 
side  with  similar  if  not  coincident  aims,  and  without 
seriou.sly  interfering  with  one  another.  It  was  not, 
therefore,  in  the  Willamette  Valley  that  the  intrusion  of 
another  form  of  religion  was  regarded  with  the  greatest 
uneasiness,  but  in  the  unsettled  Indian  country  east 
of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  where  a  few  isolated  fam- 
ilies were  endeavoring  to  teach  the  first  principles  of 
progress  to  wilful  and  capricious  savages,  and  where 
any  interference  with  tlieir  labors  was  sure  to  create 
a  division  among  the  natives,  which  might  destroy  the 
effect  of  all  their  efforts. 

The  experience  of  the  Presliyterian  missionaries 
was  entirely  different  from  tha;.  of  their  Methodist 
brethren.  They  had  to  deal  with  tribes  yet  in  their 
])rimitive  strength  of  mind  and  body,  having  their 
intelligence  not  yet  weakened  but  .sharpened  by  con- 
tact witli  white  men,  lordly  in  their  ideas  of  personal 
dignity,  but  blind  to  the  rights  of  others  while  in- 
sisting with  the  utmost  psrtinacity  upon  what  they 
esteemed  their  own.  To  teach  such  beings  required 
the  exercise  of  extraordinary  tact,  firmness,  and  i)a- 
tience,  and  would  have  been  difficult  had  the  savages 
been  constantly  subject  to  the  influence  of  precept 
and  example.  But  their  roving  habits  took  them 
away  from  their  teacliers  during  a  considerable  ])()r- 
tion  of  the  year,  and  although  eager  and  quick  to 
If^arn,  they  gave  little  time  to  study. 

To  overcome  these  difficulties  the  missionaries 
worked  liard  to  put  themselves  in  sympathy  witli 
their  pupils,  by  mastering  their  dialects,  and  endeav- 


I! 


fi'f, 


ii 


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THE  CATHOI-IC  MISSIONS—THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


orerl  to  attach  them  to  certani  locahties  by  teacliing 
them  farming.  The  latter  was  a  more  difficult  task 
than  the  former,  as  the  natives,  particularly  the  Cay- 
uses,  afleeted  to  believe  that  they  were  doing  a  favor 
to  Dr  Whitman"  by  receiving  his  instruction,  and 
frequently  demanded  pay  for  what  they  did  f(^r  them- 
selves, as  well  as  for  the  use  of  the  ground  which  he 
cultivated  for  the  support  of  the  Mission.  Split-lip, 
a  chief  of  the  Cayuses  who  lived  near  the  Waiilatpu 
Mission,  was  often  most  insulting  in  his  demands, 
occasioning  difficulties  which  would  never  have  been 
settled  but  for  the  ijood  offices  of  Pambruu  of  Fort 
Walla  Walla,  who  was  usually  able  to  manage  the 
natives  through  the  influence  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  and  the  fear  they  had  that  if  they  exhibited 
hostility  to  white  men  who  were  friends  of  the  com- 
l)any  the  trading  posts  would  be  withdi'awu  from 
theii"  country. 

The  same  state  of  affairs  existed  at  Lapwai,  except 
that  Spalding  exer-cised  a  more  arbitary  authority 
over  the  Nez  Perces  than  Whitman  could  exert  over 
the  Cayuses,  and  established  a  system  of  laws,  or 
rules  of  conduct,  which  rendered  the  natives  liable  to 
punishment  for  eert:;in  ofl'ences. 

Though  these  laws  were  not  without  their  advan- 
tages, yet,  unless  great  discrimination  was  used  in 
applying  them,  they  were  likely  to  breed  mischief,  as 
the  following  instance  will  show :  A  difficulty  arose 
from  the  death  of  The  Hat,  the  young  chief  who, 
while  ac('()nn)anying  Gray  to  the  States  in  1837,  was 
killed  by  the  Sioux.  The  other  two  young  chiefs, 
Blue  Cloak  and  Ellis,  who  agreed  to  go  with  Gray, 
as  I  have  before  mentioned,  turned  back  at  the  ren- 
dezvous, giving  as  a  reason  that  the  feet  of  their 
hoi'ses  were  sore,  and  that  they  would  die  up(jn  the 
road.  When  tliev  i)resented  themselves  in  the  au- 
tumn  at  Lapwai,  Spalding,  who  had  a  quick  temper, 
fearing  for  Gray's  safety,  and  vexed  at  the  failure  of 

-    "Whitman's  letter,  in  Bo-ttoii  M sn.  Herald,  November  1S40,  138. 


KLLIS'  KETOKT. 


xn 


I  i^,- 


lo- 


a  part  of  his  j)luii,  wliicli  was  to  oxclian^o  a  herd  of 
Indian  horses  for  oattU;  on  the  frontier,  severely 
reproved  them,  and  exactc^d  a  liorse  from  each  for 
hreach  of  contract.  The  youn*>'  men  not  complying 
with  this  demand,  Spalding  took  occasion  when  the 
Indians  were  assemhied  for  instruction  to  order  some 
of  them  to  take  Blue  Cloak  and  whi[)  liim.  Ellis 
was  also  })resent,  but  as  he  had  a  number  of  his  hand 
with  him,  he  was  not  molested.  For  some  time  no 
one  oifered  to  execute  the  order,  hut  at  length  one  of 
the  principal  men  arose,  and  having  seized  ami  hound 
Blue  Cloak,  turned  to  Spalding,  saying,  "Now  you 
whi[)  him."  To  this  Spalding  objected  on  the  plea 
that  he,  like  God,  gave  commands  but  did  iu)t  exe- 
cute them.  "  You  are  a  liar,"  retorted  the  chief;  "  look 
at  your  picture"  pointing  to  a  rude  })ainting  sus- 
pended against  the  wall — "there  you  liave  represented 
two  men,  with  God  behind  them  holding  a  bund'e 
of  rods  with  which  to  whi[)  tliem.  If  you  refuse  to 
})unish  Blue  Cloak,  we  will  })ut  you  in  his  place  aiid 
whip  you."  Not  relishing  the  alternative  S[)akHng 
laid  on  the  lasli,"^  after  which  the  horse  re(|uired  was 
given  him. 

Had  The  Hat  returned  alive,  this  affair  might  have 
been  forgotten.  But  when  Gray  a})peared  without 
liim,  Ellis  accused  him  of  having  caused  tlie  chief's 
death,  and  declared  that  S})alding's  wrath  against  him 
and  Blue  Cloak  for  turning  back  sliowed  that  it  had 
been  intended  that  they  also  should  be  killed.  Ellis 
then  assembled  the  Nez  Perces,  and  kept  Spalding 
and  all  the  white  [)eople  attached  to  the  Mission 
pi'isoners  in  their  house  for  several  weeks,  and  it  was 
not  until  Pambrun  had  several  times  sent  messages 
from  Walla  Walla  assuring  them  that  (xray  was  not 
responsil)le  for  the  deatli  of  The  Hat,  that  they  finally 
consented  to  release  their  [)risoners. 

The  calm  which  followed  was  oidy  the  send)lance 
of  peace.      In  the  following  year,   1831),  Smith,  who 

'■'  /lroiiilkt.''i  Aiifliniti-  Afcointt,  1J5-1). 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


:«J         THE  CATHOUC  MISSIONS-THK  I'KKSBYTEUIANS. 

establisliecl  a  mission  at  Kamiah,  obtained  the  assent 
of  Ellis  to  build  a  house  on  his  land,  but  was  refused 
permission  to  cultivate  the  ground,  Ellis  telling  him 
that  if  he  dug  a  hole  in  the  earth  it  should  serve  for 
his  grave.  In  the  s])ring  of  1840  Smitii  made  an 
attempt  to  plough,  but  was  interrupted  by  the  sav- 
ages with  the  same  threat,  when  he  desisted,  and 
soon  after  went  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  the  station 
Kamiah  being  abandoned."* 

This  much  is  the  account  of  the  Catholic  authorities, 
and  Gray  does  not  deny  it,  although,  having  tlie  means 
of  knowing,  he  should  have  done  so,  if  not  true.  But 
the  Presbyterian  missionaries  were  habitually  reticent 
concerning  their  troubles  with  the  savages,  probably 
because  tliey  were  reluctant  to  confess  their  failures 
to  the  religious  world."'' 

Yet  in  truth  there  was  little  to  be  ashamed  of  in 
a  lack  of  success  in  such  a  field  of  labor.     For  the 

''*  Wilkes  mentions  meeting  A.  B.  Smitli  and  wife  at  Fort  Vancouver  in 
1841,  at  which  time  it  was  saiil  tliat  they  were  leaving  Oregon  on  account  of 
Mrs  Smith's  health.  He  also  learned  fT-om  Smitli  that  there  were  no  natives 
in  the   neighborliood  of  Kamiiil'  uand  a  station.  A'lir.,  iv.  354.     But 

Smith,  ia  liis  correspondence,  dt  Kamiah  to  be  '  the  most  eligible  spot 

for  a  station  in  the  whole  count  i'hree  fourths  of  a  year,  autumn,  win- 

ter, and  spring,  the  people  remain  Here  permanently.'  BohIou  MisK.  Herald, 
Aug.  1840,  .32G.  (iray  attempts  to  show  that  Smitii  left  tlie  Nez  Perce  Mis- 
sion because  Spalding  was  'andjitious  and  selfish,' and  jealous  of  the  superior 
ability  of  his  coa<ljutors.  Hid.  Or.,  211.  But  again  Smith  writes  in  August 
1839,  in  a  tone  to  show  that  he  is  not  a  saguine  missionary:  'No  longer  can 
M'e  be  borne  along  by  the  current  of  popular  favor  among  this  people.  The 
novelty  of  having  missionaries  among  them  is  now  gone,  and  we  must  work 
against  the  current  as  much  as  in  any  other  heathen  country.  In  future  it 
will  be  uphill  work.'  liosloii  Mhx.  Hi'niltl,  328 

■■'■'  In  this  the  example  was  set  by  the  mouth-piece  of  the  American  Board 
of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  the  lioxton  Minxionor;/  HcntUI,  a 
monthly  magazine,  containii'g  the  proceedings  of  the  missionary  board  and 
its  foreign  correspondence.  Its  puLlication  began  in  1805.  It  was  seldom 
that  a  letter  from  its  correspondents  was  published  as  written.  The  most 
favorable  sitle  of  the  subject  was  presented  in  an  abstract  of  tlie  communica- 
tion; and  where  no  favorable  side  could  be  found,  the  correspondence  was 
practioiUy  suppressed,  I  have  carefujly  searched  the  tiles  which  should  con- 
tiiiu  tiie  denial  or  continuation  of  certain  incidents  related  by  (.'atholic  writers 
as  reHecting  on  the  Protestants,  witiiout  finding  the  most  distant  allusion  tti 
tlio.se  events;  but  do  tind,  nevertheless,  sufficient  ev'dence  contirming  the 
troubles  of  the  missionaries  with  the  Imliatis  to  justify  belief  in  the  incidents 
a»  related  liy  writers  who  might  otherwise  be  suspected  of  giving  too  partisan 
a  ton'.;  to  their  statements.  I  say  that  it  was  the  custom  for  eastern  mis 
sionary  journals  wilfully  to  misrepresent  the  facts  in  order  that  the  income 
from  the  supporters  of  missions  might  not  be  lessened. 


DOCTOR  WHITMAN. 


%» 


natives  at  their  best,  witli  few  exce])tioiis,  iiiauifested 
scarcely  more  gratitude  for  benefits  l)estowe(l.  than  is 
current  in  civilized  circles.  "I  have  no  evidence  to 
suppose,"  says  Spalding,  speaking  of  the  selfishness 
and  ingratitude  of  the  natives,  "but  a  vast  nuijoritv 
of  tlieni  would  look  on  with  indifference  and  see  our 
dwelling  l)urned  to  the  ground,  and  our  heads  severed 
from  oar  bodies." "®  This  was  said  by  the  most  success- 
ful of  the  missionar}'  teachers  regarding  the  people 
whom  he  taught.  Walker  and  l](!lls,  at  the  Chcma- 
kane  mission,  while  not  having  suffered  the  same 
indignities  as  teachers  at  the  other  stations,  com])lained 
that  the  real  object  of  thi;  aborigines  in  professing 
interest  in  religion  and  learning  was  to  secure  the 
favor  of  their  instructors  and  obtain  presents,  and 
Smith  at  Kamiah  gave  tliem  the  same  character,'''^ 
while  all  often  referred  to  their  untruthfulness. 

Yet  the  missionaries  ct)ntinued  to  hope  against  hope 
that  in  time  sonjo  good  might  be  efi'ected,  and  reported 
as  their  circumstances  chanced  to  ins[)ire  them,  some 
times  clieerfully  but  oftener  despondingly.  Whitman 
wrote  in  March  1841,  that  the  people  were  (juiet,  and 
appeared  never  to  have  been  so  well  disj)()sed  toward 
him  as  at  that  time;  assigning  as  a  reason  that  the 
troublesome  chief,  Split-lip,  had  been  removed  by 
(ieath."''  But  letters  of  the  same  date,  from  the  other 
stations,  gave  disheartening  accounts  of  opposition 
from  savaijes. 

In  the  previous  year  there  had  been  a  serious  dis- 
turbance at  Waiilatpu,  occasioned  by  the  Cayuses 
allowing  their  horses  to  damage  the  grain  in  the 
mission  field.  VVlien  rc>provcd  by  Whitman,  they 
covered  him  with  mud,  plucked  his  beard,  ))ulled  his 
I'ars,  sna})ped  a  gun  at  him,  threatened  to  pull  down 
his  house,  and  would  have  struck  him  with  an  axe  had 


^"Letter  to  l)r  White,  184'-',  in  Oraii^  IILtt.  Or.,  '2'^. 

'''' Shii]>.io>i's   Xui:,    i.    J 01;    Wilh-s'    Xnr.,   iv.    484;  HokIoii    MIm,    Jfrnili/, 
NovcihIkt  1840,  441. 

"^Boston  M!s.t.  Jfriald,  October  IS41,  4:5(;;  A/.,  Septoinlwr  1841,  405. 


li  ! 


334         THK   CATHOLIC    MISSION'S— THE    PRKSBVTKRIANS. 


he  not  evaded  the  blow.^  A  report  of  tliis  outrage 
reached  the  Sandwicli  Islands,  and  prevented  J.  D. 
Paris  and  W.  H.  Rice  from  joining-  the  mission  with 
their  wives.  They  were  about  to  depart  for  Oregon, 
but  on  liearing  of  the  assault,  determined  to  remain 
at  the  Islands,  believing  that  Waiilatpu  would  be 
abandoned.  Indeed,  Whitman  was  strongly  coun- 
selled by  McLoughlin  to  quit  Waiilatpu;  being  assured 
that  should  he  do  so  temporarily,  as  if  offended  with 
the  natives,  they  would  re])ent  of  their  conduct  and 
ask  him  to  return.'*"  But  the  missionary  was  no  ordi- 
nary man.  I  do  not  know  which  to  admire  in  him 
most,  his  coolness  or  his  courai>e.  His  nerves  were 
of  steel;  his  patience  was  excelled  only  by  his  abso- 
lute fearlessness;  in  the  mighty  calm  (»f  his  nature  he 
was  a  Caisar  for  Christ.  He  would  on  no  account 
give  the  Cayuses  occasion  to  think  he  had  feared 
them.  So  he  resolved  to  stay.  In  1841,  while  the 
Red  River  immigrants  were  at  Walla  Walla  awaiting 
a  change  of  horses,  another  assault  was  made  on 
Whitman  in  consequence  of  Gray  striking  an  Indian 
lad  for  some  offence.  The  boy's  uncle  was  the  chief 
Tiloukaikt,  a  haughty  and  irascible  man,  who  to 
avenge  the  insult  to  his  nephew  struck  Whitman, 
knocked  his  hat  off,  and  pulled  his  nose,  all  of  which 
insults  the  doctor  bore  meekly,  but  without  showing 
fear. 

In  former  attacks  of  a  similar  nature,  Pambrun  had 
interfered  to  prevent  further  mischief;  but  the  ruler 
of  Fort  Walla  Walla  was  now  dead,  and  Archibald 
]VIcKinlay  reigned  in  his  stead.  The  Cayuses  had 
agreed  with  McKinlay  to  furnish  horses  to  take  the 
Red  River  immigrants  to  the  ])alles;  but  when  the 
animals  were  brought,  he  refused  them,  saying  he 
would  have  nothinu'  to  do  with  Indians  who  treated  a 
white  man,  and  his  friend,  as  tlicy  had  treated  Dr 
Whitman.     This  was  an  argument  they  could  under- 

''^ Brouillet's  Authentic  Account,  25. 
'^lidtertti  Ki'collcctioiiH,  MS.,  4 


A  l'KINllN(irRESS. 


3;» 


stand.  After  making  some  delay  and  difficulty  about 
it,  he  a])peare(]  to  relent,  and  ])romised  to  aocej^t  the 
horses  provided  Tiloukaikt,  and  all  concerned  in  the 
assault,  should  go  and  beg  pardon  of  the  doctor,  wliich 
they  consented  to  do.^^  So  again  the  sky  was  clear 
over  Waiilatpu. 

Meanwhile  Spalding  was  having  similar  trouble  at 
Lapwai.  The  Nez  Perces  puDed  down  his  mill,  claim- 
ing it  to  be  their  own,  and  assaulted  him  witii  a  gun, 
Mrs  Spalding  herself  not  escaping  insult.  There  hail 
not  been  one  year  in  the  five  from  1837  to  1842,  in 
which  some  of  these  occurrences  had  not  taken  place. 

Surrounded  by  difficulties  and  dangers  sucli  as 
these,  it  is  no  wonder  that  the  Protestant  missionaries 
resented  the  advent  of  the  Catholics.  The  natives 
could  not  fail  to  see  that  there  was  trouble  between 
their  teachers,  and  their  mischievous  nature  made 
them  quick  to  take  advantage  of  the  situation.  They 
carried  stories  back  and  forth,  taking  a  malicious  de- 
light in  exaggerating  such  scra})s  of  scandal  as  were 
blown  about  their  ears  upon  the  breezes  of  religious 
rivalry. 

While  A.  B.  Smith  was  at  the  Kamiah  mission  he 
reduced  the  Nez  Perce  dialect  to  grammatical  rules. 
In  the  summer  of  1839  the  Lapwai  mission  received 
a  visit  from  the  printer  of  the  Honolulu  mission,  E. 
0.  Hall,  who  brought  as  a  present  from  the  first 
native  church  of  Honolulu  a  small  printing-press  and 
some  type.  He  remained  long  enough  to  teach  the 
printer's  art  to  Spalding  and  Rogers,  and  on  this  press 
were  printed  primers  in  the  native  language  for  the 
use  of  the    pupils,  a  collection  of  hynms.  and  some 


*^  Tolmie's  Piitjct  Sniiml,  MS.,  24-.").  I  luive  Tolmie'.s  authority  al.so  for 
the  story  told  Iiy  several  others,  that  <  iray,  to  prevent  tlie  native  chililreu  from 
taking  melons  out  of  tlie  ganlon  at  Waiilatpu,  inserted  tartar  cnietio  into 
several  of  the  finest  ones  in  order  to  make  the  thieves  sick  and  destroy  their 
craving  for  melon.  Its  evil  eflects  were  (juickly  perceived,  and  tlie  suspicion 
naturally  engendered  that  the  missionaries  were  exerci.sing  tdmaiioiran,  or 
evil-eye,  upon  them,  which  led  to  furtlier  suspicions  at  a  later  date.  See  also 
the  testimony  of  Augustine  Raymond  and  John  Young,  in  Brouilkt'H  Au- 
thentic Account,  31. 


'^    S 


33() 


THL  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS— THK   1'K1>BYTKK1ANS. 


•  •liaptt'is  from  St  Matthew."''"  By  the  aid  of  these 
hooks  ill  tlieir  own  tonj^uc,  a  iminher  of  tlie  Nez 
Perees  were  tauglit  to  read,  and  also  to  reproduce 
tlieir  lessons,  hy  printing  with  the  pen,  for  the  benefit 
of  less  advanced  pupils.  In  the  labor  of  translation, 
Smith  was  assisted  by  Lawyer,  whom  I  1  ave  before 
mentioned  as  having  obtained  his  sobriquet  by  his 
shrewdness  in  dealing  with  white  men,  and  who  had 
a  sufficient  knowledjje  of  the  Enijlish  lanjjfuaije  to 
enable  him  to  assist  in  the  earlier  efforts  of  the  mis- 
sionaries. This  astute  savage  soon  })erceived  that  so 
Iciug  as  the  missionaries  were  in  the  field  he  could 
})rofit  by  siding  with  them  in  all  disputes.  Besides 
the  books  used,  pictures  drawn  by  Mrs  Spalding,  in 
water-colors,  to  illustrate  sermons  and  lessons,  were 
important  aids.  It  was  found  that  bible  history  was 
interesting  to  the  natives,  but  they  were  opposed  to 
the  doctrine  of  orii-inal  sin,  and  also  to  being  made 
responsible  as  sirmers.  Yet  they  readily  understood 
the  meaning  and  the  natural  justice  of  the  command- 
ments, and  had  a  love  for  laws,  though  each  one  evi- 
dently hoped  to  gain  some  advantage  by  them  over  liis 
fellows.  In  addition  to  reading,  writing,  singing,  and 
religious  instruction,  the  men  were  taught  farming  and 
the  women  housekeeping,  knitting,  sewing,  spinning, 
and  weaving.  The  chief  difficulty  in  the  way  of 
progress  was  the  necessity  of  collecting  food,  the  men 
spending  a  great  portion  of  the  year  in  hunting,  and 
the  women  in  digij^ing  roots  or  tjatherini;  berries. 
Their  absence,  however,  gave  the  missionaries  oppor- 
tunities to  perform  the  labor  required  for  their  own 
subsistence. 

The  mission  at  Lapwai  after  a  few  years  consisted 
of  a  larjje  and  connnodious  dwellintj  with  eleven  fire- 

'■^Oii  this  press,  the  first  north  of  California,  ■was  also  printed  in  1848  the 
tirst  periodical,  not  a  newspaper,  published  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  the 
Ompii  Ameriruii  and  EvftmjfUcal  Unionist,  edited  l>y  J.  S.  OriHin.  It  was  a 
sectiirian  and  rabidly  anti-Catholic  journal.  The  press  and  type  are  preserved 
in  tlio  state-houso  at  Salem.  Thornton  s  Or.  JfiKf.,  MS.,  'Jo-6;  S'nocomb's 
('lldaimUa  of  Misx.,  02.S.  M.  (J.  Foisy  was  the  tirst  printer  in  Oregon  after 
the  missionaries.  Rorkij  Moiintnin  (•ir.rtir:  T/wrnlou'n  Or,  Jiclicn,  MS.,  4, 


WAIILATPU   BUILDINCJS. 


:W7 


N( 


fire- 


jtlaces,  and  Indian  ret'(!j)tion-rooni,  weavins^  and  spin- 
ning room,  eating  and  sleeping  rooms  for  the  children, 
rooms  for  the  family,  and  a  school-liouse,  all  under 
one  roof.  There  were,  besides,  a  church,  saw-mill, 
blacksmith-shop,  granary,  storehouse,  and  all  necessary 
farm  buildings.  The  mission  farm,  besides  simply 
supporting  the  family,  as  was  at  tirst  anticipated,  be- 
came a  source  of  supply  to  travellers  the  natives,  and 
the  other  missions. ^^ 

The  mission  at  Waiilatpu  consisted  of  an  adobe  a 
story  and  a  half  high,  sixty  feet  in  length  by  eighteen 
in  width,  with  library  and  bedroom  at  one  end,  din- 
ing and  sitting  room  in  the  centre,  and  Indian  room 
at  the  other  end  of  the  main  building;  the  kitchen, 
school-room,  and  bedrooms  being  in  a  wing  at  right 
angles  to  it.  A  second  house,  called  the  mansion, 
stood  at  a  little  distance  from  the  first,  and  was  forty 
by  thirty  feet  on  the  ground,  and  a  story  and  a  half 
high.  Near  these  was  a  blacksmith-shop,  and  within 
four  hundred  feet  of  the  dwelling  was  a  small  grist-mill. 
On  one  side  of  this  gnmp  of  buildings  were  the  Walla 

'^  Spaliliiig  hail  discovered  as  early  as  1838  tlie  fertility  of  the  soil  iu  tlu- 
country  eiist  of  the  Cascades,  and  as  early  as  1845  that  the  plaiim  were  even 
more  valuable  for  farnii'ig  tiiaii  the  valleys.  In  a  letter  ^  repared  by  him  in 
184(5  for  the  use  and  by  the  request  ot  Joel  Palmer,  then  on  his  way  to  the 
States,  after  giving  tlie  above  opinion,  he  gf)es  on  to  say:  '  My  plaee  is  one  of 
the  deepest  valleys,  and  consequently  tlie  most  exposed  to  relleetion  from  the 
high  bluffs  around,  wliich  rise  from  2,()()0  to  ;{,(K)0  feet;  but  my  farm,  though 
prepared  for  irrigation,  haa  remained  without  it  for  tlie  last  4  years,  I  find 
the  ground  becomes  more  moist  by  cuHivatiop.  Three  years  ago  I  raised  (KX) 
liushels  of  shelled  corn  from  G  acres,  and  good  crops  of  wheat  on  the  same 
piece  the  2  following  years,  without  irrigation.  Eight  years  ago  I  raisisd 
l,r)()0  bushels  of  potatoes  from  one  acre  and  a  half ;  mea -uring  some  oj  the 
bags  in  which  tliey  were  brought  to  the  cellars,  and  so  judging  of  the  whole 
amount.  I  gave  every  eleventh  bag  for  digging  ami  fetching,  and  kept  a 
strict  account  of  what  every  person  brought,  so  that  I  was  able  to  make  a 
pretty  accurate  estimate  of  the  wliole  amount.  My  pofcitoes  and  corn  are 
always  planted  in  drills.  Every  kind  of  grain  or  vegetal>le  which  I  have 
tried  in  this  upper  country  grows  well.  Wheat  is  sown  in  the  fall,  and 
harvested  in  June  at  tliis  place;  at  I>r  Wliitman's  in  July,  being  in  a  more 
open  country.  Corn  is  planleil  in  Aiiril  and  rii)ens  in  July;  pe;iso  the  same. 
/'iitiiicr'n  JoitriKil,  I()7.  In  184'2,  140  Nez  Perces  cultivated  tlie  ground,  in 
quantities  of  from  :{  of  an  acre  to  5  acres  each.  One  chief  raised  that  year 
l(K)  bushels  of  corn,  17tJ  bushels  of  peaae,  and  between  300  and  400  bushels 
of  potiitoes.  Another  chief  raised  about  the  same  amount;  and  about  4U  In- 
dian farmers  raised  from  '20  to  100  bushels  of  grain  of  different  kimls,  liesides 
potatoes,  vegetables,  and  mclouit  in  abundance.  Bo-iloii  Miss.  JJenilU,  Oct 
1843,  383. 

ll;sT.  Oil.,  \'oi..  1.    22 


v.) 
'A 


-r-il 


$38 


THE  CATHOLK:   missions— the  PKESBYTEItlANS. 


Walla  River  and  mill-pond;  on  t!ic  opposite  side 
a  ditch  for  discliarj^ing  waste  water  from  the  mill, 
and  for  irrigating  purposes.  Willow,  birch,  and  alder 
fringed  the  stream.  A  meadow  lay  in  front  stretch- 
ing toward  the  west;  apple-trees  were  growing  in  sight 
of  the  house,  and  l^owers  in  the  small  enclosure  in 
front.^  A  general  air  of  thrift  and  comfort  prevailed.'' 
In  1839  the  stock  at  Waiilatpu  consisted  of  a  yoke  of 
oxen,  two  cows,  an  An)erican  bull,  and  a  few  hogs. 
In  1841,  according  to  Wilkes,  a  considerable  herd  had 
come  by  descent.  Sheep  had  been  obtained  from  the 
Hawaiian  Islands,  and  hogs  had  greatly  nmltipliod. 
There  was  a  saw-mill  belonging  to  the  mission  twenty 
miles  up  Mill  Creek,  having  a  capacity  of  about  three; 
thousand  feet  a  day,  together  with  a  house  for  the 
mill  men. 

It  was  first  thought  that  the  soil  of  the  Walla  Walla 
Valley  was  not  fertile,  but  Wilkes  found  wheat  stand- 
ing seven,  and  corn  nine,  feet  high  in  the  mission  fields 
at  Waiilatpu,  while  the  garden  was  filled  with  fine 
vegetables  and  melons.  There  was  less  cultivation  by 
the  Cayuses  than  by  the  Nez  Perces,  j^^et  they  brought 
into  use  many  small  ])atches  of  ground,  some  of  them 
at  Waiilatpu,  but  more  on  the  Umatilla  River,  where 
at  a  distance  of  twenty  to  forty  miles  lived  some  of 
the  most  influential  chiefs.  Less  grain  was  raised  at 
Waiilatpu  than  at  Lapwai,  partly  because  of  the  man- 
ifold cares  of  the  superintendent,  and  partly  because, 
owing  to  the  hauglity  and  intractable  disposition  oi 
the  Cayuses,  fewer  of  them  could  be  employed  as  farm 
laborers.''"'     Whitman's  manner  of  teaching  was  similar 


%  1 


3*  Victors  All  Over  Or.  and  W<i.i/,.,  109. 

*'  Whites  Ten  Yforn  in  Or.,  100.  Farnhram  gives  a  lengthy  accoi  utof  this 
mission.  Among  other  tilings  he  says:  '  When  the  smoking  vegetfc hies,  thf 
hissini;  steak,  bread  as  white  as  snow,  and  the  newly  churned  golde  i  Inittei' 
graced  the  breakfast-tahle,  and  the  happy  countenances  of  couutryuien  and 
countrywomen' shone  around,  I  could  with  difficulty  believe  myst'f  in  a 
country  so  far  from  and  so  unlike  my  native  land  in  all  its  features.  But 
during  breakfast  the  pleasant  illusion  was  di8pello<l  by  one  of  the  causes  whicii 
induced  it.     Our  steak  was  horse-ffesh  ! '  TrnrcU,  149. 

"*  Wilkea  relates  how  the  Cayuses,  when  AA^hitman  refused  to  allow  theiii 
to  US';  water  from  his  irrigating  <litches,  stopped  them  up.     This  nearly  oe- 


CHEMAKANE  MISSION'. 


339 


to  tlio  method  einployod  at  Lupwai.  On  Saturday 
evenings  lie  usually  invited  one  of  the  most  intelligent 
natives  to  his  study,  and  translated  to  him  the  text 
to  be  used  on  the  morrow,  I'xplaining  earefully  its 
meaning  until  the  pupil  could  exjjlain  it  in  his  turn, 
and  assist  in  interpreting  and  teaching  on  Sunday.^' 
Mrs  Whitman  taught  reading  and  singing  in  the  day 
school  through  the  week,  and  relieved  her  hushand  of 
the  elementary  part  of  the  lahor. 

At  the  Spokane  mission  of  the  Chemakane  there  was 
not  the  same  improvement  nor  the  same  trouble  ex- 
perienced as  at  Lapwai  and  Waiilatpu.  The  Spokanes 
were  said  by  Walker  and  Eells  to  be  addicted  to  tlu' 
usual  India!i  vices,  and  especially  to  lying,  which  they 
seemed  to  enjoy  as  a  means  of  creating  excitement, 
but  were  more  ])eaceably  disposed  than  the  Xez  Perces 
or  Cayuses.  In  the  winter  of  1839-40,  when  the 
mission  house  was  destroyed  by  fire,  they  rendered 
willing  service,  and  even  refrained  from  taking  the 
goods  of  the  missionaries.  By  their  hel}),  and  that 
of  the  inmates  of  Fort  Colville,  who  came  and  en- 
camped upon  the  ground  in  several  inches  of  snow  to 
give  their  j>rotection  and  assistance  in  rebuilding,  the 
mission  was  soon  restored,  although  many  things  of 
value  in  this  remote  region  were  destroyed. 

Agriculture  at  Chemakane  did  not  succeed  as  at 
Lapwai  or  Waiilatpu,  on  account  of  frosts,  and  it  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  attempted  to  any  great 
extent. ''^^  Among  the  Spokanes  was  a  chief  named 
(xarry,  corresponding  in  character  and  mfiuence  to  • 
Lawyer  among  the  Nez  Perces.  He  had  been  taki'ii 
to  the  Red  Kiver  settlement,  where  he  was  taught 


t    , 
•  ,1 


ill 


of  this 
les,  the 

Imtter 

en  anil 
in  ;i 
But 

whicli 


;f 


oasiouetl  a  serious  difficulty,  which  was  averted,  however,  when  tliey 
hecame  couviiiced  there  was  water  enough  for  all  if  they  would  dig  treiiehes 
for  themselves.  A'fu-.,  iv.  423. 

'^''  Ildstimjs  Or.  and  Cal.,  54;  Jn/iiinoii'n  <^iil.  ami  Or.,  -71. 

^*De  8met  says:  'It  appears  they  are  fearful  that,  sliould  they  cultivate 
more,  they  might  have  too  frequent  visits  from  the  savages.  They  even  try 
to  prevent  their  encampment  in  their  immediate  neighborliood,  and  therefore 
they  see  and  converse  but  seldom  with  the  heathen  they  liave  come  so  far  to 
.seek.'  Lctlcr-i  and  Skvtc/i(.'f,  212. 


t-  i 


% : 


:mu 


THK  (  ATIIOLU'    MIS.SIOXS     TIIK   I'KK.SHV  I'KlllANS. 


reading  and  writin<j;,  and  obtained  s()in(>  l<iH)\vl(!dgo  of 
( liristi.anity.  So  far  as  (Jariy's  iiiHuonr*'  was  felt  anion^ 
this  j)eo|)le,  it  wim  on  tlie  sido  of  progress. 

Sucli  was  tlie  general  condition  of  affairs  at  the 
f*rc!Hhyterian  missions  in  the  autunni  of  1 842.  The 
nneasiness  wliieli  M'as  felt  from  the  first  a|tj)earan('e 
(►f  the  (^itholies  in  their  mughhorhood  was  intensified 
l)y  the  estahlishment  of  ])e  Smet's  missions  among  the 
Klatheads,  and  his  visits  to  Colville  and  Vancouver, 
followed  1)V  the  arrival  of  two  secular  priests  in  the 
Willamette  Valley,  and  the  mission  of  De  Smet  to 
Europe,  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  l)ringing  men 
and  means  to  overthrow  Protestantism  among  the 
natives.  While  representing  his  situation  frankly  to 
the  board,  Whitman  had  never  asked  to  be  released 
from  it,  but  on  the  contrary,  to  have  his  hands  strength- 
ened by  a  rcenforeement.  He  saw  the  great  number 
of  missionaries  which  the  Methodist  church  was  able 
to  throw  into  the  field  in  western  Oregon,  and  the 
readiness  of  the  Catholics  to  furnish  aid  where  it  was 
required,  and  was  reluctant  to  yield.  Of  all  the  inde- 
pendent missionaries  who,  it  would  seem,  should  have 
been  willing  to  aid  him,  none  remained  over  a  few 
months  at  the  station,  being  cither  alarmed  by  the 
attitude  of  the  natives,  or  allured  by  flattering  re- 
ports of  the  Willamette  Valley  for  settlement.  Even 
those  who  were  desi<rned  to  assist  him  fled  from  the 
post,  Smith,  Rogers,  and  (Iray  having  deserted  m 
1841  and  1842,  and  none  having  come  to  fill  their 
places. 

To  the  doctor's  appeals  for  helj)  from  the  board  no 
encouraging  response  was  given  after  I  840.  It  appears 
that  the  board  thouuht  the  mission  should  be  self- 
su])porting;  but  to  this  intimation  W^hitnuui  replied, 
that  it  was  visionary  to  expect  a  mission  so  isolated, 
which  could  exchange  no  products  to  obtain  foreign  sup- 
])lies,  to  support  itself  Besides,  ho  asked,  who  was  to 
jterform  the  labors  of  the  missionaries  if  the  latter  wtrc 


MIST    \iK   .SELr-SUSTAlNlNli. 


341 


iiflo- 
lavc 

f'oNV' 

the 
ro- 

iVeti 

thv 

ill 

:,lu'ir 


t(»  turn  fanners  and  traders?"^''  In  tliis  respect  tlie 
Presbyterian  niissionarieH  differed  from  tlic  Metho- 
dists, and  were  not  prepared  to  a('eei)t  the  views  of 
their  own  board  of  eonnnissioners.*" 

[n  the  midst  of  these  perplexities  there  came  upon 
them  two  unexpected  events.  In  the  first  phiee,  the 
board  ordered  the  discontinuance  of  Lapwai  and 
Waiilatpu  stations,  tlie  missionary  efforts  to  be  con- 
fined to  tlie  Chemakane  mission,  and  Spalding  to  return 
to  the  States.*^  The  order  was  received  iate  in  Sep- 
tember 1842,  and  a  meetinjL^  was  immediately  called 
to  consider  it.  Whitman  and  Spalding  were  much 
opposed  to  abandoning  their  stations,  while  Walker 
and  Eelis  were  in  favor  of  carrying  out  instructions. 
Whitman  urged  the  strong  probability,  that  as  soon 
as  Lapwai  and  Waiilatpu  sliould  be  left,  the  Catholics 
would  come  in  and  jiossess  the  fruits  of  their  labors, 
both  tenn)oral  and  s])iritual.*"  On  the  other  hand, 
there  was  the  possibility  that  the  C^atholic  influence 
might  overcome  them  though  they  remained,  and 
drive  them  from  the  field  nolens  volens.  Then  there 
was  the  objection  of  the  board  to  sustaining  two 
stations  which  were  never  to  become  self-supporting. 
How  was  it  to  be  overcome  ? 

The  scX-'ond  event  to  which  I  alluded  furnished  Whit- 
man \\ith  a  reply  to  the  arguments  of  his  brethren. 
This  was  the  arrival,  overland,  of  an  immigration  of 
over  a  hundred  persons,  men,  women,  and  children, 
invited  to  make  homes  in  Oregon  by  the  government 
of  the  United  States,  and  expecting  to  receive  as  a 
reward  for  their  patriotism  a  liberal  grant  of  land  in 
the  fertile  Valley  Willamette.  "If  these  hundred 
have  come  this  year,"  said  Whitman,  "more  will  come 
the  next.  These  have  left  their  wagons  at  Fort  Hall, 
but  very  soon  others  will  discover  that  tliey  can  bring 

■^^Bwtoii  MiM.  Herald,  Aug.  1840,  329. 

*"  Applerfate'ti  Vieir.so/  JJLitori/,  MS.,  32-4;  White's  Ten  Ycargiii  Or.,  175-0; 
i'almer'/i  Journal,  57. 

•'  Boston  MU^.  Herald,  Jan.  184.3,  14. 

«  Letter  of  l>r  Whitman,  in  Boston  M'ms.  Herald,  Dec.  18G6,  374 


342 


THK  lArilOLK-   MISSIONS    IMi:   I'llKSUVTKUIAXS. 


tliciii  tlirou^li  to  tin;  Columbia.  Tlic  inonu'iit  that  is 
acc<nii|)lislu'(l,  then'  will  hr  a  liii'nc  iiniiiii^n-atioii  yearly  ; 
Lapwai  and  \\'aiil;it|>u  will  in'Cdiin'  su|»i)ly  stations  to 
thousands  of  travellers,  and  the  objections  of  the 
connnittee  will  be  removed.  Hel[)  eau  be  obtained 
from  the  inmiiu^rants;  a  settlement  <'an  Ikj  formecl, 
and  a  stronj^  Protestant  influence  brou^j^ht  to  counter- 
act the  efforts  of  the  Catholics.  Heri^  a^ain  was 
earthly  empire  risini^  up  to  overshadow  the  spiritual. 
S(>  sure  did  Whitman  feel  of  the  truth  of  his  propliecy, 
that  he  projjosed  t(»  start  at  once  for  Boston  to  pro- 
cure a  reversal  of  tlu*  unwelconut  ordt'r  recallinj^ 
S})aldin(;  and  closinjr  the  two  most  inijiortiint  stations, 
and  to  })rocure  further  assistance  for  the  missions. 
In  vain  did  his  colleai^ues  oppose  the  scheme.  With 
the  determination  characteristic  of  tlu>  man,  he  set 
about  mMkiiiu'  his  arranLTcments  for  the  iournev. 

As  in  all  cases  of  exiwncv,  Wliitmau  now  souiifht 
counsel  of  his  friends  of  the  fort.^''  McKinlay  said 
that  although  the  proposed  ex})edition  in  the  winter 
was  likely  to  be  attended  with  some  hardships  it  was 
not  impossible,  if  the  southern  route  by  Santa  Fe 
were  taken.  Xothing  nnained  but  to  liastily  conclude 
arrangements  foi-  the  care  of  the  station  durinjjf  his 
absence,  which  lie  did  by  writing  to  Geigei' and  Mr 
and  Mrs  Littlejohn  to  spend  the  year  of  his  absence 
with  Mrs  Whitman,''^  and  by  charging  McKinlay  also 
with  her  welfaiv.'*' 

On    the    ;')d    of   October   Wliitman  left  his  home, 

"6'.  S.  E,\,  If.  B.  Co.  Claims,  173-r>. 

**  Lre  (till/.  /•'/•(W'.i  Or.,  2I.%  i.'.")?. 

*^Tliurc  was  a  warm  frieinlaliip  lietweeu  Whitman  and  McKinlay.  I  have 
also  a  letter  written  liy  D.  (Jrecne,  secretary  of  the  American  Board  of  Com- 
uuHsioners  for  Foreign  Missions,  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  a  letter  from 
McKiiday,  dated  Deceml)er  27,  184'i,  whicli  seems  to  have  been  written  witli 
a  view  of  furthering  the  object  of  Wliitman"s  visit,  as  it  was  in  praise  of 
Spalding's  success  as  a  missionary,  and  hoping  lie  would  not  he  recalled. 
The  same  refers  to  an  onler  of  ^IcKinlay  for  hooks  which  Whitman  left 
with  Oreeno  to  be  filled;  all  showing  tlieir  kindly  relations.  See  also  noto 
on  page  2*21  of  (tray's  JfisL  Or.  But  most  of  all  I  have  seen  the  eyes  of  tho 
old  fur-trader  fill  with  tears  when  speaking  of  the  noble  Presbyterian.  In  a 
letter  written  recently  l)y  McKinlay,  he  expresses  the  highest  regard  for 
Whitman,  which  opinion  is  also  ei^ually  emphasized  in  Tolmtc'a  Ptujcl  Sound, 
MS.,  24. 


WHITMAN  AT  THE  EAlST 


848 


accompanied  only  by  a  guido  and  A.  L.  Lovejo}'  of 
the  recont  innnij^ration,  nvIk*,  lK'in<if  dotainod  two  »»r 
tlirco  wook.s  bohind  his  coniiumy,  was  induced  l)y  tlic 
doctor's  specious  arguments  to  return  to  the  States/" 
From  Fort  Hall  tliey  took  tlie  route  by  the  way  of 
Uintah,  Taos,  and  Sanfa  Fe,  changing  guides  at  each 
of  these  points,  and  ex[)eriencing  sometimes  i)itter 
cold,  and  sometimes  [)incirmg  hunger.  They  arrivetl 
at  Bent  Fort  on  the  Arkansas  in  time  to  join  a  com- 
[)any  going  from  Santa  Fe  to  the  !>o»'ler,  when  J^ove- 
joy  determined  to  remain  at  the  foi  .  ill  spring,  and 
Whitman  proceeded  without  him  to  his, destination, 
whicli  he  reached  in  March  184;} 

The  reception  given  to  th(>  (lov.o«»r  by  the  ^  ussionary 
'  '  ard  was  not  cordial  or  e^■en  kin(' .  ic  was  fri>;id. 
They  disj^pproved  of  his  leaving  L;s  station,  of  tin- 
unnecessary  expense  of  the  journey,  and  of  its  object, 
especially  as  it  asked  for  more  money  anrl  mission- 
aries. Whitman  repeated  tli;;  ar'^uuK^nts  advanced  t^' 
his  colleagues  in  the  wilderness.^'  Tiie  l)oard  was 
•  •old;  the  savages  of  the  inhospitable  north-west  were 
not  just  then  in  favor  with  the  Sunday-schools.  Nev- 
ertheless, these  wise  men  of  the  east  did  finally  c(tu- 
sent  to  permit  the  doctor  to  continue  the  mission 
work  there  begun  should  he  wish  to  do  so  without 
further  help  from  them.*^  Further  than  this,  the 
hoard   refused  to  pay  the  expenses  of  his  journey,*" 

*'^ Lorrjoi/'n  Portland,  MS.,  20. 

*'  This  is  the  stiiteineut  iikkIc  of  Whitman's  object  and  arguments,  by  the 
lirudeiitial  coniniittee  to  whom  they  were  a(hlresse<l.  See  lioston  Mis-iionan/ 
llinibl,  September  184.%  3o().  Daniel  Lee  also  says:  'Whitman  viaiteil  tin- 
I'liited  States  to  ol)taiu  further  assistance,  in  order  to  strengtlien  the  efforts 
that  had  already  l)een  made.'  Zi'e  itnd  Frast's  Or.,  2K<.  But  (Jray  wickedly 
asserts  that  Whitman  went  to  Wiushingtoa  with  a  pulitical  purpose,  insteail 
of  going  on  the  business  of  the  mission. 

^''The  Mitminnari/  Jferald  of  Sept.  1843,  after  mentioning  the  iloctor's  de- 
sire to  have  '  C'iiristian  families  to  emigrate  and  settle  in  tlie  vicinity  of  the 
(htfereut  etations,'  goes  on  to  say:  'How  far  his  wishes  in  these  particulars 
will  ho  responded  to  is  at  present  onceibiin' — showing  that  tlie  matter  was 
left  to  him  to  arrange.  A  man  wlu..,.'  ac(|uaiutancc  he  formed  on  the  retu/n 
journey  says  :  '  He  often  talked  witli  nie  about  hia  want  of  success  with  the 
lioard,  and  expressed  his  fears  of  the  consequeuc'S. "  Atnjktjiite's  V tews  of  11  ml., 
MS.,  35. 

"I  gather  this  from  the  statements  of  acme  of  the  immigrants  of  1843, 
with  whom  he  travelled.     He  certainly  knew  the  requirements  ot  a  journey 

« 


'    ''^  nil 


T 


'Mi 


T':E  CATHOLIC   MISSIONS— THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


and  he  was  left  to  get  back  to  Oregon  as  best  lie 
could.  First  repairing  to  his  former  home  iu  central 
New  York,  he  settled  up  some  private  business  affairs, 
and  taking  with  him  a  young  nephew,  hastened  to 
the  frontier,  where  was  being  collected  for  a  final 
start  the  emigration  of  1843,  of  which  he  probably 
heard  as  he  journeyed  east  two  months  before.  He 
arrived  rt  the  rendezvous  of  the  emigrants  just  as 
they  were  about  to  organize  on  the  18th  of  May,  and 
was  invited  to  attend  their  meeting  and  make  sug- 
gestions.^ After  this  he  visited  some  relatives  near 
Westport,  and  the  Shawnee  mission,  and  overtook  the 
emigration  on  the  Platte  River,  travelling  with  them 
and  rendering  professional  and  other  services,  as  re- 
quired, on  the  way."'* 

Whitman  reached  liorae  after  a  vear  of  incessant 
and  arduous  exertion,  to  find  that  his  absence,  and 
the  information  the  savages  had  of  his  intention  to 
bring  other  white  men  to  settle  among  them,''"  had 
occasioned  trouble  at  his  station.  Hardly  had  he 
turned  his  back  upon  Waiilatpu  before  Mrs  Whitman 

across  the  plains;  yet  lie  was  not  properly  provisioned,  and  ceemed  to  have 
undertaken  to  get  along  by  shooting  game,  which  proved  to  be  scarce. 
Daniel  Waldo  says  that  he  had  nothing  but  a  boiled  ham  to  start  with,  and 
that  he  fed  him  while  they  were  in  Kansas,  and  after  they  crossed  Snake 
River.  Gritiqtieii,  MS.,  17.  .J.  B.  McClane  refers  to  his  want  of  supplies 
after  leaving  Fort  Hall,  and  his  picking  up  a  dropped  calf,  and  putting  in  his 
(McClane's)  wagon  with  tlie  intention  of  eating  it.  McClane,  however, 
threw  it  out,  for  which  he  was  severely  reproveil  by  the  doctor.  First  Wwjon 
Triiin,  MS.,  4,  5. 

'*  lh(i-iivH'.i  Ifecollertioiix  of  <i  Plotwer,  101.  'Ihe  MMonnnj  Herald,  last 
(juoted,  says  that  Whitman  set  out  on  his  return  'about  the  1st  of  June  ;'  b'.it 
a.s  Burnett  kept  a  journal,  it  is  probable  that  he  is  correct  as  to  date,  'ihe 
Herald  may  have  made  its  statement  from  reference  to  a  letter  received  from 
the  doctor  just  before  he  quitted  the  Pawnee  mission. 

'''Marginal  notes  to  (h-iiifn  Hint.  Or.,  ;J8'J-!K) ;  Ford'n  Rmid-maJcerx,  MS., 
7;  Waldos  Crkit/iws,  MS.,  ]';  Boston  Miss.  Herald,  May  1844,  177;  Nesmitii, 
in  Or.  Pioncvr  Assoc.,  Trans.,  187."),  47. 

''^VVlien  excited  liy  the  misconduct  of  the  Cayuse  chiefs,  AVhitnian  had  so 
far  lost  his  self-centrol  as  to  threaten  them  with  white  settlers.  Toupin  says 
he  told  them  ho  would  bring  '  many  jieoplo  to  cluistise  them.'  White  says, 
that,  tliough  a  most  estimable  man,  Wliitniai\  was  'the  most  unfit  person  in 
the  world  to  manage  Indian  affairs; '  l)ecause  instead  of  treating  them  as  chil- 
dren, he  would  become  heated  in  an  argument  with  them,  as  with  his  equals. 
Early  (/oi<ernnient  of  Orci/on,  MS.,  1'2.  This  is  confirmed  by  what  is  known 
of  Whitman's  dealings  with  the  Cayiises,  both  before  and  subsequent  to  his 
visit  to  the  States.  Yet  again  he  wa.s  a  miracle  of  coolness  and  patience, 
which  was  his  normal  state,  so  contrndictorv  is  human  nature. 


THE   CAYUSliS   THKKATEN. 


•,u:> 


last 
hut 
'J  he 
I  from 


was  grossly  insulted,  and  compelled  to  take  refuge  for 
the  winter  at  the  Dalles,  A  few  days  later  the  mis- 
sion mill,  with  the  grain  stored  in  it,  was  destroyed, 
and  a  general  warlike  attitude  assumed  by  the  Cay- 
uses,'*^  which  was  only  overcome  by  the  united  efforts 
of  an  autliorized  agent  of  the  United  States  govern- 
ment and  the  British  fur  company,  as  before  narrated. 
( )wing  to  this  intervention,  order  had  been  restored, 
and  the  savages  were  once  more  apparently  friendly, 
receiving  him  with  demonstrations  of  pleasure. 

Yet  there  were  present  many  disappointments. 
When  he  left  the  east,  where,  contrary  to  his  expecta- 
tions, not  a  single  family  had  been  oljtained  for  settle- 
ment near  tlie  missions,  he  indulged  the  hope  that 
some  of' the  inuiiigrants  might  yet  be  induced  to  take 
locations  in  his  neighborhood ;  but  we  find  him  writing, 
shortly  after  his  return,  that  all  the  help  received  by 
the  mission  was  one  man,  hired  by  Mr  Spalding,  a 
Scotch  school-teacher,  and  one  family  selected  from 
the  emigrants,  all  of  whom  he  had  sent  to  Spalding's 
assistance  at  Lapwai,  none  being  found  to  go  to  the 
lielj)  of  Walker  and  Eells.  He  also  added  a  hope  that 
the  board  would  send  one  minister,  fitted  to  preach  to 
western  men,  to  meet  the  Catliolics,  and  to  instruct 
the  natives.  "It  's  asking  but  little,"  he  wrote,  "to 
request  two  ministers  for  this  [the  Indian]  language ; 
as  in  tlie  case  of  the  death  of  Mr  Spalding  or  myself, 
the  knowledge  of  the  language  would  be  limited  to  so 
few  that  little  could  be  done."  He  also  referred  to 
his  protect  of  encouraging  teacliers  to  come  out  as 

■"■'Itwas  about  this  thne  that  McKiiihij'  liail  hi.s  famous  ailventure  M'ith 
I't'upeumoxniox  of  the  WaUa  Walla  hraiich  of  tlie  Cayuscs,  whr),  on  account 
of  his  sou  being  seized  by  a  clerk  at  tiie  foit  for  a  slight  theft,  vas  about  to 
ilo  violeii  ;o  to  the  chief  trader,  wlien  MeKinlay  placed  a  keg  of  jiowdor  in 
the  midst  of  the  ajjartment,  ami  stooil  over  it  ready  to  touch  it  off  at  the  first 
hostile  movement.  Not  wishing  to  be  blown  uj>,  l'caiiit'\inio\niox  became 
cooler,  an  I  was  induced  to  listen  to  reason.  White  says,  in  one  of  his  re- 
Jiorts,  that  the  insolence  of  the  Cayuses  had  been  growing  ever  since  tiie  \  isit 
of  Bomievdle,  wlm  paid  them  more  for  furs  tlian  the  Hudson's  /Jay  Comnany. 
This  caused  them  to  make  similar  demands  on  I'ambruu,  and  tliese  not  being 
complied  with,  they  seized  him,  stamped  violently  on  iiis  breast,  i)eat  him, 
and  retained  him  prisoner,  until  they  gained  to  some  extent  their  ol)jeet.  T)-ii 
)'«)/-.s  in  Or.,  175. 


I  1-' 


ll  1; 


346 


THE  CATHOLIC  MISSIONS— THE  PRESBYTERIANS. 


emigrants,  and  labor  for  a  time  at  the  mission,  and 
to  the  need  of  good  men  being  settled,  three  or  four 
in  r  place,  to  form  a  nucleus  for  religious  institutions, 
and  to  hold  Romanism  in  check/'*  Tlie  country  must 
be  occupied,  he  said,  by  Americans  or  foreigners;  and 
if  l)y  the  latter,  they  would  be  chiefly  Catholics. 

This  alarm  regarding  the  Catholics,  who  at  the 
period  when  these  apprehensions  were  felt  had  no 
station  nearer  than  the  Bitter  Root  and  Willamette 
valleys,  would  appear  disproportioned  to  the  occasion, 
were  it  not  that  in  a  subsequent  letter  it  is  said  there 
was  an  evident  desire  on  the  part  of  the  natives  to  make 
use  of  the  differences  between  the  Protestants  and 
Catholics  for  their  own  purposes,  a  danger  which  only 
those  who  understood  Indian  cliaracter  could  properly 
estimate.  From  the  time  of  Whitman's  return  to 
Waiilatpu,  it  could  not  be  said  that  there  was  any 
ini})rovement  in  the  moral  cliaracter  of  the  savages, 
tliougli  their  temporal  condition  continued  to  men*! 
cliiefly  through  tlie  increase  in  the  number  of  those 
who  cultivated  the  ground  and  raised  cattle.  As 
early  as  1842  the  Xez  Perces  owned  thirty-two  h.ead 
of  neat  cattle,  ten  sheep,  and  forty  hogs.  The  Cay- 
uses  owned  about  seventy  head,  chiefly  cows,  which 
they  obtained  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  the 
mission  of  the  American  board,  tlie  Methodist  mis- 
sion, or  the  W^illamette  settlers,  in  exchange  for  horses. 
They  had  also  a  few  sheep,  earned  by  herding  the  flock 
belonging  to  the  mission.  The  possession  of  cattle 
by  their  teachers  had  been  a  constant  occasion  of 
envy  and  of  reproach  by  the  natives,  who  demanded, 
in  effect,  that  the  missionaries  should  share  their  herds 
with  them,  instead  of  which  they  were  shown  how  to 
p"ocure  them  for  themselves. 

The  advent  of  the  immigriuits  produced  a  change 
for  the  Avorse  in  the  savawsfor  two  reasons.  It  yave 
them  plausible  ground  for  declaring  that  the  mission- 
aries were    leagued   with   other  Americans   to  tak(! 

■>*  Jloston  Mis^f.  ll,r<il,l,  May  1844,  177, 


WHITMANS   DILEMMA. 


.347 


j)()ssossi()ii  of  tlie  lauds  which  thoy  claimed  to  l)o 
theirs;  and  it  made  them  independent  of  the  mission- 
aries by  furnishing  them  a  market  for  the  vegetables 
they  raised,  while  it  gave  them  an  oppoi'tunitv  to 
obtain  stock,  which  tliey  were  eager  to  do,  cheerfully 
iiivinji:  a  good  horse  for  a  iioor  cow.  Eacli  vear  there- 
after  their  riches  increased  in  the  same  manner,  and 
each  year  tlu^y  grew  more  intractable,  proud,  and 
insolent.  They  complained  that  Whitman  occupied 
lands  belonging  to  them  on  which  he  raised  whefit  to 
sell  to  the  immigrants;  that  he  had  a  mill  on  their 
lands,  yet  charged  them  for  griniling  their  grain ;  and 
often,  when  in  bad  humor,  ordered  him  to  leave  the 
country.  That  they  a[)preciatcd  the  benefits  received 
through  th(!  missionaries  seemed  evident,  but  they 
appeared  inca])al)le  of  gi'atitude,  and  used  the  intelli- 
gence with  which  they  had  been  furnished  to  make 
more  conspicuous  their  inditi'erence  or  their  liostility. 

Thus  matters  went  from  bad  to  worse  at  the  Pres- 
byterian mission,  until  Dr  Whitman  himself  became^ 
convinced  that  there  was  nothing  to  be  i>ained  bv 
remainijig.  Xo  .settltMnents  had  been  foi-nied  in  his 
neighborhood,  tlujugh  many  immigrants  had  passed. 
[f  he  was  able  to  induce  a  few  persons  to  winter  at 
Ills  station,  they  invariably  left  in  the  spring  for  the 
\Villamette  Valley.  LittU;  by  little  the  savages  de- 
parted, and  now  tliat  he  was  ivady  to  go,  the  ditiiculty 
was  for  time  to  withdraw,  the  chiefs  being  divided, 
and  sonu!  desiring  him  to  i-emain  on  purely  sectarian 
grounds,  that  they  might,  as  Pi-otestants,  triumph 
o\er  the  Catholics  of  the"  tribe.  As  this  was  the  very 
ground  on  which  he  had  proposed  to  the  board  to 
remain,  he  had  no  valid  reason  to  give  for  abandoning 
the  field.  Had  all  the  chiefs  desired  his  departure, 
his  way  would  have  been  plait)," 

Fn  this  '.lelay  he  was  ])robably  (Micouraged  by  the 
temporizing  policy  of  the  lTnn.ed  States  ui  the  matter 
of  tlu^   boundary  of  Oregon,  and    afterward    in  the 

■■'' Statc'iiK'nt  "if  'I'lDiuas  McKay,  in  /IroiiiUfl'n  Authi'iilk  Airoiint,  '28, 


I 


348 


THE  CA'I'HOLIL'  MlSSIONS-THE  ritESBYTKUIANS 


neglect  to  establish  a  territorial  govern iiieiit,  and  to 
extinguisli  the  Indian  titles.  At  last,  in  the  autumn 
of  1  847,  acting  upon  the  conviction  that  the  Waiilatpu 
station  would  have  to  he  abandoned,  he  purchased 
the  Methodist  station  at  the  Dalles,  intending  to 
remove  thence  the  following  spring;  and  at  the  very 
moment  that  he  decided  u})on  this  course,  and 
had  already  connnenced  ])reparations  by  sending  his 
nephew  to  occupy  the  Dallas  during  the  winter, 
Archbishop  Blanchet,  the  bishop  of  Walla  Walla, 
and  associate  clergy  of  the  Catholic  churcii,  arrived 
among  the  Cayuses,  prejmred  to  take  the  Presby- 
terians' ])lace. 


li'I'i 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

0EiE(iO\    BKFORE  CON<i]<ESS. 

KS'20-184«. 

Oke<;on'h  PL\kly  Champiox — Ikkkvrkssihlk  Destiny — Crude  Idkas  ok 
THE  Country— Expediency  ok  Oi<'ri'YiN<i  the  ('ommiua — Toktiois 
CouKSE  OK  Floyd's  Bill — The  Hissian  Ukase — Baylies,  TrcKEn, 
CoLDE.'s,  Mallaky,  Wood,  AValker,  Bkec'Kenkid<;e,  Buchanan,  Dk^k- 
ERSON,  Benton,  and  Others  Express  their  Views— End  ok  the  Firsi' 
Epoch  ok  Leuislation-  Ijnn,  Clay,  Calholn,  Pierce,  Cushinc,  and 

l'ENl>LETON,  OK  THE  8e<_oND  PhWH — LiNn's  BiLL — POPULAR  FEEL- 
ING— Petitions  for  the  Occupation  ok  Oreoon — The  Question  ok 
Slavery. 

I  HAVE  shown  how,  step  by  stop,  without  tlio  aid 
of  congress,  a  hundred  Auicricans  cstahhshed  a  gov- 
ernment in  Oregon,  and  wliile  professing  ahegianee  to 
the  United  States,  were  in  fact  iiidei)endeiit.  But 
eouoress  was  not  indifferent  to  the  movement;  and 
whatever  opinion  in  their  isolation  the  colonists  may 
have  held,  the  archives  of  the  national  legislature 
contain  the  proofs  of  a  watchful  care  over  the  United 
States  claim  to  the  (Oregon  Territory,  and  a  determi- 
nation not  to  relin(piish  it  to  any  foreign  power;  the 
oidy  doubt  being  as  to  the  exj)ediency  of  i)ressing 
that  claim  while  other  matters  of  innnediate  impoi- 
ta)\ce  to  the  government  and  the  connnerce  of  the 
country  were  pending.  Before  proceeding  furthei' 
with  the  histoi'v  of  the  Oi'eijfon  colonv,  a  brief  review 
of  the  action  of  congress  will  tend  to  make  ck'ar  the 
mutual  action  of  the  national  representatives  and  the 
people  in  promoting  the  settlement  of  the  disputed 
territory  on  the  Pacific  coast.  It  is  not  to  l)e  sup 
posed  that  at  the  period  of  the  conviMition  of  IHIH,  or 

( :V1U  ; 


330 


(lUKdON   BKFOIIK  CON(!KK.SS. 


t!ie  Louisiana  j)urcliase  of  1819,  the  jioople  of  tlu' 
United  States  were  much  interested  in  or  well  in- 
formed as  to  the  t^eography  or  history  of  that  region, 
or  that  they  understood  the  gounds  of  the  contro- 
versy with  (ireat  Britain  ujjou  the  sovereignty  of 
the  Columbia.     But  they  were  not  long  to  remain  in 


Ignorance. 


On  the  19th  of  December,  1820,  Floyd  of  Virginia, 
a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives,  a  man  of 
ardent  temperament,  ability,  courage,  and  })ersistent 
purpose,  took  up  the  Oregon  Question  with  the  deter- 
mination to  champion  it  in  congress  against  whatever 
indifference,  opposition,  or  ridicule  it  might  meet.' 
From  many  years'  residence  in  Kentucky,  he  under- 
stood the  character  of  the  men  of  the  western  states, 
each  a  pioneer  of  the  Alexandrian  ty})e,  sighing  for 
more  worlds  to  conquer,  more  wilderness  to  redeem 
to  civilization  by  the  sheer  strength  of  brawny  arm 
and  independent  will.  Of  the  support  of  this  portion 
of  the  people  he  was  sure,  as  soon  as  they  should  be 
informed  of  the  value  of  the  territory  in  dispute,  and 
the  foundation  of  the  American  claim. 

Encouraged  by  the  well-understood  sentiments  of 
President  Monroe  and  certain  younger  men  of  the 
JefFersonian  school,  Mr  Floyd  began  the  contest  by  a 
motion  in  the  house  that  a  connnittee  be  appointed  to 
inquire  into  the  situation  of  the  settlements  on  the 
Pacific,  and  the  expediency  of  occupying  the  Kiver 
Columbia,  and  procured  the  appointment  of  that  com- 
mittee with  himself  as  chairman,  the  other  members 
being  Metcalf  of  Kentuck}'  and  Swearingen  of  Vir- 
ginia. 

On  the  25th  of  January,  1821,  Floyd  presented  his 
report,  giving  an  abstract  of  the  history  of  the  United 
States  from  the  discoverv  of  the  continent  down 
through  the  nmtations  of  more  than  two  centuries, 
embracing  in  his  review  an  account  of  the  several 


^  Betiton'x  Thirtu  Year'),  '..  \X     See  //M^  Xortlnrcf)/  Coant,  this  series. 


FLOYD  OF   VIKiilMA. 


351 


treaties  by  which  the  United  States  had  enlarged 
their  original  boundaries  since  achieving  independence. 
Following  this  was  an  able  and  suggestive  examina- 
tion of  the  profits  of  the  fur-trade  in  the  west  and 
north-west  over  the  territory  acquired  by  discovery 
and  treaty,  but  which  was  still  almost  a  terra  incognita 
to  the  citizens  of  the  union. 

As  to  the  expediency  of  occupying  the  Columbia, 
Floyd  was  sanguine,  for  the  reasons  contained  in  his 
report  on  the  fur-trade,  the  profits  of  that  business, 
and  the  opportunities  for  greatly  enlarging  the  com- 
merce of  the  United  States  by  direct  connnunication 
with  China  by  way  of  the  Columbia  and  Missouri 
rivers,  that  idea  of  which  the  eccentric  John  Ledyard 
was  author,  President  Jefferson,  however,  usually 
receiving  the  credit  of  it,  and  in  whose  mind  it  was 
confirmed  by  the  expedition  of  Lewis  and  Clarke. 
The  route  reconnnended  by  Floyd  was  the  same, 
namely,  up  the  Missouri,  across  the  mountains,  and 
down  the  Columl)ia. 

Accompanying  the  report  was  a  bill  authorizing  the 
president  to  occupy  the  Oregon  Territory,  extinguisli 
the  Indian  title,  and  provide  a  government." 

The  bill  was  twice  read,  and  referred  to  a  connnittee 
of  the  whole  for  the  following  day,  but  was  not  taken 
up,  and  nothing  further  appears  to  have  been  said 
upon  the  subject  till  the  lOtli  of  December,  when 
Floyd  again  made  a  motion  for  a  committee  to  inquire 
into  the  expediency  of  tlie  measure,  with  leave  to 
report  a  bill.  This  was  agreed  to,  and  he  was  aj)- 
pointed  chairman  of  the  connnittee,  with  Baylies  of 
Massachusetts  and  Scott  of  Missouri  as  associates. 
The  report  of  the  committee,  accompanied  by  a  bill 
authorizing  the  occupation  of  the  Columbia,  was  pre- 
sented to  the  house  the  18th  of  January,  1822.  This, 
like  the  previous  bill,  was  twice  read,  after  which  it 
disappeared  for  the  remainder  of  that  session.  Mean- 
while Floyd  had  submitted  a  resolution  requiring  the 

Kiininls  of  Cotif/reiiM,  1820-1.  940-59. 


)'' 


■■■ 


':ib'2 


<»RE<;ON    BKFOKE  tON(;RE>S.S. 


;t 


secretary  of  the  navy  to  report  on  the  expense  of 
examining  the  harbors  on  the  Pacific,  and  .shipping 
artillery  to  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia. 

The  secretary's  estimate  for  the  survey  and  trans- 
portation was  $25,000.  In  February,  in  consequence 
of  rumors  that  the  emperor  of  Kussia  had  promulgated 
a  ukase  in  relation  to  the  western  limits  of  the  United 
States,  Mr  Floyd  offered  a  resolution  requesting  the 
president  to  conmmnicate  to  the  house  whether  any 
foreign  government  laid  claim  to  any  part  of  the  ter- 
ritory of  the  United  States  upon  the  coast  of  the 
Pacific  Ocean  north  of  latitude  42°,  and  to  what 
extent;  whether  any  regulations  of  a  foreign  power 
existed,  affecting  the  trade  of  the  Pacific;  how  far 
the  trade  of  the  public  was  affected  by  it;  and 
whether  any  foreign  power  had  made  any  communi- 
cation '"touching  the  contem})lated  occupation  of  the 
Columbia  River."'' 

In  reply  to  this  resolution,  the  president  submitted 
a  re})ort  by  the  secretary  of  state  containing  the 
correspondence  with  the  ministers  of  Great  Britain 
and  Russia  relative  to  the  respective  claims  of 
those  governments,^  which  comnmnicaticm  was  re- 
ferred to  the  select  connnittee  of  which  Floyd  was 
cliairman,  on  the  expediency  of  the  occupation  of  the 
Columbia. 

At  the  second  session  of  congress  for  1822,  Floyd's 
bill  of  January  previous  was  discussed  in  connnittee  of 
the  whole,  and  certain  additions  and  amendments  were 
made.  Floyd  made  the  opening  speech,  which  was 
an  exhaustive  resume  of  the  \'alues  of  certain  articles 
of  commerce  to  the  countries  wliich  were  so  fortunate 
as  to  secure  them,  being  the  same  which  the  settle- 
n)ent  of  the  Columbia  would  secure  to  the  United 
States;  advocating  its  military  possession,  and  the 
steamboat  route  to  it  before  mentioned.  As  the  first 
speech  ever  made  in   c(Higress  on  this  subject,  it  is 

»  Amuil^  of  Congrenx,  1821-2,  10.34. 

*  Sou  Hist.  Northwest  Coast,  a!i<l  Hist.  Alnshi,  this  series. 


BAYLIES   OF   .MA.S.SA(HUSKTTS. 


•M>;i 


t'fspecially  interesting.'  But  I'roni  the  remarks  of 
Wriglit  of  Maryland  it  evidently  awakened  no  enthu- 
siasm in  the  minds  of  Jiis  listeners;  and  it  is  shown 
hy  Floyd's  admissions  that  he  had  heen  called  fanci- 
ful and  a  bold  projector,  that  few  [)ersons  either  in  or 
out  of  congress  were  as  yet  much  agitated  (ner  the 
United  States  claim  to  the  Oregon  Territory. 

The  second  speech  of  importance  was  by  Mr  Baylies 
of  Massachusetts,  who  began  by  saying  that  all  the 
objections  to  the  bill  which  he  had  heard  had  been 
outside  of  the  house;  and  of  these  he  was  willing  to 
admit  that  some  were  weighty,  and  all  plausible. 
The  first,  that  of  the  expense  (jf  the  territorial  estab- 
lishment with  no  immediate  prospect  of  a  revenue, 
was,  lie  thought,  not  valid  :  to  prove  wliich  position 
he  offered  a  correspondence  with  the  collector  of  cus- 
toms at  New  Bedford,  showing  the  profits  of  the 
whale-fishery,  and  estimating  its  annual  value  in  the 
Pacific,  with  the  vessels  already  employed,  at  $500,000, 
while  the  profits  of  the  same  business  to  Nantuckcit 
were  not  short  of  i?  1,000,000  annually.  "A  settle- 
ment on  the  Colundiia,"  said  this  correspondent,  "if 
properly  conducted,  would  insure  to  our  nation  an 
immense  source  of  wealth,"  not  only  on  account 
of  the  whale-fisheries,  but  of  the  lumber  trade,  it 
being  known  that  a  vessel  loaded  with  spars  from 
the  Columbia  River  had  recently  arrived  at  Val- 
paraiso.'' 

The  objections  that  by  extending  the  territory  of 
the  United  States  too  far  it  would  })e  exposed  to  dis- 
memberment, and  that  by  occupying  the  (\)lunibia 
the  chances  of  war  would  be  increased,  were  met  by 
Baylies  with  arguments  not  necessary  to  be  repro- 
duced here.  He  supported  the  position  taken  by 
Floyd  of  the  value  of  the  fur  trade  (^n  the  North- 
west Coast,  and  advanced  many  proofs  of  tin;  advan- 
tage of  colonies  to  an  empire;  the  argunients  in  favor 

•'  December  17,  182*2.  See  //(-s/.  NorthweM  Coa-tf,  this  series. 
''AintnUo/Connri'ss,  1822-3,  41i5. 
Hist.  Oit.,  Vol,.  I.    T-\ 


);!■ 


3M 


()HE«JON   BKFOilK  CDNiUlES.S. 


u\ 


H 


of  a  settlement  on  the  Columbia  being  cliieHy  of  a 
connnercial  nature. 

Tucker  of  Vir«;inia  expressed  surprise  that  "three 
long  and  eloquent  speeches"  should  have  been  made 
in  support  of  a  measure  to  which  he  had  intended  to 
give  a  silent  negative.  He  did  not  object  to  tlie  occu- 
pation of  the  Columbia  River  because  it  was  visionary, 
but  because  he  thought  it  too  j)racticable,  and  likely 
to  draw  off  population  and  capital  to  a  point  where 
they  would  be  less  useful  than  where  they  then  were; 
and  because  the  ])e'»ple  of  the  Pacific  coast  would,  by 
their  local  position,  carry  on  their  trade  with  China 
and  the  Orient  rather  than  with  the  Atlantic  states. 
He  could  not  see  what  interest  the  Pacific  and  Atlan- 
tic states  would  have  in  common,  and  mentioned  the 
appalling  fact  that  the  mouths  of  the  Mis8issip])i  and 
the  Columbia,  by  any  route  then  know^n,  were  four 
thousand  miles  asunder!  Colonies  he  declared  were 
of  no  advantage  to  the  parent  country,  unless  that 
country  enjoyed  a  monopoly  of  the  colonial  trade, 
which  in  this  instance  the  United  States  could  not 
hope  to  do. 

The  13th  of  January,  182.3,  Colden  of  New  York 
spoke,  giving  facts  concerning  seal-fishing  designed  to 
favor  the  bill ;  and  also  an  interesting  history  of  the 
trade  with  China,  showing  that  although  that  country 
was  said  to  be  the  sink  of  coin,  the  cargoes  brought 
from  there  were  sold  in  Europe  at  a  profit  of  more 
than  twice  the  cost  in  China,  and  for  coin.  He  cited 
also  the  treasury  report  for  1821,  which  gave  infor- 
mation of  seventeen  vessels  from  the  United  States 
sailing  for  the  Northwest  Coast,  which  he  took  to 
mean  the  vicinity  of  the  Columbia  River,  carrying 
goods  to  the  value  of  $400,000;  and  although  he  was 
not  informed  .who  were  the  purchasers,  he  thought 
under  such  circumstances  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia 
must  be  a  point  of  importance  to  commerce.  Unlike 
his  predecessors  in  the  debate,  Colden  referred  to  the 
subject  of  title,  and  gave  his  view^s  of  the  security  of 


MALI.AKY   OF   VKllMONT. 


805 


:  to 
'iiig 
was 

^•ht 

l)ia 
ike 
tlR- 
of 


the  United  States  claim,  which  were  entirely  favor 
able  to  it. 

Malla»y  of  Vermont  did  not  wish  for  the  establish 
mcnt  (tf  a  civil  government  on  the  Columbia,  befort^ 
there  were  people  in  that  territory  over  whom  it  might 
he  exercised ;  but  approved  of  occupation  by  a  military 
force  only,  with  encouragement  to  settlers.  As  to  the 
rest,  he  was  decidedly  in  favor  of  occu}n'ing  the  coun- 
try, and  entertained  no  fear  of  consequences.  The 
smallest  nation  of  Europe  would  not  hesitate  to  plant 
lier  colonies  in  ary  l)art  of  the  world;  and  yet  Amer- 
ican enterprise,  so  often  vaunted,  dared  not  venture 
beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  subject,  he  de- 
clared, occupied  a  large  share  of  the  public  attention, 
and  the  action  of  congress  was  anxiously  looked  foi\ 
The  only  objection  he  found  to  the  argument  whicJi 
liad  preceded  him  was  the  advocacy  of  the  colonial 
system  by  Baylies,  to  which  he  could  not  agree,  as 
being  foreign  to  the  principles  of  the  American  re 
public. 

Then  followed  Tracy  of  New  York,  and  overturned 
all  the  si)ecious  reasoning  of  his  colleague,  Mr  Gol- 
den, by  giving  information  of  the  real  nature  of  the 
country  which  would  be  embraced  in  the  thirty  square 
miles  of  territory  over  which  the  United  States,  it 
was  proposed,  should  extend  its  laws  and  protec- 
tion. Tracy  chanced  to  have  made  the  acquaintance 
of  several  gentlemen  who  had  been  at  tlie  mouth  of 
the  Columbia,  from  whom  he  had  learned  that  the 
imaginary  Eden  of  the  gentleman  who  had  spoken  in 
favor  of  the  bill  was  an  inhospitable  wilderness,  con- 
fined within  a  rugged  and  iron-bound  coast.  The 
entrance  to  the  Columbia  was  dangerous,  and  only 
with  a  fair  and  free  wind  could  be  undertaken;  the 
climate  was  bleak  and  inhospitable;  so  humid  and 
with  so  feeble  a  sun  that  the  grains  could  liardly  bi 
raised,  though  the  soil  was  deep  and  good.  For  u 
long  distance  from  the  ocean  tlio  country  was  so 
broken  and  rugged  that  no  place  could  be  found  for  a 


I 


I J 

\l   ^ 

'!   'If 


:»u 


OUWJON    BKFOUl';  CONliHKSS. 


scttloiiu'iit  of  luori'  tliaii  u  few  fiiniilioM.     Only  the 
VVillfiincttc  \'all('V  afloidcd  any  |)»us)k;('(:s  ot'  an  anii 
«'ultural  naturo,  and  tlu-sr  wne  not  allurinin'.      And  as 
for  tlio  country  I'ast  of  tlio  Cascade  Mountains,  it  was 
nothing  l)ut  a  waste  of  sand  an<l  jj^ravol." 

Mr  Wood,  anotlu'i-  nuMnUer  from  Xe'.v\ork,  ar^u»'(I 
airainst  the  ])assa<'c  of  tlic  bill,  Itccausc,  first  of  all, 
there  was  no  necessity  for  such  a  nieasuie.  NO  one 
had  denied  the  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States  <jfov- 
(jrnuient.  Xone  of  the  coinniercial  ])ortion  of  the 
public  had  petitioned  for  it:  not  a  sin*ifle  memorial 
from  any  (piartt^r  could  he  found  upon  the  table.  No 
public  interest  demanded  it;  and  it  was  not  to  the 
l)enefit  of  the  country  at  lar<;e  to  force  the  settlement 
of  the  Columbia  River.  Such  a  settlement  nuist 
result  either  in  a  colony,  wliich  would  be  of  no  advan- 
tai2;e  to  the  government,  oi'  an  independent  state, 
which  would  take  to  itself  the  conunei'ce  of  the  J*aciH<', 
to  the  permanent  loss  of  the  United  States,  both  in 
citizens  and  trade.  To  these  considerations  must  l)e 
added  the  expense  attcndinjj;  the  establishing  of  so 
remote  a  territory,  and  the  danger  of  provoking 
fndian  wars,  which  would  retard  the  growth  of  the 
new  states  on  the  border.  To  eti'ect  a  settlement, 
communication  by  land  would  be  iiulispensable;  and 
a  chain  of  military  jiosts  niust  be  extended  from  St 
Louis  to  the  Colund)ia,  where  a  strong  fortification 
must  be  erected,  and  a  cor.  .iderable  naval  foire  main- 
tained 1  r  its  protection;  all  of  which  would  moi'c 
than  e\]  lUst  the  i)rofits  of  the  trade  in  that  quarter. 
Wood's  an  was  to  pei-niit  a  conipany  to  occupy  that 
region,  U  'Extinguish  the  Indian  title,  to  form  a  settle- 
ment, an»  when  they  were  able,  to  form  an  indepen- 
dent gov<  nment;**  but  in  his  opinion  the  longer  this 
was  dela;,  ed  the  better. 

''  This  acoount  of  the  (.  nhimbia  was  pi-obahly  given  l>y  sonic  of  the  memhcrs 
of  the  Pacitic  fur  company.  Franchere  mentions  that  they  couM  raise 
notliing  but  roots  at  Astoria.  It  is  not  surprising  that  as  the  fur  companies 
conrinetl  their  explorations  to  the  rivers,  whicli  were  bordered  by  heavy 
forests,  such  opinions  of  the  country  prevailed. 

''Precisely  what  happened,  witii  this  difference:  The  company  occupying 


(iKNKltAI,    DISCUSSION. 


857 


At  tlio  flose  of  this  (lay's  arjjfumcnts  some  amend- 
iiieiits  wen;  ort'orcti  to  tlie  bill,  Mallary  moving  to 
make  the  occupation  merely  inilltary,  over  the  tor- 
ritorv  north  of  the  42(1  parallel,  and  west  of  tlu; 
Kocky  Mountains,  which  section  should  he  known  as 
tiie  Territory  of  Oregon;  a  fort  was  to  l)e  erected 
at  the  mouth  of  the  (N)lunil)ia  Hiver;  as  soon  as  ex- 
jiedient  the  Indian  title  to  a  tract  of  country  not 
exceeding  thirty  miles  square,  including  the  place 
selected  for  the  fort,  should  be  extinguished.  T(» 
every  head  of  a  fc^.iiily  settling  in  the  territory  should 
he  •'•ranted  three  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  land ; 
to  an  unmarried  settler,  farmer,  or  mechanic,  two 
hundred  acTes;  this  to  apply  <>'dy  to  citizens  of  the 
United  States,  and  for  six  years  only  after  the  extin 
guishment  of  the  Indian  title.  The  president  was 
authorized  to  o]»en  a  jiort  of  entry  for  the  territory, 
and  to  appoint  officers  for  the  reveime  service,  the 
rt'venue  laws  of  tlu;  ITnited  States  being  extended  to 
the  territory.  An  appro] )riation  of  .$00,000  was  also 
made  by  the  amendments,  to  earry  into  effect  the 
]irovisions  of  the  bill. 

The  consideration  of  Floyd's  bill  being  resumed  on 
the  24th,  Walker  of  North  Carolina  made  a  motion 
to  amend  by  inserting  Columbia  in  place  of  Oregon  as 
the  name  of  the  territory  to  be  erected,  which  did  ncjt 
})revail;  and  Floyd  amended  Mallary's  amendment,  so 
us  to  call  the  tract  of  country  over  which  the  Indian 
title  should  be  extinguished,  and  where  the  fort  should 
he  erected,  the  District  of  Astori  i,  the  object  of  which 
M"as  to  restore  the  original  name  of  the  establishment 
at  the  m(>uth  of  the  Columl)ia  made  mulcr  the  auspices 
of  Astor.  This  amendment  was  accepted.  Smith  of 
A^irginia  and  others  then  s]X)l;e  for  and  against  the 
hill.  Baylies  replied  at  some  length  to  the  objections 
of  the  opponents  of  the  bill  that  the  Ro(tky  Moun- 
tains were  the  natural  boundary  of  the  United  States. 

Wiis  British;  the  Indians,  rather  than  their  title,  became  extinguished;  a'ld 
tile  settlers  (American)  came  in,  and  formed  an  independent  government. 


X)S 


ORE(;()N   BEl-'OKE  t'ONOKESS. 


"As  we  reach  the  Rocky  Mountains,"  said  the  advo- 
cate of'tlie  occupation  of  Oregoii,  "we  should  l)e  unwise 
did  we  not  pass  that  narrow  space  wliich  separates  tlu^ 
mountains  from  the  ocean,  to  secure  advantages  far 
greater  than  tlie  existing  advantage?'  of  all  the  country 
between  the  Mississipj)i  and  the  mountains.  Gentle- 
men are  talking  of  natural  boundaries.  Sir,  our  natural 
boundary  is  the  Pacific  Ocean,  The  swelling  tide  of 
our  population  nmst  and  will  roll  on  until  that  mighty 
ocean  interposes  its  waters,  and  limits  our  territorial 
empire.  Then,  with  two  oceans  washing  our  shores, 
the  commercial  wealth  of  the  world  is  ours,  and  imagi- 
nation can  hardly  conceive  the  greatness,  the  grandeur, 
a!>''  the  power  that  await  us." 

liaylies  then  reviewed  the  statemiJiits  of  his  oppo- 
nents that  the  country  was  sterile  and  the  climate 
inhospitable;  that  the  moutii  of  the  Colunsbia  was  a 
bad  entrance  and  worse  departure,  and  tlie  liarbor 
indifferent  quoting  from  the  official  reports  of  Prevost, 
Lewis  and  Clarke,  Cook,  and  Vancouver.  He  again 
[)resented  the  facts,  as  tliey  a[)peared  to  him,  con- 
nected with  the  connnerce  of  the  l^acific,  present  and 
to  come.  He  reverted  to  remarks  made  in  debate 
that  there  was  nothing  to  fear  from  Russia,  because 
the  autocrat  of  tliat  country  had  himself  fixed  the 
southern  limit  of  his  territory  at  51°,  and  to  other 
remarks  that  if  Russia  chose  to  enforce  the  limits  set 
the  United  States  could  not  successfully  encounter 
that  power;  to  both  of  which  conclusions  lie  took  ex- 
ceptions, and  also  to  the  })rediction  that  the  ])roposed 
settlement  could  not  sustain  itself  against  the  savages, 
instancing  tlie  early  New  England  settlers,  who  foi- 
fifty  years  maintained  peace  with  the  savages,  and 
when  at  last  they  wei'e  comjjelled  to  fight,  vanquished 
them. 

On  the  following  day,  being  the  last  of  the  dis- 
cussion, Brcckenridge  of  Kentucky  made  a  speech  in 
which  he  o[)posed  the  bill,  because  as  it  now  stood  it 
p^'ovided  neither  legislation  nor  courts;  all  the  power 


A   NEW  BILL. 


359 


and  authority  being  confided  to  a  military  chieftain,  in 
whose  hands  were  placed  the  legislative,  judicial,  and 
executive  functions  of  the  country,  subject  only  to  the 
control  of  the  president;  and  this  he  denounced  as 
unconstitutional,  also  denying  the  right  of  congress  to 
colonize.  Or  if  it  was  pretended  that  the  step  con- 
templated was  preparatory  to  admission  into  the  union 
within  any  short  period,  had  the  promoters  of  this 
scheme  thought  of  the  probable  consequences  ?  Were 
they  prepared  to  go  to  war  to  protect  the  territorial 
or  commercial  rights  of  Oregon,  and  to  extend  to  that 
state  equal  laws,  and  afford  it  equal  rights  and  privi- 
leges, when  there  could  not  be  any  community  of 
interest  with  the  rest  of  the  confederacy  ?  He  looked 
upon  the  proposition  as  impolitic  and  dangerous;  upon 
the  appropriation  to  carry  it  out  as  entirely  inadequate ; 
upon  the  troops  who  should  be  stationed  on  the  Co- 
lumbia as  the  prisoners  in  their  own  fort  of  the 
beleaguering  Indians,  unless,  indeed,  a  naval  force 
should  be  stationed  there  for  their  protection.  He 
doubted  if  the  possession  of  the  country  would  add 
anything  to  the  validity  of  tlie  claim  of  the  United 
States;  or  that  if  it  should  fall  into  the  hands  of  a 
foreign  power,  that  would  weaken  the  title  of  the 
United  States,  He  was  opposed  to  emigration  while 
the  population  of  the  states  and  territories  was  not 
yet  sufficient  to  occupy  the  public  lands  within  theii- 
l)ounuarios.  Not  until  their  posterity,  he  said,  should 
occupy  the  seats  iu  congress  which  the  supporters  of 
the  bill  under  discussion  now  filled  would  the  measure 
proposed  be  justifiable. 

Oa  the  27tii  the  yeas  and  nays  were  taken  to  decide 
whether  the  house  were  really  determined  to  act  upon 
the  subject  at  that  session,  when  it  was  found  that  the 
vote  stood  sixty-one  for,  to  one  hundred  against,  taking 
up  the  bill.  The  influence  of  the  discussion  was  ob- 
servable, however,  when  on  the  22d  of  Fel)ruary  Little 
of  Maryland  presented  a  memorial  from  eiglity  farm- 
ers and  mechanics  within  his  district,  praying  congress 


300 


ORFXiON  BEFOUK  ('ON(iRESS. 


to  pass  the  bill,  and  intimating  their  desire  to  emigrate 
to,  and  for  the  improvement  of,  that  country.^ 

At  the  next  session  of  congress,  in  December,  on 
motion  of  Mr  Floyd,  a  committee  on  the  expediency 
of  occupying  the  Columbia  was  again  aj)pointed,  con- 
sisting of  Floyd,  Gurley  of  Louisiana,  KScott  of  Mis- 
souri, Haydcn  of  New  York,  Bassett  of  Virginia, 
Frost  of  New  York,  and  Baylies  of  the  former  com- 
mittee, with  leave  to  report  a  bill;  and  on  the  19th  of 
January,  1824,  Floyd  presented  a  bill  to  authorize  the 
occupation  of  the  Columbia  or  Oregon  liiver,  which 
was  twice  read,  and  referred  to  a  committee  o^  +he 
whole  house  on  the  state  of  the  union.  Th.'s  bill, 
unlike  that  immediately  preceding  it,  authorized  the 
president  not  only  to  establish  a  military  colony,  but 
to  erect  a  territorial  government  whenever  he  miglit 
deem  it  expedient  to  do  so — Floyd's  first  proposition, 
but  one  which  was  opposed  by  a  majority  of  the  friends 
of  military  occupation.  The  bill  also  granted  a  section 
of  land  to  actual  settlers,  instead  of  the  former  amount. 

On  the  2Gth  a  resolution,  of  which  Floyd  was  the 
author,  was  agreed  to  by  the  house,  v>  questing  the 
president  to  cause  to  be  laid  before  the  house  an  esti- 
mate of  the  expense  which  would  be  incurred  by  trans- 
porting two  hundred  troops  from  Council  Bluffs  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia.  The  reply  by  the  war 
department  was  that  the  transportation  of  the  troops 
by  the  Missouri  and  Columbia  rivers,  with  boats, 
horses,  and  equipments,  vould  be  $30,000  ;  and  the 
trunsportatit)!!  by  sea  of  the  lieavy  baggage,  ordnance, 
and  supplies  would  amount  to  not  more  than  1 1 4,000 
more;  the  report  being  referred  to  the  committee  on 
the  occupation  of  the  Columbia  or  Oregon  River,  and 
by  them  laid  before  the  house.  The  estimates  con- 
tained in  this  report  were  made  by  Thomas  S.  Jessup, 
quarterinastei-general.  He  reconnnended  a  post  to 
be  established  at  the  Mandan  villages,  to  control  the 


700. 


*.iii)i<th  of  CoiKji-'s.^,    IS-iiJ-a,    :{.").'.,    :«t(i,    411,    Mli,    (K)!',  078,  01)1,  ()!»(), 


I 


THK   Pl{K.Sll>KNT\S    MESSACiE. 


3(;i 


natives  in  that  quarter,  and  liold  in  chock  tlie  Britisli 
fur  companies;  another  at  the  head  of  navigation  on 
the  Missouri,  to  control  the  Blackfoot,  and  remove 
the  British  companies  from  that  part  of  the  territory. 
as  well  as  to  serve  as  an  intermediate  suddIv  Dost.  and 
a  depot  of  trade  for  the  Indian  department.  To  keej) 
open  communication  through  the  mountains,  he  ad- 
vised the  establishment  of  a  small  post  between  the 
Missouri  and  the  Columbia;  and  on  the  Columbia 
and  its  tributaries  three  other  posts.  These  were 
to  give  protection  to  American  traders  for  the  time 
being,  and  when  the  convention  with  Great  Britain 
sliould  have  expired,  to  remove  the  traders  of  that 
nation  from  the  territory.  As  to  the  expense,  it  would 
be  trifling.  Once  established,  in  a  few  years  the  cost 
would  be  greatly  din\inished  by  farms,  mills,  and  the 
good  grazing  of  the  country  in  the  interior;  and  the 
posts  on  the  Coknnbia  could  be  cheaply  supplied 
witli  beef  and  wlieat  from  California,  and  salt  from  an 
island  on  the  Lower  California  coast. 

Floyd's  bill  did  not  come  up  for  discussion  till  the 
following  December.  In  the  mean  time  much  infoi- 
mation  had  been  gained  concerning  new  routes  to  the 
Columbia  by  passes  recently  discovered  by  American 
fur-traders,  and  other  matters  of  interest  in  tlebate. 
The  speech  with  which  Floyd  opened  the  discussion 
was  not  only  in  answer  to  former  arguments,  but  was 
loaded  with  accumulations  of  facts  concerning  the 
geography  and  top()grai)hy  of  the  country;  but  more 
than  anvthiniif  else,  concernin<jf  the  conunerce  of  tlie 
United  States  between  1804  and  IH'2'2,  interesting 
even  at  this  day,  and  intended  to  exhibit  the  existing 
necessity  for  a  port  upon  tlie  Pacific  coast  to  serve  as 
the  American  mart  for  the  precious  goods  of  the  Asi- 
atic continent  and  islands  of  the  oriental  seas. 

The  message  of  President  jVIonroe  had  contained  a 
rcconnnendation  of  the  proj)riety  of  establishing  a  mil- 
itary post  at  the  mouth  of  the  (\)luml)ia,  or  at  some 
other  point  within   the  acknowledged  limits   of   the 


fi. 


Ji 


' 


r  ,!'i 


362 


OKEUOX   BEFORE   CONGRESS. 


United  States  territory,^"  i'o^  tlie  protecMon  of  the 
increasing  coninierce  of  the  Pacific;  and  of  making  an 
appropriation  for  employing  a  Irigate,  with  an  officoi 
of  the  corps  of  engineers,  to  explore  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  and  the  adjacent  coasts,  with  a  view  to 
selecting  the  site  for  such  a  military  station  But 
Floyd  contended  that  a  territorial  establishment  was 
quite  as  necessary  as  a  military  one,  it  being  evidently 
unjust  to  the  settlers  who  should  go  there  to  place 
them  under  military  law,  or  subject  them  to  the  ca- 
price of  the  connnander  of  a  force  of  two  hundred  men, 
which  it  was  })roposed  to  station  on  the  Columbia. 

Considerable  opposition  was  made  by  members  to 
the  pro})osed  land  grants,  and  by  others  that  clause 
was  defended  half  in  derision.  "'After  all,"  said 
Trimble  of  Kentucky,  "what  is  the  value  of  the  land 
proposed  to  be  given  as  a  bounty  to  the  first  settlers '. 
In  that  remote  region  the  land  as  yet  is  worth  noth- 
ing, it  has  no  value.  .  .But,  in  the  mean  while,  give 
your  people  the  bounty  land  and  let  them  go  and 
make  a  settlement,  and  form  a  nucleus  around  which 
other  emigrants  may  collect,  and  time  will  gradually 
consolidate  them  into  a  powerful  connnunity,  and 
your  treasury  will  be  relieved  from  the  annual  expense 
of  maintaining  the  proposed  military  post."  Smyth 
of  Virginia  was  ()])posed  to  the  territorial  establish- 
ment and  grants  of  land,  on  the  ground  tliat  too  ra[)id 
an  increase  of  the  states,  and  bringing  too  nmch  land 
into  market,  was  already  severely  felt  by  the  older 
fominunities,  which  were  perpetually  drained  of  the 
flower  of  their  poi)ulation — an  evil  which  would  in- 
crease the  further  the  limits  of  tiie  United  States 
were  extended.  In  his  judgment,  it  would  be  well  if 
the  ultimate  limit  were  fixed  by  a  line  far  enough  west 
of  the  Mississippi  to  include  two  tiers  of  states. 

In  reply  to  these  and  other  objections,  Floyd  con- 
tended that,  admitting  them,  and  that  the  future 
st'ite  of  Oregon  should  separate  fr-om  the  confederacy, 

^^Coiiijri'moHdl  JMiati's,  18l24-."i,  i.,  ai)p.  7. 


BKNTUX •«  K KSOLUTION. 


3(53 


it  would  still  be  better  that  the  region  embraeecl  by 
it  should  be  pet>pled  from  tlie  United  States  than 
from  other  nations,  with  whom  we  might— nay,  must 
— have  to  go  to  war;  and  peopled  by  other  nations  it 
would  be  unless  the  American  people  took  measures 
to  prevent  it. 

In  none  of  the  arguments  was  the  question  of  title 
touched  upon,  except  to  suggest  caution  in  coming  in 
conflict  with  tlie  terms  of  the  existing  treaty.  No 
doubt  was  ever  expressed  of  the  valitlity  of  tlie  claim 
of  the  United  States.  When  Buchanan  of  Penn- 
sylvania objected  that  the  establishment  of  a  port 
of  entry  would  interfere  with  the  treaty,  Floyd  ex- 
plained that  the  section  objected  to  directed  tlie 
president  to  open  a  port  of  entry  only  whenever  he 
should  "deem  the  public  good  may  require  it;"  and 
tliat  it  was  intended  to  put  the  citizens  of  the  United 
States  as  early  as  possible  on  an  advantageous  footing 
for  j)rosecuting  commercial  enterprises.  When  it  was 
feared  that  Great  Britain  might  look  Ujion  the  found- 
ing of  a  military  establisliment  as  an  act  of  bad  faith, 
Smyth  replied  that  Great  Britain  at  that  moment 
had  a  military  post  on  the  Columbia,  ami  that  the 
rights  of  the  two  governments  under  the  treaty  were 
at  least  equal. 

At  length,  after  four  years  of  constant  efl'ort,  on 
the  23d  of  December,  1824,  Mr  Floyd  iiad  the  satis- 
faction of  seeing  his  bill  for  the  occupation  of  the 
Columbia  River  and  tlie  establishment  of  the  territory 
of  Oregon  [)assed  in  tlie  house  by  a  vote  of  one 
hundred  and  thirteen  to  fifty-seven,  and  sent  to  the 


senate 


u 


So  far  discussion  had  been  confined  to  the  houSe, 
<'\cej)t  in  February  1823,  wJien  Benton  intrtuluced  a 
lesohition  in  the  senate  that  tlie  committee  on  military 
iirt'airs  be  instructed  to  iiHpiire  into  the  exi>ediency  of 


^^('oii'jrrss/nii'il  n,hafr.-<,  1824. i,  i.  i:i-'.'t!,  '28,  30,  38,  39  4-.',  44.  .V.;. 


■ 


:m4 


OKE(;ON   HKFOKK  CONciRESS. 


aj)propriating  money  ^o  enable  tlie  president  to  takr 
and  retain  jwssession  of  tlie  territory  of  tlie  United 
States  on  the  north-west  coast  of  America.  Benton 
explained  that  his  motive  in  offering  the  resolution 
was  to  })revent  the  territory  in  (juestion  from  fallinj^' 
into  tlie  hands  of  another  power. 

When  Floyd's  hill  was  brought  up  in  the  senate,  in 
February  1825,  it  found  an  advocate  in  Barbour  of 
Virginia,  who  believed  both  in  tlie  right  and  the  policy 
of  the  United  States  in  forming  an  establishment  on 
the  Oregon  River,'-  the  arguments  used  being  in 
essence  the  same  as  presented  by  the  friends*  of  the 
bill  in  the  house.  Oickerson  of  New  Jjrsey  took 
opposite  grounds.  He  not  only  contended  that  the 
military  occupation  of  the  Oregon  would  justly  lead 
to  war  with  (xreat  Britain,  but  that  Jie  territory 
would  never,  in  any  event,  become  a  state  of  the 
federal  union.  He  ridiculed  the  idea  of  a  senator 
from  Oregon  to  Washington  City  going  and  coming 
in  less  than  a  year,  whether  he  travelled  overland,  oi' 
by  .sea  around  Cape  Horn,  or  through  Bering's  Straits 
round  the  north  coast  of  the  c<mtinent.  "It  is  true," 
he  said,  "this  passage  is  not  yet  discovered,  except 
upon  our  maps;  but  it  will  be  as  soon  as  Oregon  shall 
be  a  state." '■'^  When  Dickerson  came  to  talk  of  cost, 
he  had  reason  and  connnon  sense  on  his  side.  The 
approi)riation  of  $50,000,  he  said,  was  a  mere  baga- 
telle. A  sum  ten  times  larger  would  be  required  to 
carry  into  effect  the  provisions  of  the  bill;  to  prove  ■ 
which  he  cited  the  expense  of  the  Yellowstone  ex[)e- 
dition,  $255,000,  besides  other  ex])enses  w'hich  swelled 
the  amount  to  $300,000.  At  that  rate  it  would  require 
a  million  of  money  to  establish  a  post  on  the  Oregon, 
and  other  posts  at  projier  intervals  across  the  conti- 
nent. Besides  the  wrong  to  tlie  natives  of  despoiling 
them  of  their  territory,  Orcijon  could  never  be  of  any 


ll%i' 


'■•■Tho  bill  iia  it  passed  the  liouae  was  aineiuled  so  as  to  drop  the  words 
'  Cohiniliia  or  '  and  to  read  '  tlie  Oregon  River. 
^■'CoiiijirK-fioiiol  Delmtc-'i,  IS'24  "i.  i.  (i!*'2. 


AN    INTEKNAL. 


atfs 


advantage  to  the  United  States,  and  the  best  use  that 
coidd  be  n\ade  of  it  was  to  leave  it  as  a  retreat  for  tlie 
red  men.  From  Couneil  Bkifi's  to  tlie  Rocky  Moun- 
tains the  country  was  sterile,  witliout  wood  or  water, 
and  could  never  l)e  cultivated.^*  The  mountains  were 
inhospitable,  antl  altogether  the  only  purpose  to  which 
this  region  could  be  devoted  was  a  range  for  buffaloes, 
and  to  serve  as  a  frontier  to  jjrevent  the  too  great 
expansion  of  the  settlements. 

To  this  Benton  replied  by  giving  a  resume  of  the 
arguments  for  the  United  States  title,  with  which 
the  reader  of  my  Northwest  Coast  is  familiar;  and  thus 
closed  the  debates  on  the  subject  of  the  occui)ati()n  of 
the  Oregon  Territory  for  a  term  of  years,  the  bill 
i)eing  laid  on  the  table,  from  which  it  was  never  taken 
to  be  voted  upon  iu  the  senate. 

From  and  after  tins  session  of  congress,  for  a  period 
of  more  than  three  years,  the  subject  of  the  occu[)a- 
tion  of  the  Columbia  was  suffered  to  lie  perdu  in  tlie 
minds  of  the  people  of  the  United  States,  except  as 
attention  was  called  to  it  by  the  writings  of  Hall  J. 
Kclley,  or  by  some  more  obscure  person.  For  this 
silence  there  is  an  explanation  in  the  probable  desire 
of  the  president  that  the  negotiations  between  (xreat 
Britain  and  the  United  States  should  not  become 
more  involved  by  any  overt  act.  The  negotiations 
being  finally  terminated  in  1827  by  an  indefinite  rv- 
newal  of  the  convention  of  1818,  which  could  be  ter- 
minated by  either  party  on  a  year's  notice,  left  the 
subject  where  it  was  before  they  were  commenced. 

In  Decend)er  1828  Floyd  returned  to  the  contest, 
being,  as  he  said,  more  convinced  than  ever  liefore  of 
the  importance  of  the  (piestion.  In  a  s]>eech  of  sonu; 
length  he  reverted  t(j  the  movement  of  population 
westward,  and  the  means  resorted  to  by  govermnents 
to  prevent  it  urivate  enterprise  being  always  in  the 


1 1'  4 


^*  Loiii/'s  AVji'v/.,  ii.  3.")()  (il. 


:m 


OKEOON   BEFOKK  t'ONCiKESS. 


I 


advance.  He  referred  as  in  former  speeches  to  the 
coiiiiiiercial  advantages  of  tlie  Columbia;  and  warned 
congress  of  the  loss  with  which  the  country  was 
threatened  through  the  occupancy  of  Great  Britain, 
citing  a  fact,  as  he  helieved,  of  much  significance,  that 
an  act  of  parliament  of  1821  had  extended  the  civil 
jurisdiction  of  the  courts  of  Upper  Canada,  "  within 
the  Indian  territories  and  other  parts  of  America,  not 
within  the  liniits  of  Uj)per  or  Lower  Canada,  or  of 
any  civil  governments  of  the  Uiwted  States;"  includ- 
ing in  this  description  not  only  the  territory  west  of 
Canada,  and  north  of  latitude  4!)^,  hut  all  of  the  terri- 
tory of  the  United  States  not  yet  erected  into  ter- 
ritorial orii'anizations.  "  This  insolent  and  outraij^eous 
act,"  exclaimed  Floyd,  "  we  ought  promptly  and  effi- 
ciently to  resist  and  re})el."  ^''  A  citizen  of  the  United 
States,  west  of  Arkan.sas,  he  said,  under  this  act  might 
he  taken  to  Upper  Canada,  and  tried  for  his  life.  The 
country  ought  not  for  a  moment  to  submit  to  it.  "  If 
England  has  not  yet  learned  to  respect  the  sov- 
ereignty and  rights  of  the  confederacy,  she  nmst  be 
taught  that  lesson ;  and,  sir,  it  nmst  and  shall  be  taught 
her ;  and  that,  too,  at  no  distant  day,  in  a  way  which 
she  will  not  easily  forget."  The  remainder  of  Floyd's 
speech  was  devoted  to  an  exposition  of  the  profits  of 
the  fur  trade,  and  to  strictures  on  the  tarifl'  regula- 
tions, which  prevented  the  American  from  realizing 
the  same  benefits  enjoyed  by  the  British  trader,  who 
introduced  his  goods  free  of  duty,  and  sold  them  at 
an  advance  of  more  than  a  hundred  per  cent,  while 
tlic  American  trader,  selling  at  the  same  price,  made 
no  profit  at  all;^®  and  to  the  importance  of  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia  as  a  naval  station,  either  for  the  pro- 
tection of  commerce,  or  in  case  of  war  as  a  port  from 


^^ComjreKtmint  Dclxtkx,  18'28-9,  v.  19.1. 

"This  diflference  operated  in  two  ways  against  the  American  traders,  as 
they  found  to  their  cost.  Either  they  must  sell  inferior  goods  at  the  price 
asked  by  tl»e  English  traders,  or  they  must  consent  to  sell  without  jjrotit. 
either  course  being  ruinous  to  their  business,  as  the  natives  soon  learned  to 
know  good  articles,  and  to  carry  their  furs  where  they  brought  the  most. 


FRESH   I'ROi'OSALS. 


mi 


which  tlie  vessels  of  the  United  States  could  annoy 
the  East  India  trade  of  Great  Britain. 

In  the  course  of  the  debate  which  followed,  the 
result  of  the  former  agitation  was  strongly  brought 
out  in  the  fact  that  three  several  coni})anies  of  enii 
grants  were  petitioning  congress  for  land  grants  in 
Oregon,  one  of  which  in  Massachusetts  numbered 
three  thousand  persons,*''  farmers,  artisans,  and  others. 
Neither  of  the  three  obtained  a  grant,  because  it  was 
objected  that  two  schemes  of  settlement,  one  by  the 
government  and  another  by  private  individuals,  were 
incompatible ;  and  because  the  plan  of  granting  exclu- 
sive privileges  to  one  class  of  citizens  was  not  repub- 
lican in  spirit.*^ 

The  question  was  again  discussed  at  length,  occupy- 
ing the  greater  portion  of  the  time  of  the  house  for  more 
than  two  weeks,  from  December  23d  to  January  9th. 
New  men  took  up  the  discussion  ;*^  but  new  arguments 
were  difficult  to  find.  The  expediency,  and  not  the  right 
of  making  settlements,  was  the  subject  of  doubt,  as  it 
liad  been  in  1821  and  1825.  Yet  it  was  acknowledged 
that  delay,  by  strengthening  the  number  of  British 
})osts,  increased  the  difficulty.  The  question  of  the  con- 
flicting sovereignty  claims  was  referred  to  oftener  than 
in  former  debates;  but  only  added  to  the  more  easily 
understood  obstacles  of  expense,  and  the  objections  to 
making  land  grants  before  the  boundary  should  be 
settled.  At  length,  after  amending  the  bill  several 
times,  it  stood  as  follows,  in  four  sections:  First,  au- 
thorizing the  president  to  erect  a  fort  or  forts  west 
of  the  Rockv  Mountains,  between  latitudes  42°  and 
54°  40',  and  to   garrison  them;   second,   authorizing 

''This  was  the  association  formed  hy  Hall  J.  Kelley.  The  others  were  a 
Louisiana  cnnipaiiy  lieailetl  hy  Joliu  M.  Bradford,  and  au  Ohio  company 
liuaded  by  Albert  Town. 

"^The  Louisiana  company  petitioned  for  a  tract  of  40  miles  square,  whicli 
<!urleyT)f  Louisiana  insisted  upon  their  right  to  have  granted  to  them;  and 
suggested  that  the  Massachusetts  company  be  granted  permission  to  erect  .» 
fort  Oil  certain  conditions. 

"Everett  of  Massachusetts,  Polk  of  Tennessee,  Bates  of  Missouri,  and 
other  able  men. 


'*  1,1 


I  'f 


SiM 


OKKiiON   BKl'UKE  CON(;KE.SS. 


ip^f  imi^iqti 


tlio  president  to  eause  the  territory  to  l>e  ex[)lore(l 
l)V  engineers,  selected  by  liiniself,  accompanied  l>y  a 
military  escort;  and  also  authorizing  the  delay  of 
the  troops  mentioned  in  the  first  article  until  the 
exploration  should  have  been  completed;  third,  en- 
acting that  any  citizen  of  the  United  States  who 
should  commit  any  crime  or  misdemeanor  in  the 
territory  should,  on  conviction,  sutier  the  i)enalty  at- 
tached to  the  same  ofi'enco  in  any  district  of  country 
under  the  sole  jurisdiction  of  the  United  States;  the 
trial  to  take  ])lace  in  the  first  district  where  he  might 
be  apprehendi'd  (n*  brought,  that  was  under  the  laws 
of  the  United  States;  the  courts  being  by  this  act  in- 
vested with  the  power  to  try  such  ofl'enders  in  the  same 
manner  as  if  the  crimes  had  been  connnitted  in  the 
district;  fourth,  the  sum  of  $25,000  was  appropri- 
ated to  carry  into  efi'ect  the  provisions  of  the  act. 

But  although  this  bill  seemed  free  from  the  objec- 
tionable features  of  the  previous  ones,  it  was  rejected 
when  it  came  to  a  third  reading,  by  a  vote  of  ninety- 
nine  to  seventy-five.''^" 

When  Floyd's  congressional  term  ended,  no  suc- 
cessor was  found  to  take  up  the  subject  where  he  had 
left  it.  But  he  had  succeeded  in  infusing  into  the 
minds  of  the  American  ])eople  a  romantic  interest  in 
the  Oregon  Territory,  and  above  all  a  patriotic  feeling 
of  resistance  to  the  re})uted  aggressions  of  the  British 
in  that  quarter,  which  eventually  served  the  purpose 
for  which  he  labored,  the  settlement  of  the  country  by 
citizens  of  the  United  States.  American  traders 
pushed  their  enterprises  beyond  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  to  the  Columbia  River,  attempting  to  com- 
pete with  the  English  company,  but  failing  for  the 
reasons  he  had  pointed  out.  Through  these  traders 
the  missionary  societies  heard  of  the  superior  tribes 
of  red  men  in  the  Oregon  Territory  who  sought 
a  knowledge  of  the  white  man's  God,  and  prepared 
to   respond  to  the  call,  with  the  results  which   have 

'"Coiiijirmional  JMni/rs,  IS'J.S  it,  V.  li>r)-.");<,  ]()8-7r>,  1S7-W. 


VALUK  OF  THE  COUNTllY. 


:»(i'J 


lie 
in 


l>eeu  refolded  in  ])reviouH  chapters  of  this  liistory. 
The  enthu.siast  Kelley,  luivini^  failed  in  securin^j;'  a 
j^rant  of  land,  finally  reached  Ore^^on,  sick,  and  in 
poverty  and  unmerited  disjjfrace,  to  be  rescued  fntin 
])erishin*^  l)y  the  foreign  company  he  had  beforehand 
determined  to  regard  with  sus})icion  and  hatred.  But 
the  Httle  company  he  persuaded  to  accompany  him 
from  California  as  colonists  really  hecame  such,  and 
touether  with  the  missionaries,  formed  the  luicleus 
round  which  grew  a  population  which  soon  rivalled 
the  fur  com})any.  I  have  shown  how  this  little  colony 
was  encouraged  and  fostered  by  the  heads  of  the  gov- 
ernment; how  IVesident  Jackson  sent  Slacum  to 
inquire  into  their  condition;  how  the  Mission  colony 
was  assisteil;  the  commander  of  the  Pacific  exploring 
s({uadron  ordered  to  examine  into  their  causes  of  coni- 
})laiut;  and  how  Elijah  White  was  commissioned  sub- 
agent  of  Indian  affairs  to  keej)  up  their  courage  anil 
loyalty. 

Between  1829  and  1837  the  people  as  well  as  con- 
gress had  become  com}>aratively  well  informed  as  to  the 
value  of  the  Oregon  Territory,  its  natural  resources, 
independeiit  of  the  fur  trade,  and  its  commercial  posi- 
tion with  regard  to  the  coast  of  Asia;  nearly  every 
person  known  to  have  returned  from  that  quarter 
having  been  put  upon  the  witness-stand.  On  the 
IGth  of  October  of  the  latter  year,  a  resolution  was 
passed  in  the  senate,  requesting  the  president  to 
inform  that  body  at  its  next  session  of  any  corre- 
spondence between  the  United  States  government 
and  any  foreign  power  relative  to  the  occupation  of 
the  territorv  of  the  United  States  west  of  the  Rocky 
AEountains.  The  president's  reply,  made  in  Decembei-, 
was,  tliat  since  the  convention  of  1827  no  such  cor- 
respondence had  taken  place;  those  negotiations  being 
connnunicated  in  confidence  to  the  senate  in  the  early 
part  of  the  20th  session  of  congress.'^ 

■^^:?.->fh  Coii!/.,  2d  Sexs.,  Sen.  Doc,  i.  .39. 
lIiKT.  Oil.,  Vol..  I.    24 


■1  l>  nffi 
1 

'  r      •( 

<l  i      1    1 

'  ^  ,il 

. '  1' 

u 

:j7o 


()UE(i()N    UKFOUE  fON(JUK.S«. 


The  7tli  of  February,  1  838,  Lewis  F.  Linn,  senator 
from  Missouri,  introduced  u  l)ill  for  tlie  occupation  of 
the  Columbia  River,  the  establishment  of  a  territory 
north  of  latitude  42°  and  west  of  the  Ko(!ky  Moun- 
tains, to  be  called  the  Orej^on  Territory;  the  erection 
of  a  fort  on  the  Cohunbia,  and  occupation  of  the  coun 
try  by  a  military  force;  the  establishment  of  a  port 
of  entry',  and  requirint(  the  country  to  be  held  sub- 
ject to  the  revenue  laws  of  the  United  States,  with 
an  ajipropriation  of  .$50,000  for  the  j)urposes  men- 
tioned in  the  bill.  This  was  referred  to  the  c(mmiittee 
<.)n  military  affairs.  After  some  discussion  of  the  ques- 
tion of  title,  Benton  procured  the  reference  of  the 
bill  to  a  select  committee  of  wliich  Linn  was  chair- 
man. 

This  led  to  a  resolution  that  the  secretary  of  war 
be  requested  to  furnish  the  senate  with  all  the  infor- 
mation in  his  department  relating  to  the  Oregon  Ter- 
I'itory,  and  with  a  map  embracing  recent  discoveries 
of  all  the  country  claimed  by  the  United  States  in 
the  region  between  the  liocky  Mountains  and  tlu; 
Pacific  Ocean.  Out  of  a  mass  of  material  obtained 
from  this  and  every  other  available  source,  Linn  pre- 
pared his  report,  which  was  presented  to  the  senate 
on  the  Gth  of  June.  After  referring  to  the  message 
of  President  Monroe  recommending  that  a  militar} 
post  should  be  established  at  the  mouth  of  the  Colum- 
bia, or  at  some  other  point  within  the  acknowledged 
limits  of  the  United  Stales,  which  should  afford  pro- 
tection to  American  coinmerce  on  the  Pacific  Ocean, 
and  his  suggestion  v/it'.i  regard  to  an  armed  frigate  to 
explore  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  and  the  coast 
contiguous  thereto,  for  which  he  advised  an  appropi'i- 
ation  by  congress  sufficient  for  the  purpose ;  and  after 
alluding  to  the  subsequent  negotiations  with  Great 
Britain  which  ended  in  nothing  definite  concerning 
title;  and  after  referring  to  the  mission  of  Slacum — 
he  entered  on  a  history  of  the  several  treaties  with 
Great  Britain  affecting  the  title,  and  the  correspond- 


KKI'HATKl)  FAILUHKS. 


871 


•1- 


Mg- 


ouco  on  th(^  snl)j('('t  lu'twi't'ii  tlu'  two  y,()veniiiH'nts 
liaving  tulvorst'  claiins,  takiiij^  tlic  YVincricaji  viow  of 
the  <juc'stioii  that  the  liiu'  between  tlieni  could  not 
fall  below  the  4!)th  parallel. 

He  pointed  out  that  the  oeeupation  by  tlio  United 
States  of  the  Columbia  Hivei-  would  seeure  tlu' 
sourees  of  vast  wealth  in  the  fur  tradi>,  the  fislu'ries, 
the  tradi!  with  China,  Ja[>an,  and  the  Orient  jLj^enerally, 
and  with  the  Hawaiian  Islands  and  Calif<»rnia.  Hi; 
dwelt  on  the  importance  of  a  harbor  on  the  iKtith- 
wi>st  coast  <»f  America,  where  tliu  whalin^-  Heet  of 
tlu^  J^iciHc  miu^ht  ri'fit,  and  proplnssied  that  direct 
conimunication  between  the  Atlantic  and  J'acific 
would  soon  be  oj)ened  by  a  canal  across  the  isthmus 
of  Darieii,  by  which  the  whole  trade  of  the  eastern 
hemisphere  would  be  changed  in  its  course,  which 
would  then  be  toward  the  shores  of  Xortli  America. 
He  spoke  of  the  ease  with  which  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains could  be  crossed  by  the  passes  discovered  by  the 
fur-hunters,  of  the  majjfniticent  scenerv  described  by 
trayellers,  of  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  and  the  mildness 
of  the  climate,  testified  to  by  various  authorities.  To 
conclude,  the  title  of  the  United  States  was  asserted 
by  the  committee  to  be  beyond  doubt,  the  possession 
of  the  country  imjioi-tant,  and  delay  in  occupying 
it  dangerous.  The  committee  therefore  reported  a 
hill  authorizing  the  president  to  employ  in  that  quar- 
ter such  portions  of  the  army  and  navy  of  the  United 
States  as  he  miglit  deem  necessary  to  the  protection 
of  the  American  residents  in  that  Ci)untry. 

Althouuh  ardiMitlv  labored  foi-  the  bill  for  the  oc- 
cupation  of  Oregon  failed  of  its  passage  in  tlie  senate. 
Hut  Linn's  report  furnished  that  kind  of  information 
to  the  American  people  in  which  they  were  deeply 
Hitorested.  Pioneer  sons  of  pioneer  ancestors,  they 
delighted  in  the  thought  of  founding  another  empire 
on  the  Pacific  Ocean  as  their  sires  had  done  on  tlie 
Atlantic  seaboard.  Resolutions  began  to  be  adopted 
by  the  legislative  assemblies  of  different  states  favor- 


<!'       ' 


$ 


372 


OREGON  BEFORE  eONCJRK.s.s. 


!"i 

,1  ,:'|ia 


ing  the  speedy  settlement  of  the  Orcg-on  houiKlary, 
and  its  oecupution  by  tlie  government."" 

On  the  nth  of  Deeemher,  18:58,  Linn  introduced  a 
second  bill  for  the  occupation  of  the  Oregon  Territory, 
and  the  protection  of  citizens  of  the  United  States 
residing  tliere,  whicli  Avafi  referred,  as  before,  to  a 
special  committee  of  which  he  was  chairman,  his 
fellow-connnitteemen  being  Clay,  Calhoun,  Walker, 
and  Pierce.  -In  January  1831)  the  petition  of  which 
Jason  Lee  was  bearer  was  presented,  and  ordered 
printed;  and  the  correspondence  between  Cushing 
and  Lee,  given  in  a  former  chapter,  took  ])lacc;  all  of 
whicli  went  to  strengthen  Linn's  position  and  inform 
the  ])ul)lic.  On  the  22d  of  February  Linn  spoke  on 
liis  bill,  against  the  advice  of  other  senators,  who 
feared  the  ett'ect  of  the  agitation  of  such  a  measure  on 
the  attitude  of  Great  Britain  in  disputes  of  anothrr 
nature  involving  the  Maine  l)oundary  and  some  im- 
portant commercial  interests;  but  in  deference  to  tliis 
feeling,  refrained  from  asking  that  it  might  be  put  to 
vote.  It  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  foreign 
relations,  and  five  thousand  extra  copies  ordered 
printed,  the  circulation  of  which  aided  in  forming 
public  sentiment. 

About  the  same  time  Cushing,  chairman  of  the 
house  committee  on  foreign  atfaii's,  to  whom  was 
submitted  a  resoluticni  "to  inquire  into  the  expedi- 
ency of  establishing  a  post  on  the  River  Columbia, 
for  the  defence  and  occupation  of  the  territory  of 
the  United  States  watered  by  said  river,  the  extent 
of  the  country  claimed  by  the  United  States  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  the  title  under  which  it  is 
claimed,  with  its  correctness,  tlie  extent  of  sea-coast 
and  numbi'r  of  harbors,  the  nature  of  the  soil,  climate, 
and  productions,  the  expense  of  establishing  one  or 
more  forts,  what  ships  and  what  .soldiers  and  sailors 
would  be  required,"  and  all  questions  concerning  occu- 

''I  believe  tlio  first  resolution  ot  this  kind  oflfercci  was  by  the  legislature 
of  Illinois,  in  1838-9.  See  JGth  Cong.,  1st  Sens.,  Sen.  Doc.,  iii.  93. 


LEWIS  F.  LINN. 


373 


patioii,  presented  a  report  adverse  to  the  expedieiicv 
of  ostablisliiiii;'  a   territorial  Q:overiimeiit.     The  " 


rea- 


son tifiveii  by  tlie  committee  for  makino;  an  adverse 
report  was  that  tiiey  were  "anxious  to  observe  the 
letter  and  spirit  of  the  treaties  between  the  United 
States  and  (Jreat  Britain."  Yet  they  accompanied 
their  report  by  a  communication  from  the  secretary  of 
war,  and  another  from  the  secretary  of  the  navy,  con- 
tainini^  estimates  of  the  exjiense  which  would  probably 
be  incurred  in  "  certain  assumed  contingencies  contem- 
plate<l  by  the  order  of  the  house;"  by  the  letter  and 
])etition  of  Jason  Lee  before  adverted  to;  by  a  memoir 
from  Wyeth  on  the  soil,  climate,  and  resources  of  the 
country,  and  the  business  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany, representing  the  value  of  the  fur  trade;  by  a 
letter  fro)n  the  secretary  of  the  Oregon  Provisional 
Emlijfration  Societv,  to  which  reference  has  been  made 
ill  one  of  the  early  chapters  of  this  volunme,  with  a 
copy  of  the  constitution  of  the  society;  and  by  Sla- 
cuiii's  report,  and  a  memoir  by  Kelley.  Of  this  volu- 
minous tlocument,  tue  whole  of  which  took,  from  having 
so  much  in  it  that  was  furnislied  })y  persons  interested 
ill  the  occupation  of  Oregon,  a  tone  of  accusation  and 
enmity  towai'd  the  British  fur  company,  ten  thousand 
extra  copies  were  ordered  printed,  whicii  were  scattered 
broa(k'yfct  over  the  land,  educating  the  people  to  an 
exalted  idea  of  the  worth  of  the  Oregon  country,  and 
at  the  sank!  time  to  a  jmtred  of  the  British  traders 
who  had  so  ihv  succeeded  in  di'iving  out  of  it  Amer- 
ican com]  leti  tors,  ■' 

On  the  18th  of  Decombi'r  Linn  again  called  the 
attention  of  the  senate  to  a  series  of  resolutions  on 
the  subject  of  Oregon,  which  were  referred  as  usual 
to  a  select  committee,  who  reported,  on  the  31st  of 
March,  1840,  a  substitute,  asserting  the  title  of  the 
I  lilted  States  to  Oregon,  Jiuthori/ing  tlic  jtresident 
to  take  such  measures  as  might  b(>  d"maiMled  for  thi? 
protection  of  the  persons  and  property  '»f  citizens  of 


wrm 


i 


-   i 


rp 


374 


OREGON   BEFORE  tONCJRESS. 


tlie  United  States  residino'  in  that  territory,  to  erect 
a  line  of  military  posts  fi  m  Fort  Leavenworth  to 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  for  the  protection  of  the  Indian 
trade,  and  provided  also  for  the  appointment  of  an 
Indian  agent  for  Oregon  Territory.  The  chief  feature 
in  these  resolutions  was  a  provision  for  granting  to 
each  white  male  inhabitant  over  eighteen  years  of  age 
one  thousand  acres  of  land. 

This  was  the  measure  of  the  '  liberal  grant '  to  set- 
tlers, which  was,  on  the  suggestion  of  Jason  Lee,  to 
reward  the  pioneers  of  Oregon,  a  suggestion  wliich  was 
eagerly  caught  at  by  the  western  people.  A  })etition 
was  presented  to  congress  at  this  session  from  twent'  • 
seven  citizens  of  Elizabeth  town,  Kentucky,  settuu; 
forth  that  in  their  opinion  the  United  States  goveiii- 
nient  should  plant  a  colony  in  the  Oregon  Territory, 
giving  it  such  nuiture  in  its  infancy  as  to  enable  it 
to  establish  itself  peniianently,  and  to  develop  the 
natural  resources  of  the  ct)untry,  making  it  contribute 
to  the  national  wealth.  They  believed  it  necessary 
to  the  success  of  the  enterprise  that  a  road  should 
be  cut"*  from  some  ])()int  on  the  Missouri  liiver  to 
Astoria,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia.  "As  soon 
as  this  passage  can  be  opened,"  said  the  petitioners, 
"  a  colony  of  farmers  and  mechanics  should  be  con- 
ducted across  the  mountains  anil  settled,  with  a  mili- 
tary power  stati  )ned,  strong  enough  to  [)rotect  the 
colony.  Donations  of  land  should  be  made  to  those 
who  would  become  actual  settlor's,  sutticiently  largo 
to  induce  emigration.  At  convenient  distances  across 
the  mountains,  small  garrisons,  should  be  ])laced  to 
protect  travellers  from  the  hostilities  of  the  Indians." 
These  measures  it  was  thougvht  would  secure  a  more 
inn)ortant  conmiereial  position  than  any  yet  enjoyed 
by  the  United  States.""' 

Forty-four  citizens  of  Indiana  i.l^o  petitioned  con> 


■^'The  wortl  'cut'  coiiiea  well  fnini  ir.lia1)itantA  of  a  timbercil  country  like 
Kentucky,  hut  scarcely  a])i>li('s  to  tlic  western  prairies, 
'-'  .'(itli  Voiiij.,  lit  ,S<'.i.s.,  Sill.  Doc,  17J. 


PFTITIONS  AND  MEMORIALS. 


376 


gress  for  the  "occupation  aixl  settlement  of  Oregon 
Territory,  and  the  construction  of  a  road  thereto ;"  and 
remonstrating  against  the  jiroposed  ship  canal  across 
the  isthmus  of  Darien;  urging  as  a  reason  for  the 
construction  of  a  national  load  to  the  Pacific,  that  the 
connnerce  of  the  United  States  was  then,  and  had 
always  been,  exposed  to  the  dangers  of  the  stormy 
seas  of  the  high  southern  latitudes,  with  long  v<jyages 
at  great  expense  and  toil;  whereas  these  dangers 
might  be  avoided,  or  greatly  lessened,  hy  an  inland 
and  coast  trade,  and  a  route  across  the  continent  to  a 
point  on  the  Columbia  which  could  be  reached  by 
sea-ofoing  vessels  from  the  Pacific  side.  These  memo- 
rialists  were,  like  those  of  Kentucky,  of  opinion  that 
the  United  States  ought  to  induce  emigration  by 
liberal  grants  of  land  to  persons  removing  with  their 
families  to  Oregon ;  and  suggested  that  alternate  sec- 
tions might  be  reserved,  as  tlieir  value  would  be  greatly 
enhanced  by  the  settled  portions;  and  also  that  grants 
sliould  be  confined  to  a  limit  within  ten  miles  of  the 
Willamette  River,""  in  order  to  secure  the  early  sup- 
port of  steaml)oat  navigation.^'^ 

A  similar  memorial  was  presented  by  the  legisla- 
tive assembly  (<f  Missouri,  asking  for  grants  of  land  to 
s(;ttlers.~'^  On  the  2Gth  of  February  a  rc'})ort  was 
made  to  the  senate  by  the  secretary  of  war,  in  reply 
to  a  resolution  asking  his  opinion  of  the  expediency 
of  establishing  a  line  of  military  posts  from  the  Mis- 
.^  '-nri  P'ver,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Platte,  to  the 
jtass  or  passes  of  the  Kocky  ^Fountains,  with  the 
object  to  [)rotect  the  .American  fur  trade,  to  facihtate 
intercourse  between  tlie  valley  of  the  Mississipjii  and 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  and  to  hold  in  check  the  native 
tribes;  also  the  number  and  kind  of  troo])s  which 
would  be  required  for  such  s(^rvice,  the  ja'obable  cost 
of  keeping  up    the  posts,  and   whether    it  would  be 

""'Tlio  inomdriiil  rcails,  '  tlie  iiavigaUle  branch  of  the  Oregon  River.' 
■''  Mth  t'omj.,  iKt.  Si'MM.,  Si'H.  Doc.  J^i- 
■*'JV>th  CoH'j.,  1st  S<:%'*.,  .bV/j.  Doc.  41.1. 


!.  'a 


i     < 


370 


OREGON  BEFORE  CO./GRESS. 


necessay  to  increase  the  military  force  of  the  United 
States  in  order  to  garrison  such  estabhshments 

Poinsett's  report  set  forth  that  the  question  as  to 
expenditures  and  troops  could  not  be  satisfactorily 
answered  before  the  completion  of  certain  explorations 
undertaken  by  liis  direction,  and  which  were  expected 
to  be  extended  to  the  passes  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
during  the  summer.  He  however  believed  that  a 
line  of  posts  such  as  proposed  would  be  of  great  bene- 
fit to  t^ie  whole  stretch  of  country  to  be  traversed; 
and  '..!*'  ^'le  route  ordinarily  pursued  by  the  fur 
traders  I  be  the  most  practicable  line,  for  various 

reasons,  ii.  ading  its  directions,  and  its  being  per- 
j)endicular  to  a  line  of  defences  or  the  frontiers  of 
Arkansas,  Missouri,  and  Iowa.  Three  posts  were  con- 
sidered to  be  sufficient  to  "prepare  the  way  for  the 
peaceable  settlement  of  the  fertile  valleys  w^est  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains;"  one  at  the  junction  of  the  north 
and  south  forks  of  the  Platte,  and  another  at  the  con- 
fluence of  tlie  Laramie  branch  of  that  river.  The 
third  might  be  either  at  the  junction  of  Wind  River 
and  Popoagie,  the  principal  sources  of  the  Big  Horn, 
or  at  the  confluence  of  Horse  Creek,  called  by  travel- 
lers the  Seedskeeder,  with  the  Colorado.  And  to 
these,  the  secreL.'.>ry  thought,  the  stations  for  the 
})resent  might  be  limited.  "Under  their  shelter  the 
rich  and  fertile  valleys  west  of  the  mountains  may  be 
settled  and  cultivated  by  a  population  which  would 
pour  forth  its  numbers  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific  as 
soon  as  the  question  of  boundary  shall  be  definitivelv 
settled."-'^ 

Such  was  the  not  very  intelligent  report  of  the 
secretary  of  war  in  1840.  It  is  doubtful  if  he,  or  any 
of  those  persons,  citizens  or  others,  who  talked  of  a 
road  or  a  line  of  forts  to  the  Pacific,  rt  all  compre- 
hended the  fact  that  wlien  the  Rocky  Mountains 
were  reached  there  remained  the  hardest,  if  not  the 
most  dangerous,  j)art  of  the   route,  or  that  a  colony 

'*?Gth  Com,/.,  Jxt  Seax.,  Sen.  Dor.  2-U. 


REPORTS  RECEIVED. 


87: 


transported  to  the  western  base  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains would  be  hopelessly  removed  from  a  source  of 
supplies  on  either  side  of  the  continent  for  at  least 
half  the  year. 

Soon  after  the  resolution  above  referred  to  had 
been  reported  to  the  senate,  Linn  was  placed  in 
possession  of  Farnham's  letter  to  the  secretary  of  war, 
with  the  petition  which  accompanied  it,  and  which 
was  drawn  up  during  his  visit  to  the  Willamette 
Valley,  complaining  of  the  introduction  of  English 
emigrants  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  the  pre- 
tended r;v  nt  extension  of  the  laws  of  Canada  over 
the  inhabitants  of  Oregon,  and  exhibiting  alarm  lest 
the  company  entertained  hostile  intentions  toward 
Amorican  settlers.  Acting  upon  this  information, 
Linn  introduced,  on  the  28th  of  April,  a  bill  to  extend 
a  portion  of  the  laws  of  the  United  States  over  the 
territory  of  Oregon.  On  the  24th  of  May,  en  his 
motion,  the  Oregon  resolutions  were  made  the  special 
order  of  the  day  for  a  fortnight  thence ;  but  by  the 
advice  of  other  senators,  were  posponed  for  the  time, 
lest  their  consideration  by  the  senate  at  this  juncture 
should  prejudice  the  adjustment  of  important  ques- 
tions then  pending  between  the  United  States  and 
Great  Britain.*'  In  the  mean  time,  Captain  Spauld- 
ing's  report  had  reached  Washington,  and  although 
the  same  cause  for  silence  existed,  on  the  8th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1841,  Linn  brought  the  topic,  of  wliich  ho  was 
now  the  acknowledged  apostle  in  the  senate,  to  the 
attention  of  that  body,  by  moving  a  joint  resolution 
to  authorize  the  adoption  of  measures  for  the  occupa- 
tion and  settlement  of  the  Oregon  Territory,  and  for 
extending  certain  portions  of  the  laws  of  the  United 
States  over  it.  The  resolution  was  referred,  as  before, 
to  a  select  conmiittee  of  whicli  Linn  was  chairman, 
who  reported  it  to  the  senate,  witliout  amendment, 

"•Tlie  settlement  of  the  Maine  boundary,  so  long  deferred,  the  right  of 
search,  the  lilieration  of  slaves,  and  the  burning  of  the  Caroliiii',  besides 
others.  Only  a  few  cf  the  affairs  were  settled  by  the  treaty  of  1842,  known 
as  the  Ashburtou  treaty. 


37b 


OREGON  BEFORE  CONORESS. 


on  the  14th  of  January,  nothing  further  being  done 
at  this  session. 

But  at  the  extra  session  in  August,  Linn  submitted 
another  resolution,  that  the  president  be  requested  to 
give  to  the  British  government  the  twelve  months' 
notice  required  by  the  convention  of  1827,  of  a  desire 
to  put  an  end  to  the  treaty  of  joint  occupation  of  the 
territory  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  This  resolu 
tion  was  subsequently  amended  so  as  to  direct  the 
committee  on  foreign  relations  "to  inquire  into  the 
expediency  of  requesting  the  president"  to  give  the 
notice.  As  the  subject  was  permitted  to  drop  there, 
it  is  presumable  that  it  was  pronounced  inexpedient 
by  tltat  committee. 

The  president,  however,  in  his  essage  to  congress 
December  7,  1841,  recommended  to  its  consideration 
the  rcporr.  of  the  secretary  of  war,  John  C.  Spencer, 
a  strong  advocate  of  the  occupation  of  Oregon,^^  who 
favored  extending  military  posts  as  far  as  the  Rocky 
Mountains;  and  who  believed  with  John  C.  Calhoun 
that  silent  emigration  would  do  the  rest,  and  settle  all 
disputes  about  that  region.''"'  On  the  IGth  of  Decem- 
ber Linn  P^^ain  introduced  a  bill  in  the  senate,  the  pre- 
amble to  which  declared  that  the  title  of  the  United 
States  to  the  territory  of  Oregon  was  certain,  and 
would  not  be  abandoned,^''  authorizing  the  adoption 
of  measures  for  the  occupation  and  settlement  of  Ore- 

"^  That  part  of  the  president's  iriessage  relating  to  the  establisliinent  of  a 
clialn  of  posts  from  the  Missouri  to  the  I'ucitic  was  referred  to  tlie  committee 
on  military  affairs,  of  which  Pendleton  of  Ohio  was  chairman.  His  report, 
i.'7th  C'oiKj.,  ,.'(l  Smx.,  Jlouxe  Doc.  SM),  contains  a  review  of  the  Oregon  question 
of  title,  an  estimate  of  the  expense  of  erecting  forts,  a  description  of  tlie 
country,  a  letter  with  information  about  tlie  Metliodist  Mission,  tlie  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  and  other  matters. 

^'^  Xili'Ji'h'ci/.,  Ixviii.  102.  Xikn  WeeUi/  Kegisier  was  started  in  Septem- 
ber 1811,  at  liiiltimore,  Maryland,  by  H.  Niles.  It  was  a  journal  of  sixteen 
pages  octavo,  devoted  to  the  jjublication  of  'political,  historical,  geographical, 
scientific,  ;ustroiiomical,  statistical,  and  biographical  documents,  essays,  ami 
facts,  together  witli  notices  of  the  arts  aiul  manufactures,  anil  a  record  of  tlie 
events  of  the  times.'     It  was  subsequently  enliu-ged  and  was  removed  to  Phil- 


adelphia,  where  it  was  edited  by  (Jcorge  Beatty.      As  a  record  of  current 
fVents,  it  sustains  its  character  well,  an<l  was  among  the  most  zealous  advo- 
i.-ates  of  the  United  States  interest  in  Oregon.     Almost  a  complete  history  of 
tlie  Oregon  emigrations  could  lie  drawn  froiii  its  pages. 
•'•'  Linn  uud  SanjeiU's  IJj'c  (\f  Linn,  232. 


FAILURE  OF  LINN'S  BILL. 


879 


oon,  for  extending  certain  portions  of  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  over  that  territory,  and  for  other  pur- 
poses, following  it  on  the  4th  of  January,  1842,  by  a 
resolution  similar  to  that  of  the  preceding  August, 
requesting  the  president  to  give  notice  to  Great 
Britain  of  an  intention  to  terminate  the  treaty  of 
1 827.  It  was  about  this  date  that  Elijah  White  was 
urged  to  return  to  Oregon  witJi  all  the  powers  the 
government  could  at  that  time  confer,  and  with  assur- 
jviices  to  the  settlers  on  the  Willamette  that  con- 
L,^ress  would  remember  them,  and  the  hope  expressed 
tliat  in  the  pending  negotiations  the  Oregon  boundary 
might  be  determined,  and  that  at  all  events  it  would 
l)c  determined  at  an  early  day.  About  this  time, 
iilso.  Lieutenant  Fremont  was  despatched  upon  an 
expedition  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  best 
location  for  a  line  of  military  posts  from  tlie  Missouri 
River  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  to  collect  infor- 
mation concernhig  the  country  on  his  route. 

Linn's  bill  contained  a  section  authorizing  a  line  of 
forts  from  the  Missouri  into  "the  best  pass  for  enter- 
ing the  valley  of  the  Oregon,"  and  also  a  post  at  or 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  River,  besides  one 
i;ranting  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  land  to  every 
white  male  inhabitant  of  eighteen  years  of  age  or  over 
who  should  cultivate  the  same  for  five  years.  These 
were  its  popular  features.  It  also  authorized  and 
required  the  president  to  appoint  two  additional  In 
(liau  agents,  with  a  salary  of  .$1,500  each,  to  superin 
tend  the  interests  of  the  United  States  with  all  the 
tribes  west  of  any  agency  then  existing.  This  was 
the  promise  of  promotion  held  out  to  the  Oregon  sub- 
JiiL^ent  already  appointed.^* 

The  bill  extended  the  civil  and  crimmal  jurisdiction 
of  the  supreme  and  district  courts  of  the  territory  of 
Iowa  over  all  the  territory  west  of  the  Missouri  River, 
south  of  latitude  49°,  north  of  the  boundary  of  Texas, 
and  i^ast  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  and  also  over  all  the 

•'♦  H7(rtr'.s  T<n  Yiorx  hi  Or.,  324 


380 


OREGON  PEFOKK  ^JONGRESS. 


Ill 


country  ^roui  the  iiiouiitains  to  the  ocean,  between 
latitudes  42"  and  54°,  but  provided  for  the  delivery  oi' 
such  criminal  subjects  of  Great  Britain  as  niiglit  be 
arrested  under  the  act,  to  the  most  convenient  au- 
thorities having  cognizance  of  the  offence  by  the  laws 
of  that  nation.  Two  associate  justices  of  the  su- 
preme court  of  Iowa,  in  addition  to  those  already 
authorized  by  law,  were  hy  the  terms  of  the  bill  to  be 
appointed  for  the  duties  of  the  two  judicial  districts 
to  be  organized  out  of  the  territory  described,  these 
district  courts  to  possess  all  the  [)owers  and  authority 
invested  in  the  other  district  courts  of  Iowa,  and  in 
like  manner  to  appoint  their  clerks.  The  bill  also 
provided  for  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables,  with 
power  to  arrest  offenders.  By  these  means  it  was 
intended  to  furnish  that  protection  which  had  so  often 
been  demanded  by  the  Oregon  colonists. 

The  bill  was  referred  to  a  select  committee,  who 
instructed  the  chairman  to  report  it  back  to  the  senate 
with  a  reconnnendation  that  it  pass,  and  it  was  placed 
in  its  order  on  the  calendar;  but  before  it  came  u]> 
for  consideration.  Lord  Ashburton,  the  British  pleni- 
potentiary, arrived  in  Washington,  and  out  of  delicacy 
as  well  as  diplomacy,  the  senate  refrained  from  any 
further  discussion  on  the  subject  for  the  time.  On 
the  9tli  of  August,  1842,  the  treaty  framed  by  Lord 
Ashburton  and  Mr  Webster  was  concluded,  and  early 
in  the  following  session  Linn  brought  up  his  bill, 
pressing  it  with  great  ardor,  and  enlisting  the  best 
talent  of  the  senate  in  the  debate.^''  After  a  heated 
discussio)!,  it  passed  the  senate  by  a  vote  of  twenty- 
four  to  twenty-two,  February  3,  1843,  but  failed  in 
the  liouse.^^     Thus,  like  Fk)yd,  after  a  struggle  of 

'*  Calhoun,  Archer,  McDuffie,  Crittenden,  Conrad,  Clioate,  and  BeiTieii 
were  ndverse  to  the  passage  of  tlie  bill.  Benton,  Young,  Sevier,  Buchanan, 
Walker,  Phelps,  and  Linn  were  its  advocates.  Benton  said:  'I  now  go  for 
vindicating  our  rights  on  the  ColuiTibia,  and  as  the  first  step  toward  it. 
passing  this  bill,  and  making  these  grants  of  land,  which  will  soon  place  thirty 
or  forty  thousand  rifles  beyond  the  Rocky  Mouutoius. '  Thirty  Ymm'  Vieiv,ii. 
470  82;  Oroivr's  Piildir  L[ti'  in  Or.,  MS.,  99. 

■"^roii;/.  Glolx;  1842-3,  297. 


DlSArPOINTMEXI    OF  THE  I'EOi'LE. 


3t)I 


years,  he  had  the  satistactioii  of  j^ettinijf  liis  measure 
through  tliat  branch  of  the  national  lej^islature  of 
whicli  lie  was  a  member,  thoujj^h  it  did  not  become 
a  law.  It  was  Floyd's  last  eflbrt  in  congress;  it  was 
Lum's  last  eliort  in  the  senate,  for  he  died  October 
3d  ot  that  year,  and  before  the  reassembling  of  con- 


gress. 


The  disappointment  of  the  people  of  the  western 
states  was  great  when  the  results  of  the  Ash  burton - 
Webster  treaty  were  made  known,  and  it  became  cer- 
tain that  the  Oregon  boundary  had  not  been  touched 
upon,  the  interest  in  the  title  increasing  rather  than 
diminishing.  President  Tyler,  in  his  message  t<j  con- 
gress December  1842,  felt  called  upon  to  apologize 
for  the  failure.  "  It  became  manifest,"  he  said,  "  at  an 
early  hour  of  the  late  negotiations,  that  any  attempt 
for  the  time  being  satisfactorily  to  determine  those 
rights  would  lead  to  a  j)i'otracted  discussion  which 
might  embrace  in  its  failure  other  more  pressing  mat- 
ters." He  promised,  however,  not  to  delay  urging  a 
settlement. 

The  secretary  of  war  in  his  annual  report  expressed 
himself  favorable  to  a  line  of  military  posts,  with  the 
avowed  object  of  making  an  exhibition  of  strength 
to  influence  the  iiativ  s,  and  to  show  an  intention 
to  maintain  the  rights  of  the  United  States  on  the 
Pacific  coast;  and  advised  the  extension  of  their  juris- 
diction over  the  Oregon  Territory;  and  also  giving 
armed  protection  to  the  citizens  of  the  United  States 
already  there,  as  well  as  making  an  appropriation  to 
send  out  a  colony  who  were  anxious  tc  undertake  the 
enterprise.'"*     Resolutions  of  the  general    assemblies 

^'  Lewis  F.  Linn  was  born  near  the  site  of  the  city  of  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, Nov.  5,  17i)5,  being  a  grandson  of  William  Fiinn  of  the  revolutionary 
war,  a  son  of  wliom  emigrated  from  Penusylvauia  to  'where  wild  Ohio's 
mighty  flood  rolled  through  Kentucky's  twilight  wood,'  at  a  day  when 
few  white  people  lived  on  the  l)anks  of  the  Belle  Riviere.  Linn  seems  to  have 
engaged  the  affections  of  those  with  whom  he  was  associated,  to  a  remarkable 
degiee,  and  the  eulogies  pronounced  at  his  death  were  uunieroue.  See  Liint 
and  Sarqent'x  Life  oj  Liniu  !W1-441. 

^i^rih  Comj.,  Sd  Sem.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  2. 


382 


OUEUON  BEb\)UL'  CONdUESS. 


of  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  Missouri  were  forwarded  to 
congress,  expressing  tlieir  faith  in  the  validity  of  the 
United  States  title  to  the  right  of  domain  and  exclu- 
sive jurisdiction  between  latitude  42°  and  49°,  urging 
the  immediate  occu[)ation  of  the  territory;^"  ajul 
instructing  senators  and  representatives  to  vote  for 
the  measure.  These  resolutions  were  read  in  the 
senate  August  31,  1843.  Nine  memorials  were  pre- 
sented in  December,  from  different  parts  of  the 
western  states,  asking  that  steps  be  taken  for  tlie 
immediate  occupation  of  Oregon.  One  memorial  from 
Ohio,  presented  to  the  house,  asked  permission  t<> 
occupy  and  settle  "  not  over  twenty  thousand  squari' 
miles  of  land  in  Oregon  in  one  body;"  the  settlers 
not  to  number  less  than  fifty  men,  one  half  of  whom 
nmst  have  families.*"  The  request  was  referred  to  a 
special  committee,  who  already  had  in  hand  a  petition 
from  Illinois  asking:  that  a  section  of  land  be  granted 
to  every  man  over  twenty-one  years  of  age  who  should 
settle  in  Oregon. 

Petitions  were  received  from  Alabama,  Iowa,  Ken- 
tucky, Missouri,  and  Indiana,  of  a  similar  nature. 
Public  meetings  were  held  at  Alton,  Illinois,  Cincin- 
nati, Ohio,  and  at  Washington  City,  demanding  the 
occupation  of  Oregon.*^  Hundreds  of  letters  pouretl 
in  on  Senator  Linn,  and  continued  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death  to  make  large  demands  u])on  his  time. 
Nor  did  these  petitions  and  memorials  cease  with  the 
loss  of  Oregon's  able  champion.  In  the  first  session 
of  1843-4  petitions  of  the  same  nature  were  sent  in 
from  Iowa,  Indiana,  Missouri,  and  Ohio.*"  The  citi- 
zens of  Missouri  desired  that  an  appropriation  be 
made  for  the  survey  and  establishment  of  the  boun- 
dary of  Oregon  Territory,  and  that  the  jurisdictioi» 

^^27th  Cong.,  3d  Seas.,  Sen.  Doc.,  iii.  158;  27f/i  Cong.,  3d  Sens.,  Sen.  Doc, 
iv.  217;  27fJi  Comj.,  3d  Sena.,  Sen.  Doc.,  iii.  159;  27th  Cong.,  3d  Seas.,  Sen. 
J)oc.,  iii.  180. 

**27lh  Conij.,  3d  Seas.,  If.  Jour.,  260. 

*^  27lh  Cong.,  3d  Sesa.,  Sen.  Doc.,  84;  Semple's  Oc<'upiUion  of  Oregon,  8,  9, 
IS;  Com/.  Gld>e,  1842-3,  84,  88,  220,  2C7,  287,  340. 

^^2Slh  Cong.,  lal  Sess.,  li.  Jour.,  80,  107,  270. 


THE  QUESTION   OF  TITLE. 


c»f  tlie  United  States  should  \)e  extended  over  it  as 
soon  as  possible.  Moore  of  Ohio  presented  in  the 
lower  house  a  declaration  of  the  citizens  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley  in  convention  assembled  at  Cincinnati, 
on  the  5th  of  July  previous,  and  indeed,  from  this 
time  forward  till  the  final  settlement  of  the  Oregon 
boundary  in  1  840  the  agitation  increased,  as  I  have 
already  shown  in  the  chapters  on  the  Oregon  title  in 
the  second  volume  on  the  Northwest  CoasfJ^ 

The  president  in  his  annual  message  to  congress, 
December  5,  1843,  in  remarking  on  the  subject  of  the 
Oregon  boundary,  announced  the  ultimate  claim  of 
the  United  States  to  be  to  all  the  territory  north 
of  42°  and  south  of  54^  40'  on  the  Northwest  Coast. 
Great  Britain,  he  said,  controverted  this  claim,  and 
the  American  minister  at  London,  under  instructions, 
had  again  brought  the  subject  to  the  consideration  of 
the  British  government.  A  happy  termination  of  the 
negotiations  was  expected;  but  in  the  mean  time 
many  citizens  of  the  United  States  were  on  their  way 
to  Oregon,  many  were  there,  and  others  were  prepar- 
ing to  emigrate,  and  he  recommended  the  establishing 
of  military  posts  along  the  line  of  travel. 

This  was  the  first  formal  announcement  of  the  in- 
tention of  the  United  States  to  ignore  any  claim  of 
Great  Britain  to  territory  on  the  Pacific;  but  it 
quickly  became  the  watchword  of  a  majority  of  the 

*'  Petition  of  the  citizens  of  Licking  t'ounty,  Ohio,  urging  the  government 
to  take  innnediate  possession  of  Oregon.  Com/.  OUAe,  184;V-4,  82.  Resolu- 
tion of  the  legislative  assembly  of  Ohio,  to  terminate  the  convention  witli 
Great  Britain.  JSth  Comj.,  2(1  tienn..  Sen.  Ex.  Dock.,  ii.  5C;  with  similar  reso- 
lutions from  New  Hampshire,  Missouri,  Illinois,  anil  Alabama.  Resolution 
of  the  general  a.>jsembly  of  Indiana  to  the  same  efi'eut;  'poaceaW  .1  ve  can; 
forcibly  if  we  must.'  28thCoiuj.,  LstSm.^.,  H.  Jour.,  42.3-4;  Comj.  :  ■  ■  lS43-4, 
22G.  Petition  of  David  Newkirk  and  55  others  of  Seneca  County,  Oliio,  asking 
ci-ngress  to  take  measures  to  aid  settlers  in  Oregon.  Petiti^m  of  citizens  of 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  for  the  immediate  occupation  of  Oregon  Territory. 
Tlie  same  from  Carroll  County  and  Medina  County,  that  the  ordinance  of 
1787  be  extended  over  Oregon.  Petition  of  the  people  of  the  state  of  Ohio, 
that  the  Oregon  Territory  be  immediately  occupied.  Petition  of  the  citizens 
of  Ross  and  Pickaway  counties,  Oliio,  praying  lor  a  territoriiii  government  in 
Oregon.  Petition  of  the  citizens  of  Oswego  Cduuty,  New  York,  for  the  set- 
tlement of  the  boundary  and  for  the  protection  of  emigrants  to  Oregon. 
Cong.  Globe,  1843-4,  030;  Id.,  1844-5.  155;  and  probably  others  that  have 
escaped  my  observation. 


884 


OllKdON   BKFOUE  tON(iUEss. 


i. 


American  pooplc,  and  on  this  issue  Polk  was  elected 
to  the  presidency  the  f'ollowinj^  year.  Meanwhile  con- 
gress was  more  than  cvi'r  en«if}i>jfed  in  the  discussion 
of  the  Oregon  Question  and  Oregon  measures,  a  bill 
for  occupation  hcing  before  both  houses. 

Early  in  the  first  session  of  the  "iHth  congress, 
Atchison  of  Missouri  introduced  in  the  senate  a  bill 
"  to  facilitate  and  encourage  the  settlement  of  the  terri- 
tory of  Oregon,"  by  a  line  of  stockade  or  block-house 
forts,  n<rt  over  five  in  number,  extending  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains;  the  erection  of  fortifications  at  the  moutli 
of  the  Columbia;  a  grant  of  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  of  land  to  every  white  male  inhabitant  ot 
eighteen  years  of  age  or  upwards  who  should  culti- 
vate the  same  for  five  years;  to  every  such  cultivator 
who  should  be  married,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
additional  for  having  a  wife;  besides  an  equal  amount 
for  every  child  he  might  have  under  the  ag'  •)f 
eighteen  years,  or  who  might  be  born  to  him  d  if 
the  five  years  of  occupancy  and  use  of  the  land,  vvi..cii 
gave  him  title.  The  land  should  revert  to  heirs  at 
law,  though  nt)  sale  of  it  would  be  valid  before  the 
patent  issued.  The  territory  of  Oregon  was  declared 
to  comprise  ail  the  country  lying  west  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  within  the  parallels  of  42°  and  54' 
40',  and  the  sum  of  $100,000  was  by  the  bill  appro- 
priated t(j  carry  these  measures  into  effect.  After  a 
long  discussion,  during  which  all  the  old  arguments, 
with  sundry  new  ones  arising  out  of  the  altered  con- 
dition of  the  Oi'egon  Territory  through  colonization, 
and  the  alleged  oppressions  of  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  together  with  the  attitude  of  England 
occasioned  by  the  proceedings  of  the  previous  con- 
gress, were  fully  entered  into,  the  final  consideration 
of  the  bill  was  postponed  on  account  of  the  arrival 
of  a  British  minister  to  carry  on  negotiations  on  the 
Oregon  Question,  and  in  the  hope  that  the  settlement 
of  the  controversy  would  remove  all  obstacles  to  the 
extension  of  jurisdiction  and  protection. 


PROLONliEU   DISCUSSION. 


386 


AiiotluT  Will  \v;is  iiiin»<lu('e(l  by  Atchison,  for 
"c8tjil)lisliin<r  a  govermiu'iit"  in  tlio  torritoiy  of  Oro- 
vrou,  wliicli  was  not  })ross(.Ml  to  a  third  rcaTlinj^.  A. 
resolution  of  Allen  of  Ohio,  requesthjg  the  president 
to  lay  before  the  senate  a  copy  of  his  instructions  to 
the  American  ininist(;r  in  England  on  the  sul)ject  ^f 
the  Oregon  title,  since  the  4th  of  March,  IH41,  with 
a  copy  of  the  cori-es[)ondenee  wliicli  ha<l  passcul,  elicit- 
I'd  extended  debate  on  the-  i)owers  of  the  executive 
and  the  senate,  and  was  rejected  by  a  vote  of  thirty- 
one  to  fourteen.  The  president  liad  already  declined 
a  similar  request  of  the  lower  liouse  as  inexpedient, 
owing  to  the  pros})ect  of  negotiation;  but  the  senate, 
it  was  contendi'd  by  some  members,  had  certain  rights 
in  the  matter,  not  to  be  set  aside  by  the  executive. 
Another  resolution  by  Semple  "f  Ilhnois,  requesting 
the  president  to  give  to  Greni  J^ritain  the  twelve 
months'  notice  required,  of  a  desire  to  animl  the  con- 
vention of  1818,  caused  yet  more  discussion,  ])resaging 
war  as  it  ditl,  and  the  ri'solution  was  negatived  by  a 
vote  of  twenty-eight  to  eighteen. 

In  the  house  of  rei>resentatives  the  same  topics 
were  prominent  throughout  the  session.  Hughes  of 
Missouri  introduced  a  bill  for  the  organization  of  a 
territorial  government,'**  which  being  refei-red  to  the 
committee  on  territories,  Brown  of  Tennessee  chair- 
man, reported  a  bill  extending  the  civil  and  criminal 
jurisdiction  of  Iowa  Territory  over  Oregon,  as  far 
north  as  54°  40',  giving  land  as  in  the  senate  bill; 
jiroviding  for  the  appointment  of  a  judge  and  justice 
of  the  peace;  and  appropriathig  $100,000  to  build 
forts  on  the  road  to  Oregon,  and  within  it.*^  Ten 
thousand  copies  of  the  bill  and  report  wore  ordered 
printed,  and  tliat  was  the  end  of  it. 

Semple  of  Illinois  offered  a  resoluti(»n  requesting 
the  president  to  give  notice  to  (^reat  Britain  of  the 
intended  abrogation  of  the  treaty  of  1818,  at  the  end 


**28th  Com/.,  IM  Sem.,  H.  Jour.,  1844,  l()8-9. 
*''<:'om/.  <Hol,(\  1848-4,  .366:  :iSth  ('oiii/.,  Jxt  .S'm.,  //.  Join:,  (VM). 
IIisT.  Or.,  Vol.  L    2.") 


336 


0UP:CK)N   BKFOKK  (.ONGKli«.S. 


i| 


I 


!  m 


of  twelve  months,  which  was  referred  to  the  commit- 
tee on  foreign  affairs,  who  reported  adversely,  not  wisli- 
ing  to  disturb  the  course  of  international  discussions  by 
such  a  step.  This  did  not  prevtsnt  members  from  ex- 
pressing their  views  with  freedom,  offering  resolutions 
laying  claim  to  the  whole  of  Oiegon,  and  declining  to 
adjourn  till  a  territory  v/as  organized  in  that  region. 

The  second  ression  of  the  28th  congress,  1844-5. 
opened  with  the  Oregon  Question,  in  the  form  of  a 
resolution  by  Allen  of  Ohio,  requesting  the  ])resideiit 
to  lay  before  the  senate  any  instructions  wliich  had 
been  given  the  American  minister  ui  England  on  tlic 
subject,  since  a  former  correspondence,  which  resolu- 
tion was  passed  by  a  vote  of  twenty-four  to  sixteen, 
showing  the  progress  of  public  sentiment  among  the 
most  conservative  class.  The  president,  however, 
tliought  fit  to  make  no  resiJonse;  and  the  senate 
endeavored  to  act  witli  circumspection ;  wlien  a  bill 
for  establishing  a  government  was  presented  by  Mr 
Atchison  of  Missouri,  and  referred  to  a  select  com- 
mittee, who  made  a  feint  of  opposing  the  measure  by 
proposing  to  refer  to  the  connnittee  on  foreign  affairs, 
the  attempt  being  defeated  by  a  vote  of  twenty-four 
to  twenty.  The  president  himself,  in  his  annual  mes- 
sage, after  informing  congress  that  a  negotiation  had 
been  formally  entered  u})on  between  the  secretary  of 
sta*^e,  Mr  Calhoun,  and  the  nunister  of  (h-eat  Britain 
residing  at  Wasliingtoi»,  renewed  tlie  recommendations 
in  his  })revious  messages  that  congress  should  take! 
measures  to  facilitate  innnigration,  by  establishing 
niihtary  posts,  "and  make  the  provision  of  the  exist- 
in<^!f  convention  for  joint  ()ccui)ancv  of  the  territory  bv 
sulgects  of  Great  Britain  and  citizens  of  the  United 
States  more  available  than  lieretofore  to  the  latter." 
As  at  the  former  session,  there  were  a  number  of 
petitions  to  congress  from  the  citizens  antl  legislatures 
of  several  of  the  states,  asking''**  a  territoi'ial  govern  • 

*^Co>iij.  GMh;  ISU-Ty,  17,  155,  237,  277. 


TEKKITOKIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


:«: 


inent  for  Oregon,  and  urging  the  government  to  give 
notice  to  Great  Britain.*^ 

In  the  lower  house  the  sentiment  in  favor  of  organ- 
izing a  territorial  government  had  also  much  increased 
during  the  sunnner  vacation ;  and  when  Duncan  of 
Ohio  asked  to  introduce  a  bill  for  that  purpose,  tiic 
objections  were  overruled  by  a  vote  of  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  to  fifty  three.  When  the  bill  was 
reported  back  from  its  connnittee,  it  met  little  opposi- 
tion, and  was  finally  passed  February  3,  1845,  by  a 
vote  of  one  hundred  and  forty  to  fifty-nine.  Then 
it  was  sent  to  the  senate,  and  adopted  by  the  select 
committee  in  place  of  the  Atchison  bill,  but  being 
])()stponed  when  on  the  point  of  a  vote,  failed  for  want 
of  time. 

The  efiect  of  the  objections  to  the  Oregon  bills 
defeated  at  the  previous  session  was  apparent  in  tlu' 
bills  offered  at  this,  Atchison's  bills  enacted  that  a 
tein))()rary  government,**^  with  a  governoV  to  remain 
in  office  five  ye;\rs,  and  other  officers  necessary  to  a 
])roper  administration  of  law  should  be  provided  for ; 
with  a  legislative  boJy  consisting  of  the  governor  and 
judges,  ail  of  whose  acts  should  be  transmitted  to  the 
secretary  of  state  of  the  United  States  by  the  secre- 
tary of  Oregon  every  six  months,  to  be  annually  laid 
before  congress.  The  governor  was  made  connnander- 
in-cliief  of  the  militia,  with  ])o\ver  to  a])])oint  both 
niilitary  and  civil  officers,  and  lay  off  districts  for  civil 
and  military  ])in'poses.     As  socui  as  there  should  be 

*'  The  legislature  of  Maine  claimed  the  whole  Oregon  Territory  up  to  CA^ 
40',  and  closed  a  lonj^  series  of  resolutions  with  this  f)ne:  'That  our  senators 
in  congress  he  instructed,  and  our  reinvsenlutives  he  re(iuested,  to  use  tlieir 
l)est  exertions  tosecu.e  the  annexation  of  Texas  to  tlie  United  Stales,  and  tlie 
occupation  of  Orego'i,  in  co.ii<.rnuty  with  the  foregoing  rcsolutious.'  Texas 
was  at  tliis  juncture  fre(jueiitly  in  the  'resolutions'  hotli  in  a.>d  out  of  con- 
gre:is,  and  was  really  one  olistac  e  to  the  suciess  of  the  Oregon  nie'isures;  as 
the  southern  states  cared  more  for  its  annexation  than  for  the  occupation  of 
Oregon.  As  tliu  annexation  of  Tex.;s  seemed  more  prohaMo,  it  was  endeavored 
hy  coupling  to  carry  the  Oregon  measuii;.  See  resolution  of  the  legislature  of 
New  Hampsliiro,  Coikj.  (llnhf,  1S44-'),  p.  !()<»;  of  Ohio,  p.  M^s. 

**\i  is  rernarkahle  that  no  allusion  is  made  in  the  dehates  to  a  temporary 
government  already  existing  in  Oregon,  of  whicli  information  nmst  have  l)ecn 
ohtained,  otiicially  or  othurwi'io.  Elijah  \\lute  certainly  reported  on  tlie 
suhject. 


fl    fl 


388 


OREGON  liKFORE  CONGRESS. 


five  tliousaiid  free  white  male  inhabitants  over  twenty 
one  years  of  age  citizens  of  the  United  States,  they 
might  elect  a  legislature,  one  representative  for  every 
five  hundred  voters,  to  serve  for  two  years ;  the  legis- 
lature to  consist  of  a  council  and  house  of  representii- 
tives,  the  council  to  consist  of  five  members,  electefl 
by  the  whole  legislative  body,  to  serve  five  years ;  the 
president  of  the  United  States  to  have  power  to  re- 
move any  member;  the  assembly  to  have  power  to 
make  laws  for  the  territory,  not  conflicting  with  the 
laws  of  the  United  States,  the  veto  power  being  abso- 
lute in  the  governor.  A  delegate  to  congress,  witii 
the  right  of  debate  only,  should  b(i  elected  immediately 
upon  the  aj)pointment  of  a  governor,  the  latter  being 
also  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs.  Tlie  bill  provided 
also  for  a  line  of  stockade  forts  and  block- houses  to  the 
South  Pass,  and  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia. 
The  grant  of  land  to  settlers  was  promised  '  hereafter ;' 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  to  every  white  male  in- 
habitant over  eighteen,  one  hundred  and  sixty  acres 
to  the  wife  of  every  married  man,  and  the  same 
quantity  to  the  father  for  each  child  under  eighteen 
already  in  existence,  or  who  should  be  born  within 
five  years  after  his  settlement  on  a  land  claim.  The 
president  was  authorized  and  recpiii-ed  to  appoint  two 
additional  Indian  agents  besides  the  governor.  The 
territory  over  which  this  form  of  governnunt  was  to 
be  extended  was  confined  to  tlu'  limit  of  41)^.  I  have; 
given  this  abstract  of  Atchison's  bill  to  show  tJie 
gradual  i)rogress  toward  the  idi'a  of  a  government  for 
Oregon,  in  spite  of  the  international   question  in  the 


40 


way 

The  bill  which  passed  in  the  house,  while  claiming 
the  Oregon  Territory  to  54"  40',  contained  several 
clauses  intended  to  guard  it  against  the  charge  of 
ignoring  the  treaty  obligations  of  the  United  States, 


li  ij 


*^  I  liavt'  another  ohject— to  give  tho  gradual  growtli  of  the  ilonatioii  land 
law,  tlie  chief  new  feature  in  this  bill  being  that  ItK)  acres  were  given  to  the 
wife,  instead  of  to  the  liusbaiid. 


NO  SLAVERY. 


389 


British  subjects  arrested  within  the  territory  were  to 
be  delivered  to  the  nearest  British  tribunal,  up  to  a 
period  twelve  months  after  the  United  States  should 
have  served  a  notice  on  Great  Britain  of  abrogation 
of  the  treaty.  It  was  provided  that  the  future  grants 
of  land  contempiated  by  the  act  should  be  subject  to 
the  settlement  of  the  title  with  Great  Britain,  and 
the  extinguishment  of  tlie  Indian  title;  also,  that 
nothing  in  the  act  should  be  ccmstrued  as  closing  or 
obstructing  any  of  the  navigable  waters  within  the 
limits  of  the  t(irritory  organized  by  the  bill,  or  any 
part  of  the  country  claimed  by  either  g(>vernment  on 
the  Northwest  Coast,  against  the  vessels,  citizens,  or 
subjects  of  (;rreat  Britain.''"  As  an  indication  of  the 
growing  im])ortance  of  another  question  which  was  to 
enter  as  a  factor  into  the  destiny  of  Oregon,  Win- 
throp  of  Massachusetts  proposed  as  an  amendment  a 
jjroviso  "that  there  shall  be  neither  slavery  nor  invol- 
untary servitude  in  the  said  territory,  otherwise  than 
in  the  punishment  of  crimes,  whereof  ^  e  party  shall 
have  been  duly  convictijd."  But  already  the  provis- 
ional government  of  the  Oregon  colony  entertained 
the  principle  of  a  free  state.  And  the  p(M)ple  of 
Oregon  were,  for  obvious  reasons,  l^ettor  off'  with 
their  simple  organization  than  they  would  have  been 
had  either  of  these  acts  passed. 

It  is  not  necessary  to  the  pnrj^oses  of  this  history 
to  pursue  the  action  of  congress  through  the  2i)th 
session.  It  was  a  [)eriod  of  great  excitement  and  in- 
creased freedom  of  ex})ressioii.  President  Polk  in  his 
message  declared  that  "beyond  all  (|uestion,  the  pro- 
tection of  our  laws,  and  our  jurisdiction,  civil  and 
criminal,  ought  to  be  innnediately  extended  over  our 
citizens  in  Oregon."  The  legislative  committee  of  Ore- 
gon for  1845  memorialized  congress  upon  the  subject 
of  their  temporary  organization,  reciting  the  griev- 

^  Under  this  law  MuLouglilin's  claim  at  Oregon  City  would  have  been 
ivspected 


3>f 


I  [t<i 


r 


I  b 


u 


300 


OREGON  BEFORE  CONGRI'.SS. 


ances  under  which  they  labored,  in  terms  very  differ- 
ent from  those  heretofore  employed  in  the  memorials 
from  Oregon. 

A  bill  from  the  house  committee  on  territories,  of 
which  Douglas  of  Illinois  was  chairman,  "  to  protect 
the  rights  of  American  settlers  in  the  territory  of 
Oregon,"  was  passed  on  the  18th  of  April,  1846,  but 
after  frequent  postponements  failed  in  the  senate. 
At  length,  on  the  Gth  of  August,  congress  received 
official  notification  of  the  settlement  of  the  Oregon 
boundary  at  the  49th  parallel,  together  with  a  strong 
recommendation  by  the  president  that  lil)eral  land 
ffrants  should  be  made  to  the  Orejjon  settlers  without 
delay.  It  might  have  been  believed  that  the  defining 
of  a  boundary  was  the  oidy  tiling  lacking  to  forwartl 
the  establishment  of  a  territory  on  the  Columbia 
River,  instead  of  whicli,  however,  it  was  made  the 
excuse  to  avoid  it  by  those  senators  who  were  dis- 
satisfied with  the  relinquishment  of  the  territory 
between  latitudes  49°  and  54°  40'."^  Hence  little  that 
should  have  been  done  for  Oregon  at  tliis  session  was 
done;  and  liere  I  leave  congress,  and  return  to  the 
afl[airs  of  the  countrv. 

*'Hannigaii  of  ludicana  said:  'If  moiisiires  were  to  1)e  passed  relating  to 
Oregon,  as  a  matter  of  course  they  n»uat  expect  a  debate  upon  t'.iat  conven- 
tion [treaty  of  184()J,  wliieh  he  wouhl  take  tliis  occasion  to  say  was  neither 
more  nor  less  tlum  a  convention  for  the  joint  occupation  of  Ovegou  south  >)f 
the  40th  degree  of  latitude — a  convention  which  had  ceded  to  tlu;  HudsonV 
Bay  Company  in  perpetuity  the  navigation  of  the  (."olundjia  River.  It  was  a 
convention  for  tlie  joint  occupation  of  Oregon  soutii  of  4'.*',  while  l)efore  we 
held  as  far  north  as  54'  40'.  He  repeated  tiiat  tiiose  who  were  opposed  to 
the  convention  desired  to  be  lieard  in  reference  to  it,  in  an  ai)peal  to  their 
constituents  and  to  the  country.'  Alh'n  of  Ohio  trust(^<l  the  law  of  Oregon 
Territory  would  be  '  so  framed  as  to  prevent  any  man  who  held  allegiance  to 
the  British  crown  from  holding  an  acre  of  lan<l  in  fee-simple  in  tliat  territory. 
He  wanted  uo  British  sul)ject  to  possess  any  rights  within  our  territory  there. 
He  wanted  to  legislate  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  out  of  the  territory,  and 
that  im  speedily  as  possible.'  Coinj.  Ololit,  1S45-0,  IIDS-'J. 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THE  IMMIGRATION   OF    1843. 

KFFKCr  OF  C'ONORESSIONAL  DlSCtrssroN  AND  MiSSIONAKY  AoiTATION — FlOTK- 
ISO  TO  THE  KkNDKZVOUS — ORGANIZATION — DISAFFECTION  AND  DIVIS- 
ION— Names  of  the  Emigrants — The  Lioht  Column  and  the  Cow 
Column — Along  the  Plaite — At  Fort  Hall — Whitman's  Doings — 

On   to  the  COLIMHIA   AND  DOWN   THE   KlVER — PoLU'Y  OF  THE  HuDSON's 

Bay  Company — It  is  Better  to  Sell  oh  Oive  than  Temfi'  the  New- 
comers TO  Take  by  Force — The  Ai'I'legates — Other  Bioorafhrai, 
Notices. 


The  discussions  in  congress,  and  the  popularity  of 
Linn's  bill  with  the  niissionary  eftbrts  lierein  narrated, 
resulted  in  a  })r()nounced  emigration  movement.  It 
l)egan  in  1842,  when  a  hundred  persons  followed 
Elijah  White  westward.  Tlie  conclusion  of  the  Asli- 
burton  tn^aty  in  August,  althougli  it  disappointed  the 
people  by  not  settling  the  Oregon  boundary,  was  an 
indication  that  further  amicable  arrangements  might' 
be  made  in  tlie  near  future,  besides  removing  the 
obstruction  in  congress  to  the  passage  of  Linn's  bill. 

Tliere  was  at  tliis  time  a  large  body  of  men  in  the 
western  l)order  states  wlio  were  dissatisfied  witli  their 
condition  as  a  })i'oducing  community  without  a  market. 
Tlie  era  of  raih'oads  liad  not  yet  dawned.  New 
Orleans  was  the  only  outlet  f<tr  the  country  border- 
ing on  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  rivers,  and  this 
market  was   glutted.'     The    United    States    had    no 

'WaUlo  says  that  .Fesac  Applogatc,  his  ni'ighhor  in  St  Chiir  County, 
Missouri,  soM  a  stuanihoat  loact  ol "hauou  and  hinl  tor  SHH1;  tliat  hacon  WfW 
iisdd  for  fuel  on  the  MissiHsipjii  boats,  and  that  wliin  lie  came  to  Oregoa  he 
did  not  tattenipt  to  sell  Ids  land,  hut  simply  abandoned  it.  (Jriliiiins,  MS..  9- 


10.     Burnett's  account  of  why  he  left  Missouri  eonfinua  this  statvnieiit. 
watf  hopelessly  in  debt.  Ilccolkctioiii  of  a  I'ioittcr,  Uti, 


He 


I 


I'      (' 


1   ;■ 


39*2 


THE  I.MMKHIATION  OF  1843. 


commerce  which  could  reheve  this  plethora  of  pro- 
ilucttioii ;  and  to  make  matters  worse,  these  laiidsnvcre 
about  to  come  into  market,  and  their  occupants  could 
not  })ay  for  them.  Tiiis  state  of  affairs  among  a  bod}' 
of  men  whose  fathers  had  emigrated  step  by  step  from 
the  Atlantic  seaboard  to  the  Missouri  frontier;  wlio 
Jiad  fouglit  the  savages  and  the  British,  and  feared 
iieither  man  nor  devil;  who  were  democrats  or  whigs 
upon  principle,  loved  politics,  and  were  intensely  patri- 
otic; who  would  march  across  a  continent  to  assert 
American  rights,  and  rather  sought  than  avoided  a 
contest — to  men  so  strong,  restless,  aggresive,  the 
<'ondition  of  affairs  on  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri 
borders  from  1841  to  1845  was  intolerable.  And  to 
these,  statesmen  addressed  themselves  through  Linn's 
bill,  by  talking  of  lands  which  should  be  ample  and 
free  in  Oregon. 

The  land  in  itself  might  be  little  temptation  after 
their  ex})erience  in  mid-continent,  but  the  idea  of  sea- 
board was  attractive,  includmg  as  it  did  the  dream 
of  conmiercial  relations  with  the  islands  of  the  Pacific 
and  with  China,  To  found  a  new  state  on  these 
shores,  in  direct  comnmnication  with  the  most  popu- 
lous nations  of  the  globe,  was  the  ambition  .awakened 
in  them  by  the  frequent  reports  received  from  travel- 
lers and  missionaries  of  the  natural  resources  and 
favorable  situation  of  the  Oreijfon  Territory. "' 


It-  ^1 


'^  In  evidence  of  this  is  a  letter  from  P.  L.  Edwards  at  Richmond,  Mis- 
souri, to  .T.  M.  IJacou  of  Liberty,  (Uited  Septuuilier  184'2.  Edwards  begins 
by  apoloyiziiiy;  for  not  having  sooner  rejilied  to  Bacon's  inquiries  concerning 
Oregon,  and  (leprecates  taking  upon  himself  the  responsibility  of  giving  ad- 
vice in  a  matter  of  so  nuicli  importance  as  that  of  the  emigratio"  of  a  coh>ny 
across  the  jdains  to  the  sliore  of  tlie  Pacitic,  Ho  then  proceeds:  'You  asii 
for  information  in  regard  to  tlie  route  and  outlit  of  emigrants.  In  reply,  I 
can  nicommeml  no  other  than  that  usually  taken  by  traders  anil  trappers, 
with  occasional  deviations  which  it  would  be  useless  to  endeavf.i  to  point  out 
on  paper.  I  mean  the  route  up  the  south  Platte,  a  short  distance  above  the 
junction  of  the  north  and  south  forks;  thence  up  the  north  fork  until  you 
have  travelled  soine  li  or  8  days  within  the  first  range  of  mountains, 
called  the  Black  Hills;  thence  to  the  Colorado  cif  the  \\' est;  and  thence  to 
Fort  Hall  on  Lewis  River  by  the  way  of  Bear  River.'  In  answer  to  the  cpies- 
tion  if  the  journey  could  be  made  in  wagons,  he  sai<l  that  wagons  could  be 
taken  two  thirds  of  the  way,  but  not  farther;  and  that  lie  should  always 
prefer  horse.?;  and  gave  some  ailvice  about  provisions,  and  the  size  of  tho 


tiATHElilNO"  OF  THE  COMPANIES. 


303 


Early  in  the  spring  of  1843,  or  as  soon  as  tlie  grass 
began  to  grow,  ])roniptly,  without  preconcert,  but  as 
if  by  appointment,  emigrants  from  every  part  of  Mis- 
souri and  the  neighboring  states  were  on  the  roads 
to  the  usual  rendezvous  in  the  vicinity  of  Indepen- 
dence. Their  wagons  were  drawn  by  two  or  three  or 
live  yokes  of  oxen;  on  the  covers  were  the  words 
"For  Oregon,"  and  their  innnense  herds  of  cattle 
filled  the  highways.  Many  of  them  had  been  neigh- 
bors at  home,  and  often  families  of  brothers,  with 
their  wives  and  little  ones,  constituted  a  colony.  At 
all  events  they  had  now  one  common  interest  in  the 
necessity  for  mutual  aid  and  protection  in  the  long 
journey  before  them.  By  the  middle  of  May  it  was 
thought  time  to  take  action  as  a  body,  and  on  the  20th 
a  meeting  was  held  at  Fitzhugh's  mill,  twelve  miles 
west  of  Independence,  to  complete  an  organization. 
Here  met  for  the  first  time  men  from  Arkansas,  Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee,  Illinois,  Iowa,  and  Missouri.  There 
was  a  large  company  from  what  was  known  as  the 
Platte  Purchase  in  the  latter  state,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  Peter  H.  Burnett  of  Weston.  Another 
com|)any  was  fr-om  St  Clair  County,  and  was  led  by 
Jesse  Ap})legate,  his  brothers  Lindsey  and  Charles, 
and  Daniel  AWddo.  A  California  party,  under  Joseph 
B.  Chiles,  was  from  the  south-east  portion  of  the 
state.     Other   parties,^   under   T.    D.    Kaiser,    Jesse 


vessel,  as  tlie  ship  would  be  of  use  after  arrival,  eiiahliiig  tlieiii  to  open  com- 
iiieroe  at  ouce  with  the  Islamls.  Ho  gave  a  lengthy  and  particular  descrip- 
tii)U  of  the  country,  and  expressed  the  opinion  that  it  was  not  a  better  one 
than  Missouri,  hut  was  more  thought  of  hy  eastern  tlian  hy  western  men. 
F.ilicnrilx'  Skclrli  of  Qn<ioii,  MS.  As  tlie  nai.io  of  l)r  liacon  does  not  mcur 
anmng  tlie  emigrants  to  Oregon  of  18-13,  it  would  .seem  that  the  encourage- 
ment given  hy  Mr  Edwanls  was  not  considered  sullicient. 

^No  complete  record  of  those  who  composed  the  iiuniigratiou  of  1843  is  in 
existence.  .1.  W.  Nesmith,  a  young  man  from  .Maine,  mIio  was  elected 
orderly  sergeant,  with  the  duties  of  adjutant,  made  a  roll  of  the  male  nieni- 
hers  of  tlie  company  capable  of  bearing  arms,  including  all  almvo  ](>  years 
of  age.  This  roll,  after  32  years  hail  elapsed,  was  lead  before  the  Ore- 
gon Pioneer  Association  at  its  third  annual  reunion  in   I  ST"),  by  its  author, 


t     ff 


^U 


rf:t 


i^  'II 


V: 


1  'I 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1843. 


Looriey,  and  Daniel  Matheney,  swelled  the  army  to 
nearly  a   thousand   persons,  although   the   'fighting 

who  requested  the  sun'ivors  present  to  answer  to  the'r  names  'as  present  for 
duty,'  when  13  t)uly  responded. 

The  Oregon  Pioneer  Association  has  been  of  much  benefit  to  the  author  of 
this  liistory.  P'or  a  nuniliur  of  years  a  desire  had  existed  for  such  an  associa- 
tion in  the  Willanictte  Valley,  and  some  preliminary  movement  lia<l  been 
made  toward  collecting  reminiscences  of  the  early  history  of  the  country. 
The  first  meeting  was  hehl  on  the  call  of  a  few  persons,  at  Butteville  in 
Marion  County,  on  the  ISthoi  October,  1873,  when  a  constitution  was  adopted, 
and  the  following  board  of  executive  officers  elected;  F.  X.  Matthieu,  jiresi- 
«lent;  J.  W.  Grim,  vice-president;  W.  H.  Rees,  secretary;  and  Eli  C.  Cooley, 
treasurer.  The  seconil  meeting  was  lield  at  Aurora,  not  far  from  Butteville — 
botli  towns  being  on  the  old  Frencli  Prairie,  where  the  events  recorded  in 
tlie  previous  cliapter  liad  taken  place — on  the  10th  of  June,  1874,  when  45 
names  were  enrolled.  The  Jissociation  lias  now  upon  its  roll  hundreds  of 
names,  and  its  T mimaction-t,  published  annually,  fxiruish  nuich  interesting 
matter.  In  using  these  pioneer  reminiscences,  however,  it  is  necessary,  where 
tlie  matter  is  of  any  historic  importance,  to  verify  it  by  collateral  evidence  of 
an  earlier  date,  for  experience  proves  that  no  memory  is  infallible,  and  that 
most  incidents  intrusted  to  memory,  of  which  no  record  has  been  preserve<l  by 
the  inilividual,  are  unreliable  in  detail,  even  when  the  general  facts  are  correct. 

The  names  on  the  sergeant's  roll  constituting  the  imnugration  of  1843  we:  : 
Jesse  Applegate,  Charles  Applegate,  Lindsey  Applegate,  James  Athey,  Wu- 
liam  Athey,  John  Atkinson,  AVilliam  Arthur,  Robert  Arthur,  David  Arthur, 
Amon  Butler,  George  Brooke,  Peter  II.  Burnett,  David  Byrd,  Thomas  A. 
Brown,  Alexander  Blevins,  John  P.  Brooks,  Martin  Brown,  Orris  Brown, 
George  Black,  J.  P.  Black,  Samuel  Black,  Layton  Bane,  Andrew  J.  Baker, 
John  G.  Baker,  William  Beagle,  Levi  F.  Boyd,  William  Baker,  Nicholas 
Biddle,  (Jeorge  P.  Beale,  James  Braidy,  fieorge  Beadle,  Thomas  Boyer,  Board- 
man,  Louis  Bargcriu,  William  Baldridge,  Feudal  C.  Cason,  James  Cason, 
AVilliam  Chapnuin,  John  Cox,  Jacob  Champ,  L.  C.  Cooper,  James  Cone, 
Moses  Childers,  jNIiles  Carey,  Thomas  Cochran,  L.  Clymour,  John  Copen- 
havcr,  J.  H.  (Jaton,  Alfred  Cliappel,  Daniel  Cronin,  Samuel  Cozine,  Bene- 
dict Costable,  .Joseph  B.  Chiles,  Ransom  Clark,  Jolni  G.  Campbell,  Chap- 
nuin, Jauies  Chase,  Solomon  l)od<l,  William  C.  Dement,  W.  P.  Dough- 
erty, William  Day,  James  Duueaii,  Jacob  Dorin,  Thomas  Davis,  Daniel 
Delaiiey,  Daniel  Delauey,  Jr,  William  Dclaney,  William  Doke,  J.  H.  Davis, 
Burrell  Davis,  (}eorge  Dailey,  John  Doherty,  V.  W.  Dawson,  Charles  H. 
Eaton,  Nathan  Eaton,  James  Etehell,  Sol';iiion  Emerick,  John  W.  Eaker, 
E.  G.  Eilson,  Miles  Eyres,  Jolm  W.  East,  Nii<  .won  Evermau,  Nineveh  Ford, 
Ephraim  Ford,  Nimrod  Ford,  .lohn  Ford,  Alexander  Francis,  Abner  Frazier, 
AN'illiam  Frazier,  William  Fowler,  Wm  J.  Fowler,  Henry  Fowler,  Stephen 
Fairly,  Charles  E.  Fendall,  John  Gantt,  Chiley  B.  Gray,  Enoch  Garrison, 
J.  M.  Garrison,  W  J.  Garrison,  William  (ianlner,  Goodell,  Samuel  CJard- 
ner,  S.  M.  Gilmore,  Richard  Goodman,  Major  William  (Jilpin,  Gray,  B. 
Haggard,  II.  H.  Hide,  William  Holmes,  Riley  A.  Holmes,  Richard  Hobson, 
.Fohn  Hobson,  William  Hobson,  J.  J.  Hembre,  James  Heinbre,  W.  C.  Hem- 
1)ie,  Andrew  Hembre,  A.  J.  Hembre,  Samuel  B.  Hall,  James  Houck,  W.  P. 
Hughes,  Abijah  Heiulnck,  James  Hays,  Thomas  J.  Hensley,  B.  Holley, 
Henry  H.  Hunt,  S.  ^l.  Holdcrness,  I.  C.  Hutchins,  A.  Husted,  Joseijli  Hess, 
Jaco!)  Haun,  Jacob  Hovfell,  William  Howell,  Wesley  Howell,  G.  W.  Howell, 
Thomas  E.  Howell,  Henry  Hill,  William  Hill,  Almoran  Hill,  Absalom  V. 
Hedges,  Henry  Hewett,  William  Hargrave,  A.  Hoyt,  John  Holnuin,  Daniel 
S.  Holu  an,  B.  Harrigaa,  Calvin  James,  John  B.  Jackson,  John  Jones,  Over- 
ton Johnson,  Thomas  Kaiser,  J.  B.  Kaiser,  Pleasant  Kaiser,  Kelley,  Kelsey, 
Solomon  King,  W.  H.  King,  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  Edward  Lennox,  E.  Lennox, 
Aaron  Liiyson,  Jesse  Looney,  John  E.  Lf)ng,  H.  A.  (J.  Leo,  F.  Lugur,  Lewis 
Linenbarger,  John   Liuenbargur,   Isa;ic   Liiswell,    J.   Loughborough,    Miiton 


THE  LEADERSHIP. 


395 


men'  over  sixteen  years  of  age  were  less  than  three 
hundred.'' 

The  reader  is  hy  this  time  famihar  with  the  cross- 
ing of  the  plains.  This  body  adoj)ted  the  usual  rules, 
May  20th,  and  on  reaching  the  Kansas  Kiver  organ- 
ized by  electing  Peter  H.  Burnett  captain,  and  J.  W. 
Nesniith  orderly  sergeant.  Nine  councilnien  were 
chosen  to  assist  in  settling  questions,  and  Captain 
John  Gantt,  a  former  army  officer,  now  a  'mountain 
man,'  engaged  to  conduct  the  company  to  Fort  Hall. 

The  1st  of  June  was  at  hand,  and  late  for  a  start 


Little,  Luther,  Jolm  T«iU(ler(l;ili',  Mc(!ei.',  Win  .L  Martin,  James  Martin, 
.lulius  Martin,  Mu('lellaii(L  F.  Mct'lellaiid,  John  B.  Mills,  Isaac  Mills, 
William  A.  Mills,  Owen  -Nlills,  O.  W.  McOarey,  (Gilbert  Mondon,  Daniel 
Matlieney,  Adam  Matlieiiey,  J.  N.  Matheney,  Josiah  Matheney,  Henry 
Matheiiey,  A.  J.  Mastire,  .Fohn  McHaley,  Jacob  Myres,  John  Manning, 
James  Alanning,  M.  M.  McCarver,  (k'orge  McC'orcle,  William  Mays,  Elijah 
Millieaii,  William  MuDaniel,  D.  ^IcKissic,  Madison  Malone,  John  B.  Me- 
Claiie,  William  Manzee,  Jolm  McLitiro,  Jackson  Moore,  W.  J.  Matney, 
.r.   W.    Nesmitli,   W.  T.    Newby,   Noah   Newman,    Thomas   (i.    Xaylor,  Neil 


".^V^.O,         .".  ...  *vw..^.^*«,  ..(........  .*..^.o.,*»,         .-.^V.l.^.J 

llol)erts,  (i.  W.  Rice,  John  Richardson,  Daniel  Ricl'.anlson,  I'iiilip  Rnbj', 
.Folin  Hicord,  .laeol)  lleid,  .John  Roe,  Solomon  Roberts,  Kmseley  Roberts, 
•  losepli  Rossin,  Thomas  Rives,  Tliomas  H.  Sinitli,  Thoiiuis  Siiiitli,  Ls.uic 
W,  Smith,  Anderson  Smith,  Ahi  Smith,  Robert  Smitli,  Kh  Smith,  Samuel 
Smallman,  William  Siieldon,  V.  (1.  Stewart,  Nathaniel  K.  ("itton,  C  Stini- 
morman,  C.  Sharp,  W.  V.  Summers,  Henry  Sewell,  Henry  Stout,  (leorge 
Sterling,  Stout,  Stevenson,  James  Storey,  Swil't,  .loiiii  M.  .'•^hively.  Saniuel 
Sliirley,  Alexander  Stouglitoii,  t'liauncey  Spenser,  Hiram  Siraii'ht,  D.  Sum- 
mers, (leorge  Summers,  Cornelius  Stringei',  ('.  W.  Strimjor,  Lindsey  Tharii. 
Jolm  Thompson,  I).  Traiufir,  Jeniiiiiah  Teller,  Stt'|)lien  Tarl/ox,  John  Uni- 
iiicker,  Samuel  Vance,  William  Vaughn,  (ieorge  Vernon,  .Fames  Wilmont, 
William  H.  Wilson,  J.  W.  Wair,  Archibahl  Winkle,  Edward  Williams,  H. 
Wheeler,  John  Wagoner,  Benjamin  Williams,  David  Williii.ins,  William 
Wilson,  Joini  Williams,  .lames  William.s,  S(]uire  AV'illianis,  Isaac  Williams, 
l.  B.  Waril,  .htmes  White,  .John  Watson,  .lames  Waters,  William  Winter, 
Daniel  Waldo,  David  Waldo,  William  Waldo,  Alexati(ler  Zachery,  .loiin 
Zaeliery. 

*  '  Between  oOO  and  700  souls  in  all,  and  1  l.S  wagons."  Ford'.-i  RomI-)ii  ih'i:^, 
MS.,  3.  'One  thousaiul  persons,  with  \'20  wagons,  ami  .jjOOO  cattle.'  .l2»j'/('- 
Hiiten  Vifirs,  MS.,  4.  'Al)out  800,'  Burnett  thought;  (ireenhow  places  the 
number  at  1,0(M).  J/inL  Or.  and  (Jul.,  'Ml.  M.  C.  ¥.,  in  Xilis  If,;/.,  l.xv.  70, 
says  there  were  iM)0.  McLcmghlin,  wlio  was  very  accurate  in  all  matters  which 
lie  was  obliged  to  report,  put  the  immigration  of  IS4.'<  at  ^I't  men,  women,  and 
children.'  I'dvalc  Pajx')",  MS.,  '2d  ser.  51.  MeC'lane,  however,  says  there 
were  !)9l)  of  whom  he  once  had  a  list:  so  that  there  is  a  discrepancy,  even  after 
ileducting  the  Caliornia  company  which  turneil  ofl"  at  Fort  Hall  and  the  otlier 
losses.    .\lc('l(Vics  FirM  WdijoH  Tniiii,  MS,,  II. 


in 


30(i 


THE  IMMKiUATlOX   OK    l-H4;t. 


i 


for  Ore«(oii  with  ox-wajjfons,  but  the  spring'  liaci  Ik'oii 
baekwuril.  Now,  liowovor  tlio  woatlior  was  fine,  and 
tlio  road  good.  All  went  wi.'ll  cxcoj)t  regulation  affairs, 
wjiicli  became  so  complicated  and  trying  that  Burnett 
resigned  the  command  after  eiglit  days  of  service, 
William  Martin  being  elected  in  ids  place.  The  resig- 
nation of  a  captain  on  account  of  insubordination  or 
inattention  to  rules  probably  effected  a  ])aitial  reform, 
for  Martin  seems  to  have  remained  in  ofiice.  It  was, 
however,  found  so  difficult  to  direct  or  control  so  large 
a  body  of  })et)ple  united  by  no  further  interest  than  a 
common  destination,  that  a  division  into  two  columns 
was  effected,  on  the  Big  Blue  River;  one  wing  con- 
sisting of  that  division  which  was  unencumbered  with 
herds,  being  called  the  'light  colunm,'  and  the  <jther, 
of  wliich  Jesse  Applegate  took  command,  being  de- 
nominated the  'cow  colunm.''  These  two  divisions 
travelled  within  supporting  distance  only,  in  order  not 
to  interfere  with  each  other's  comfort  or  convenience, 
as  far  as  Independence  Rock. 

Dragging  themselves  along  in  the  hot  summer  sun- 
shine, few  incidents  enlivened  the  way,  until  towanl 
the  last  of  June  the  buffalo  country  was  reached,  where; 
it  was  expected  to  obtain  abundance  of  game;  but  a 
hunting  expedition  from  New^  Orleans  having  preceded 
them,  tlie  buffaloes  wvre  driven  from  the  line  of  travel." 
]3uring  the  first  five  days  of  July  the  south  branch 
of  the  Platte  was  crossed,  in  ferry-boats  'nade  of 
wagon-boxes  over  which  the  green  hides  of  bufi'aloes 
had  been  sti'etched  and  dried.  At  Fort  Laramie,  where 
the  light  column  arrived  on  the  14tli,  a  few  days  were 
taken  to  repair  wagons,  and  purchase,  at  extortionate 
prices,  some  additional  su])plies.     Ten  days  later  the 


*8ee  '  A  "Day  vitli  the  Cow  Column,'  in  Omrland  Montlili/,  i.  127. 

*  WidiloK<riH'iiii.<,  MS.,  18;  Kaixer'.i  Niir.,  MS.,  3.  Tlio  hunting  party  was 
lioaded  hy  Captain  Stuart,  often  mentioned.  He  was  accompanied  hy  the 
editor  of  the  X.  <>.  Phuiitm,  M.  (,'.  Field.  Tlie  Jesuits,  Do  Vos  and  Hoecken, 
(111  tlieir  way  to  tlie  Flathead  country,  were  also  with  tlie  liunters  as,  far  as  tlie 
Rocky  Mountains.  Nitcx'  Jfei/.,  Ixv.  71,  214.  Burnett  erroneously  states  that 
one  of  these  priests  was  Do  Sniet;  but  De  Smet  was  then  on  his  way  to 
Europe.  A'ecolli'C/ion.s,  10*2. 


NOTABLE   MEN. 


307 


north  branoli  was?  t'onk-d.  Four  days  more  of  travel 
brouglit  them  to  the  Sweetwater,  and  on  the  3d  of 
August  tlie  snowy  peaks  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
came  in  sight. 

Up  to  tliis  time  everything  had  gone  well;  the 
company  retaining  its  original  immher,  save  five, 
who  turned  back  at  the  first  crossinu'  of  the  Platte.' 
But  on  the  4th  of  August,  Clayborne  Payne  died  of 
fever,  and  was  buried  besidi;  the  road,  the  funeral 
services  being  conducted  by  a  Methodist  preacher 
named  Garrison.  At  the  Big  Sandy,  a  tributary  of 
Green  River,  died  Mr  Stevenson,  August  9th.  Con- 
sidering the  number  of  persons  on  the  march,  and  the 
privations  incident  to  camp  life,  the  health  of  the 
emigrants  was  lemarkably  good,  sickness  and  the  disath 
i-ate  being  scarcely  greater  than  in  a  conununity  of  the 
same  size  in  towns.  There  were  births  as  well  as 
deaths.  Many  an  emigrant  to  Oregon  first  saw  the 
Hght  beneath  a  canvas  tent  on  the  roadside.^ 

No  difficulty  occurred  with  the  natives;  the  num- 
bers present,  and  recollections  of  chastisement  a  few 
years  previous,  by  Captain  Bennett  Riley,  with  his 
artillery,  deterring  them  from  predatory  or  hostile 
acts."  After  passing  Independence  Rock  caution  was 
considered  necessary,  and  the  two  principal  divisions 
were  broken  into  smaller  companies  for  greater  con- 
venience.^'^ Likewise  this  was  a  pleasant  arrangement, 
as  leading  raen  now  found  themselves  at  the  head  of 
tlie  smaller  divisions,  and  associated  with  those  of  con- 
genial habits.  Friendships  were  formed  and  cemented 
which  lasted  through  life,  surviving  all  the  struggles 
and  changes  of  the  founding  of  a  new  empire." 


1.,".; 


i.iif  ■' 
V.lf 


'  Nicholas  Biddle,  Alexander  J-'rancis,  F.  Lwgiir,  John  Loughborough,  and 
.Tackson  Moore.  Or.  Pioneer  .'l*soc.,  Traii.t.,  1875,  53. 

^  Applegnie,  in  Orerland  Mont/il;/,  i.  131. 

" /iurneU\i  liecolkeUoiut,  114.  This  was  the  first  instance  of  their  iising 
cannon  against  the  Indians. 

^"Mien'  lieij.,  Ixv.  168. 

"Burnett,  who  left  Oregon  in  1848,  has  told  me  of  the  meeting  between 
himself  and  Jesse  Applegate,  in  San  Francisco,  after  more  than  20  years  of 
separation,  wlieu  they  'embraced  each  other  with  tears.' 


T}IM  IMMir.RATION   OF   1843. 


Aiiioni^  those  wlio  kept  tlie  load  was  Thomas  J  J. 
Kaiser,  wlio'"  was  amoii«if  tlie  first  to  arrive  at  (ireen 
Riv'er,  and  the  Hrst  also  to  leave  it  for  Fort  Hall. 
Another  impatient  to  reat;h  his  destination  was  J.  B. 
McClane.'^' 

A  l)arty  was  formed  of  these  and  others,  with  JJr- 
WhitDian,  who  had  joined  the  emigration  on  the 
Platte  River,  also  anxious  to  reach  his  home,  and  to 
gi't  news  of  his  family  and  affairs  at  the  fort,  where 
he  was  likely  to  meet  Cayuses  and  Nez  l^erees.  At 
Green  Kiver  they  leanu'd  that  the  Jesuits,  De  Vos 
and  Hoecken,  had,  by  mi'ans  of  their  Flathead  pilot, 
discovered  a  pass  throui^h  the  mountains  to  Soda 
Si)riniii8,  hy  way  of  Fort  j^ridn'cr,  on  tln^  Black  branch 
of  (Ireen  Kiver,  a  cut-ofi*  which  saved  considerable 
distance,  information  of  which  Whitman  communi- 
cated to  the  companies  by  a  hitter  left  at  Green  River. 
That  the  road  in  tlu;  lear  was,  for  a  natural  one,  ex- 
cellent, is  evidenced  by  the  fact  that  the  ox-tcanis 
made  an  average  of  thirteen  i.iiles  a  day  for  the  whole 
distance  fron)  the  Sweetwater  to  Fort  Hall,  wheic 
the  rear  arrived  the  last  of  August,  the  advance  hav- 
ing waited  for  them  to  come  up.  At  this  jdace  died 
Daniel  Richardson;  and  here  also  was  found  Lovejoy, 
who  had  come  across  from  Bent  Fort  during  the  sum- 

'Trom  Kaiser's  Xarnttive,  ■x  valual)le  manuscript,  penned  by  himself,  1 
obtain  the  main  biographical  facts  of  liims(ilf  and  his  family,  with  their 
immigration  to  Oregon.  Mr  Kai.ser  .seems  to  !iave  been  a  representative 
wt'stern  man;  vigorous,  courageous,  frank,  ai.d  indepeiulent.  He  was  born 
in  Huidier  County,  Nortli  Carolina,  where  he  married  Miss  Mary  (iirley,  hy 
wliom  lie  had  10  chihU-en,  3  sons  and  5  daughters.  In  1828  he  removed 
to  (Hies  County,  Tennessee,  and  in  18.'W  to  Van  Buren  County,  Arkan.sas, 
where  he  remained  until  1842,  wlien  lie  started  witli  liis  family  for  Oregon; 
but  arriving  too  late  to  join  Wldte's  emigration,  he  renewed  the  attempt 
with  success  the  following  year.  He  died  in  .lune  1871,  aged  78  years.  Tlie 
narrative  contains  also  some  account  of  the  Oregon  rangers  and  otlier  colonial 
matters.  Anotlier  manuscript,  by  liis  son,  ]'.  C.  Kaiser,  entitled  T/ic  Eniij/nnil 
/'(Ml)/,  deals  more  witli  recollections  of  tlie  journey  to  Oregon,  and  supplies 
several  facts  omitted  liy  the  fatlier. 

"John  Burch  Mc(iaue  left  I'liiladelphia  in  1842,  and  'went  west'  In 
the  following  spring  lie  determiiud  to  go  to  the  limit  of  western  territory. 
Like  Kaiser,  he  Wivs  ambitious  to  hv  in  tlie  lead,  and  disputes  M'ith  liim  the 
honor  of  '  breaking  the  first  sagedirush  west  of  Fort  Mall.  His  manuscriiit, 
called  Firs/  U'oi/on  Train,  deals  chiefly  with  the  immigration,  and  adventures 
in  California,  after  the  gold  discovery,  with  some  remarks  upon  missionary 
monopoly. 


ON   THK   WKSIKHN   SI.Ol'K. 


:{!•".• 


inor  to  be  ready  to  join  Whitman  on  his  return  t*) 
Oregon. 

At  Fort  Hall  tliti\'  was  the  usual  discussion  upon 
(•lifi!!;:^ing  from  waj^ons  to  jtack-animals,  it  lK>in<^  finally 
decided  to  retain  the  wagons,  as  there  were  men 
enough  to  make  a  n»a«l  when.'  none  (existed.  The 
chief  ohjection  was  the  latcMiess  of  the  season.  In 
their  councils,  both  (inint  of  Fort  Hall  and  Whitman 
were  consulted.  Whih^  admitting  that  tlu;  wagons 
might  he  taken  to  the  Columhia  Jliver,  (irant  ac- 
knowledged that  ho  did  not  know  how  it  c(»uld  ])e 
done,  as  he  had  tra\'c;lled  onlv  hv  the  ])ack-tniil  ;  hut 
Whitman,  from  Newell's  experience,  believed  that  a 
wation  road  was  feasibk',  and  encoura<;cd  the  cmiij^rants 
to  decide  in  favor  of  the  undi'rtaking. 

It  had  been  the  intcnition  of  the  cnnigrants  to  take 
their  wagons  to  the  Columbia.  They  would  open  the 
way,  and  show  congress  that  the  enterprise  which  the 
ii'overnment  was  so  slow  to  undertake  was  not  bcv()n<l 
the  ability  of  private  individuals.  But  they  miscal- 
culated distance  and  obstacles,  and  found,  when  the 
Rocky  Mountains  Avere  passed,  that  with  foot-sore 
cattle  and  worn-out  horses,  they  had  still  the  most 
trying  part  of  the  journey  before  them;  and  there- 
upon doubts  began  to  assail  them  of  the  wisdom  of 
attempting  to  carry  out  their  original  i)lan  of  making 
a  road  to  the  Pacific,  with  the  I'isk  of  being  caught  in 
the  storms  of  autumn  amon*'-  the  mountains,  and  hav- 
ing  to  abandon  their  property  there. 

Yet  upon  mature  deliberation,  with  the  spirit  that 
impelled  them  to  set  out  as  founders  of  empire,  they 
persevered  in  their  determination  to  reach  the  Colum- 
l)ia  Kiver  with  all  their  wagons  and  herds.  In  coming 
to  this  conclusion  thev  wen-  influenced  l)y  the  advice 
of  Whitman,  and  the  encouragement  of  William  Fow- 
ler, one  of  the  emigrants  who  had  been  in  Oregon 
before.  Fowler  was  a  wi'stern  man,  and  understood 
nmch  better  than  Whitman  what  ox-teams  could  do.^^ 

^*  Apple<iate'i<  Marginal  Note«,  MS.,  289-90. 


II 


400 


THE  IMMIURATION   OF   1843. 


A  pilot  was  nocessaiy,  and  Remoau,  a  guide  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  ottered  liis  services,  whicli 
were  however  declined  in  favor  of  Wliitnian,  who 
deemed  himself  competent,  with  the  help  of  his 
Cayuses,'"'  to  act  as  guide.  A  route  was  marked  out 
with  the  assistance  of  Remeau,  on  which  distances, 
camping-places,  and  other  useful  information  were 
earefully  noted;  and  having  repairt'd  their  wagons, 
and  purchased  sucli  supplies  as  were  necessary,  after  a 
week  or  ten  days  of  rest  they  resumed  their  march. 
There  was  no  regular  organization  after  leaving  Fort 
Hall.  A  few  of  the  least  encmnhered  took  the  lead, 
on  horseback.  The  California  company,  liaving  aban- 
doned their  wagons,  were  now  mounted,  with  a  train 
i)f  pack-animals,  and  were  among  the  foreuKJst,  their 
pilot,  William  J.  Martin,  conductuig  the  Oregon  enii- 
grati')n  also,  as  far  as  the  turn  of  the  road  toward 
California,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  American  Falls  of 
Snake  River. ^^  From  this  point  Whitman  assumed 
tlie  duties  of  guide,  conducting  the  immigrants  down 
Siiakc  River  to  the  Salmon  Falls,  where  the  river  was 
crossed  in  safety  by  all  except  Miles  Eyres,  a  Seotci'.- 
man  who  was  riding  a  mule,  and  who  missed  the 
shallow  water  of  the  ford  and  v-as  drowned,  M.  M. 
McCarver  who  was  in  the  lead  with  a  small  company, 
lis  they  approaclied  the  falls  was  staitled  by  what  he 
mistook  for  a  red  llai>'.  Thinkhijx  there  miijfht  be 
liostile  Indians  in  the  vicinity,  ho  fornx^d  his  men  for 
batth',  and  marching  up  to  the  red  signal,  discovered 
it  to  be  a  large  salmon  split  open  and  lioisted  on  a 
pole  to  notify  travellers  that  there  were  fish  for  sale. 
Thus  the  danger  and  difficulties  of  this  portion  of  tiie 
journey  disappeared  on  approach. 

'*  McClaue  says  the  Indians  met  1  >r  Whitman  at  Fort  Hall,  '  with  supplies, 
prol.ably  sent  by  liis  associates.  FirM  Woium  Tniin,  MS.,  3. 

'"The  names  of  tlio.se  wlio  went  to  California  were  T.  B.  Chiles,  W.  J. 
Martin,  .hilius  .Martin,  John  (lantt,  Milton  Little,  J.  Atkinson,  V.  W.  Daw- 
son, V.  McC'lelhuul,  .lohn  Mclntire,  .John  Williams,  Scjuire  Williams,  Isaac 
Williams,  1'.  B.  Reading,  Samut^l  J.  Hensley,  Mc(tee,  and  Boardman.  Or. 
I'ioiwer  AfiMf.,  Tnnm.,  1875,  53;  FonVs  liowl-ruakcr-i,  MS.,  5;  Frimont's  E.r- 
ylor.  Ex.,  10(i. 


AT  GRAND  ROND  VALLEY. 


401 


From  Salmon  Falls  the  route  lay  across  an  expanse 
of  sage  plains  to  Fort  Boise.  A  pa.rty,  consisting  of 
Whitman  and  his  nephew,  Lovejoy,  Ricord,  and  Nini- 
rod  Ford,  pn.shed  forward,  leaving  written  notices  by 
the  way  of  the  course  to  be  taken  by  the  wagons, 
which  canio  after  at  a  rate  of  thirteen  miles  a  day^ 
notwithstanding  the  toughness  of  the  artemisia  and 
the  depth  )f  the  sand.  At  Fort  Boise  they  were 
ki  idly  received  by  Payette,  but  could  not  tarry,  aa 
it  was  already  the  20tli  of  Se^)tember.  Fording  the 
Snake  River,  where  it  has  sincv^  been  found  necessary 
to  have  a  ferry,  by  raising  the  wagon-beds  a  few  inches 
on  blocks,  they  reached  the  wrst  side  in  safety.  Fol- 
lowing down  the  river,  encoup  ocring  no  serious  obstruc- 
tions for  three  days,  they  re  iched  on  the  24th  Burnt 
River  Canon,  twenty-tiv  miles  in  length,  through 
which  ran  a  small  stream  whose  bed  was  used  for  a 
road  for  the  greater  pari  of  the  way,  there  being  no 
time  to  clear  away  from  the  banks  the  masses  of  fallen 
and  1)urnt  trees  from  which  the  river  was  named. ^' 

Tlie  first  grading  re(juired  on  any  part  of  the  route 
from  the  main  Platte  to  tlie  Columbia  was  at  the 
crossing  of  tlie  ridge  at  the  head  of  Burnt  River;  and 
this,  too,  was  the  first  occasion  on  which  it  had  been 
necessary  to  double  teams.^**  From  this  point  the 
toils  of  travel  increased,  the  country  being  rough  and 
hilly.  Nevertheless  by  the  1st  of  October  the  main 
body  of  the  immigration  had  arrived  at  Grand  Rond 
Valley,  which  appeared  so  l)eautifui,  set  in  its  envi- 
roning pine-clad  hills,  with  its  rich  pasturage  and 
abundajit  watercourses,  that  a  })ortion  of  the  immi- 
grants were  deterred  from  settling  there  only  by  the 
impossibility  of  obtaining  supplies  for  the  colony  dur- 
iiiij:  the  coming  winter.  On  the  Viiorning  of  the  2d 
two  inches  of  snow  whitened  the  mountain  sides,  and 
warned  the  travellers  not  to  waste  piecious  time.     On 


IZ] 


^' Mrnnu'x  Fh-Mf    ]V<t,jon  Trai,,,  MS.,  4;  Kaker's  Nar.,  MS.,  4,  5;  Bur- 
iwH\  llv.colkctionx,  VIA. 

'Tonl'x  h'oml-vKfkerM,  MS.,  10. 
Ili>-T.  On.,  Viii,.  I.    ■>(< 


402 


THE  IMAUGRATION  OF   1843. 


the  evening  of  the  3d  the  first  ridge  had  been  crossed; 
and  beyond  tliis  was  still  the  main  cliahi  of  the  Blue 
Mountains  covered  with  heavy  timber  which  it  viaa 
imperative  to  remove.  As  the  sappers  and  miners  of 
a  military  legion  precede  the  army,  a  force  of  the 
most  active  and  enertjetic  of  the  emifjrant  legion  fell 
upon  these  barriers  to  progress,  and  although  their 
axes  were  dulled  by  a  sunmier's  use,  and  their  hands 
were  sadly  blistered,  forty  men  in  five  days  cleared  a 
wagon-road  over  the  dreaded  Blue  Mountains,^"  the 
wagons  and  herds  following  as  the  road  was  opened, 
boys  and  v;omen  driving  the  teams  whose  owners 
were  clearing  the  way.^"  On  the  5th,  and  while  the 
innnigration  was  in  the  mountains,  a  severe  snow-storm 
was  experienced,  which  made  the  beautiful  valley 
of  the  Umatilla  River  thrice  beautiful  bv  contrast, 
when  the  travellers  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  Gtli 
at  the  western  base.  Here  they  found  a  Cayuse 
village,  and  ol)tained  fresh  vegetables.  On  the  10th 
the  innnigration  was  encamped  within  thrf^e  miles  of 
Whitman's  station. 

At  Grand  Bond,  Whitman  was  met  by  a  courier 
from  Lapwai  with  intelligence  of  tlie  alarming  illness 
of  Mr  and  Mrs  S])alding,'"^  and  relinquishing  his  office 
of  guide  to  Sticcas  a  Cayuse  chief  in  whom  he  re- 
posed confidence,  left  the  party  and  struck  across  the 
ci>untry  to  the  sta,tion.  Sticcas  faithfully  performed 
his  duty,  bringing  the  white  men,  to  whom,  as  we 


"Among  tho8(i  vere  the  Fori'ls,  the  Kaisers,  Lennox,  Zachory,  Matheney, 
the  ApplegatcH,  Hurnett,  and  J.  W.  Nosinith.  Kaiser,  in  his  Eiiil(ir(uii  Rmul, 
MS.,  says  that  Ni-sniith  carried  an  axe  on  his  slioulders  all  tlio  way  throu^ii 
the  Blue  Mountains,  and  WiU  distinguished  hy  a  quiet  reserve,  for  whieh  in 
later  years  he  has  ht^en  less  Conspicuous,  though  the  friends  ho  made  in  his 
youthful  days  (ho  was  then  but  22)  still  cherish  for  him  the  most  loyal  regard. 
'The  wanio  tiualitics  which  led  him  to  usefulness  theu  have  never  deserted 
hiin. 

'-"  An  emigrant  of  184(5  refers  to  the  fact  that  writers  on  Oregon  have 
overlooked  the  w("nen.  'They  seem  to  have  heeii  ignored;  yet  they  per- 
formed their  toils  with  as  much  fidelity  a«  the  men,  and  have  l)een  as  useful 
in  their  way.  I  coulil  never  have  gotten  through  to  tliis  country  without  my 
wife.'  r/wrtiton's  Or.  Hlxt.,  MS.,  33. 

^'  lioston  Jlina.  Herald,  May  1844. 


ABORKHNAL  THIEVERY. 


403 


know,  his  people  were  unythiiig  but  friendly,  safely  to 
the  vicinity  of  the  mission."-  For  this  service  many 
were  unj^rateful,  for  two  rer  ns:  it  took  them  forty- 
five  miles  out  t)f  their  course ;  and  exposed  them  to 
the  annoying  peculations  of  the  natives,  who  not  only 
intruded  into  their  camps  by  day,  but  stole  their 
horses  at  night  in  order  to  obtain  a  reward  for  re- 
turning them — a  j^ractice  which  was  repeated  every 
twenty-four  liours. 

The  great  ambition  of  the  natives  along  the  Co- 
lund)ia,  as  elsewhere,  was  to  secure  the  clothing  worn 
by  white  men.  Lewis  and  Clarke  mention  seeing  odd 
garments,  evidently  obtained  from  trading-vessels  on 
the  coast,  in  the  possession  of  these  natives  as  early 
as  in  1805,  and  which  must  have  been  purchased 
from  the  Indians  t)f  the  Lower  Columbia.  After  the 
( )regon  immigration  began  they  were  to  be  seen  ar- 
layed  in  cast-ofi' wearing  apparel  of  every  description, 
])i-esenting  a  motley  and  fantastic  appearance.  They 
gladly  sold  whatever  they  had  for  shirts,  dresses,  or 
hats;  but  as  stealing  and  selling  back  a  horse  to  its 
owner  was  a  more  productive  plan,  it  was  greatly 
affected  by  the  Cayuscs. 

Kaiser  in  his  nari'ative  t!omplains  of  these  practices, 
and  says  that  at  the  missit^n  he  called  a  council  of 
c'iiiefs,  and  told  them  that  he  had  paid  his  last  shirt 
for  having  his  horses  returned  by  the  thieves,  and  that 
hereafter  when  ho  found  one  of  them  about  his  camp 
after  dark  he  should  shoot  him.  This  warning  was 
not  witliout  its  effect.  Burnett  also  speaks  of  })aying 
a  shirt  for  several  successive  mornings  to  get  back 
the  same  animal;  and  Waldo,  in  his  cynical  style, 
lemarks  that  the  iumiigrjuits  had  no  trouble  with  the 
natives  until  they  encou:  tered  the  mission  Indians."* 


^''Noamith  says  Sticcap  wis  tlio  only  Indian  he  ^'^•^^r  kiiuw  who  had  any 
conception  of  or  who  uractised  Christianity.  Or.  /'ioiurr  Axuoc.,  Tratut., 
1875,  48. 

'^■^i'rititiue)*,  MS.,  2.  Daiiit'l  Waldo  was  Ixiru  in  Vimnia  in  1800.  At  tlie 
auo  of  19  he  einigrattid  to  Missouri,  where  he  resided  in  St  Clair  County 
till  1843,  and  was  a  neighbor  of  the  .-Vpplegates,  and  of  Joseph  B.  Chiles.     His 


4()-t 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1843. 


Wlieii  Whitman  arrived  at  Lapwai  lie  found  Mr 
and  Mrs  Spalding  convalescing,  and  liastoncd  to  his 
own  station  to  meet  the  imniijLcrants  and  furnish  them 
with  supplies,  which  had  to  he  brought  from  Ijapwai 
and  Colville,  his  grain  and  mill  having  \)con  destroyed 
the  previous  winter.  For  this  service  he  was  cen- 
sured by  some  and  applauded  by  others."*  That  it 
was  a  wise  and  philanthropic  action  to  give  the  Innni- 
grants  an  opportunity  to  jmrchase  fresli  provisions, 
the  sequel  proved;  besides,  it  was  personally  known  to 
Whitman  that  some  of  tlieni  had  exhausted  their  sup- 
j)lies  before  reaching  the  Cohunbia. 

But  whether  thev  were  or  were  not  in  need,  thev 
found  the  prices  at  Waiilatpu  exorbitant  w  lien  com- 
pared with  tliose  of  Missouri,  and  accused  Wliitman  ol 
selfish  motives  in  conducting  the  immigration  past  his 
station,  making  them  ninety  additional  miles  of  travel, 
which,  with  tlieir  worn-out  teams  and  the  lateness  of 
the  season,  became  a  matter  of  serious  importance."'^ 


lifiilth  boiiig  poor,  liaviiig  heard  of  Uio  salubrity  of  tlie  Orogoii  climate,  he 
ilutcriniiied  to  join  the  emigration,  starting  with  Chiles  for  the  i'endezv()iis  a 
little  behind  Applegatu.  He  recovered  healtli  d\iring  tin;  journey,  which 
was  made  in  an  easy  carriage.  He  was  a  man  of  j)ec\diai'  ami  jirououuced 
cliaracter,  and  a  strong  frame;  for  20  years  he  suffered  wi^l)  ctincer  on  the 
elieek,  and  was  soniewliat  irritahh;,  as  well  as  naturally  critical  in  his  remarks, 
which  abound  in  sensible  and  pertinent  suggestions.  This  characteristic 
oanse<l  the  stem)grapher  who  took  his  dictation  to  name  the  manuscript  as 
ahove.  It  deals  with  a  variety  of  sui)jects  relating  to  the  early  history  ot 
the  countrv.  Mr  Wahlo  died  at  Salem,  Septend)er  10,  1880.  His  sons  lUf 
William  and  J.  B.  Wahlo. 

■^*  Whe.-ever  VN'iiitman's  acts  are  discussed  the  wiiter  is  confronted  with 
the  account  of  his  character  and  services  given  l>y  Spalding  and  '>ray,  his 
associates.  Tluu'e  is  no  question  of  his  merits  ius  a  mm,  or  that  he  was  of 
much  service  to  immigrants.  But  I  am  warned  from  accepting  as  fact  all 
tiiat  these  men  have  recorded  of  his  disinterested  generossity,  by  tiie  remarks 
of  those  wlio  are  said  to  have  prolited  by  it.  Not  to  appear  partisan,  I  shall 
ijuoto  freely  from  both  critics  and  admirers,  wliero  such  qiiotiitious  are  perti 
nent. 

'■'■'Burnett,  in  speaking  of  thest^  accus:itious,  hays:  'Tliis  foolisli,  false,  and 
ungrateful  charge  wns  ha,sed  upon  the  fact  thai:  Ik;  asked  ^1  a  bushel  for 
wheat  and  40  .;eut.s  for  poUitoes.  As  our  people  hail  been  accustomed  to  sell 
tlicir  wheau  at  from  oO  to  M  cents  a  hushel,  and  their  ))otatoes  at  from  '20  to 
-5  cents,  in  tin;  Westeiii  States,  they  thoiighf,  tlie  [)i'ic(.'s  demanded  by  tlie  doctor 
amountoil  to  something  liki;  extortion,  i.ot  ictltcting  that  he  had  to  pay  at  least 
twice  as  much  for  his  si.iip'ies  of  mcrdiandise,  and  could  not  afford  to  sell  his 
[iro'.iuce  as  lowas  they  did  theirs  at  hoiU''.'  Rirolli'cfioii-i,  127.  This  is  a  gener- 
'•us  view  of  tlie  cast',  characteristic  of  tlie  author;  but  it  is  not  altogetlier  l)orni' 
out  1)3'  the  facts,  Wliitman  receiving  his  supplies  from  the  board.      The  mission 


MISSJOXAKY    MISKKPRESKXTATION. 


405 


Kaiser  was  ani()ii*r  those  wlio  felt  tliemsclvcs  injurfd 
by  being  piloted  out  of"  their  yvay,  and  by  having  to 
pay  a  dollar  a  bushel  for  wheat.  So  obstinate  were 
some,  says  Burnett,  that  they  refused  to  purchase 
until  the  wheat  was  all  gone,  in  consequence  of  which 
he  had  to  divide;  his  supj)ly  with  them  before  the  end 
of  the  journey."'" 

Thert;  wx're  other  causes  of  dissatisfaction,  and  sub- 
sequent reproach.  Neither  Whitman,  nor  MeKinlay 
at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  knew  anvthinu,'  of  the  countrv 
back  from  the  Columbia  River,"'  or  whether  there 
could  be  found  crossinus  for  the  wagons  at  the  .Fohn 
Day  and  Des  Chutes  rivers;  and  both  advised  the 
innuigrants  to  leave  their  wagons  and  cattle  in  the 
Walla  Walla  Valley  to  be  brought  down  in  the  sj)ring, 
and  to  make  themselves  boats  in  whicli  to  descend 
the  Columbia,  One  of  the  arguments  used  in  favor 
of  this  plan  was  that  no  grass  would  he  likely  to  be 
found  on  the  route,  as  the  natives  were  accustomed 
at  this  season  of  the  year  to  burn  it  ofl* — a  statement 
which  sufficiently  proved  the  doctor's  ignorance  of  the 
country,  and  which  was  construed  to  his  disadvantage 
l)y  those  who  travelled  through  it. 


2S 


l[,i(l  sustained  losses  iluriug,  and  possibly  tlirough,  his  ahseiioe,  of  several  thou- 
>i;iiul  dollars.  'J'lie  hoard  had  not  approved  of  his  leaving  iiis  station,  and  had 
M'ut  him  liack  etnpty-lianded — how  eniptydiauded  is  more  than  ouee  hinted 
at  hy  the  emigrants.  Waldo  hluntly  says:  'He  had  notliing  to  start  with 
hut  a  hoiled  lianv.  ..  .After  wo  erossod  the  Snake  River  1  had  to  feed  him 
again.  1  ilid  not  like  it  nuich;  hut  he  was  a  very  energetie  man,  and  1  liked 
lum  for  his  perseverance;  he  iiad  not  niueli  judgment,  hut  a  great  ileal  of  per- 
si'veranee.  He  expected  tlie  emigrants  to  feed  him,  and  tliey  liiil.  He  was 
hound  to  go,  and  took  the  chaiici's. '  <'ri/ii/in:t,  MS.,  17.  Perhaps  Whitman 
tliought  to  reimliur-ic  tlie  mission  for  its  losses.  Tliere  w<us  no  injustice  in  his 
iiaving  pay  for  ids  jfrovisions;  hut  it  is  clear  he  knew  liow  to  demand  a  full 
price.  Me  w^'s,  according  to  Applegatc,  who  admits  his  usefulness,  paid 
pilotage  also;  hit  Applegate,  whose  share  of  tliis  expense  was  S-to,  says  that 
\Valkeraiid  Kell,-  oliliged  liim  to  demand  it:  which,  considering  the  fact  tliat 
lie  had,  with  his  i  ephew,  lived  on  the  immigrants,  detracts  somewhat  from 
that  ideal  charaetci-  for  lil)erality  which  has  heeu  imputed  to  liim. 

^^  l{,',nWr/iou.<,  MS..  127. 

'■"Tiiis  is  MeKinlay "s  own  statement,  given  in  a  letter  to  Klwood  Evans, 
which  Evans  has  kindly  se!it  me. 

-■"Says  Waldo,  who  did  not  tiin.e  the  advice  oB'ered:  '  Whitman  lied  like 
hell.  He  wanted  my  cattle,  and  told  me  the  grass  was  hurnt  off  hetweeii  his 
place  and  the  I>alles,  The  tirst  night  out  I  found  the  tiuest  grass  I  ever  saw, 
■und  it  was  good  every  night.'  Vriliipn'-i,  MS.,  IG. 


1  &,.  'n,: 


406 


THE  IxMMKillATION   OF  184:1. 


t!l 


From  a  journal  of  Burnett's,  published  in  a  Mis- 
souri paper  a  year  or  two  after  the  emigration,  there 
seems  to  have  been  some  ground  for  suspicions  of  in- 
terested motives  in  advising  the  immigrants  to  leave 
their  cattle.  "  The  residents  of  the  mission  agreed," 
says  the  journal,  "in  advising  us  to  leave  our  cattle 
and  wagons  at  the  station.  McKinlay  of  Walla 
Walla  also  advised  us  to  leave  the  animals,  either  to 
exchange  for  California  cattle,  or  to  pay  one  dollar 
per  head  for  their  keeping.  .  .What  surprised  us  most, 
after  the  representations  that  had  been  made,  was  the 
fine  pasturage  we  met  all  along  the  way,  and  espe- 
cially at  the  Dalles,  where  wo  had  been  led  to  believe 
the  cattle  could  not  subsist  at  all  during  the  winter," 
Applegate  gives  some  further  information,^  where 
he  tells  us  that  at  the  mission  they  received  one  fat 
bullock  of  Spanish  stock  for  two  poor  emigrant  oxen. 
Those  who  did  not  distinguish  the  difference  between 
Spanish  and  American  cattle  consented  willingly  to 
pay  this  price  for  fat  beef  Without  any  expense  to  the 
missionaries  they  had  in  the  s[)ring  two  fat  American 
work-oxen  for  their  one  bullock.  The  natives  did 
better,  who  gave  a  fat  bullock  for  a  lean  heifer,  for 
breeding  purposes. 

After  a  few  days'  rest  at  the  mission,  the  emigra- 
tion moved  toward  the  Columbia  River  with  their 
wagons  and  stock.  Propositions  were  made  to  some 
members  of  the  company  to  remain  at  Waiilatpu, 
which  were  rejected  on  account  of  the  thieving  habits 
of  tJie  natives,  and  the  difficulty  of  taking  care  of  their 
cattle  on  st)  wide  a  range  as  the  Walla  Walla  Valley, 
besides  the  general  desire  to  reach  their  destination 
that  year.     But  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  a  portion  t)f 

'^This  manuscript  of  Mr  Applegate's  is  a  running  commentary  on  Mrs  Vic- 
tor's JUivr  of  the,  IIVw.,  filling  out  some  chapters  wliere  delicient  in  historic 
fact  and  correcting  others,  while  in  the  main  it  assents  to  the  record  there 
given  of  Oregon's  early  history.  l\\  a  similar  manner  he  has  commented  on 
(rray's  //wtor*/ o/"Om/oH,  hy  marginal  notes.  A  third  source  of  information 
furnished  l)y  this  moat  classical  writer  of  Oregon's  pioneers  is  .a  collection  of 
letters  on  historical  subjects.  The  elegance  of  diction  and  accuracy  of  state- 
ment render  these  contributions  of  che  highest  value. 


SAD  ACCIDENT  TO  THE  APPLEGATES. 


407 


them  being  still  in  doubt  from  the  representations 
made  to  them  of  the  difficulties  in  the  way,  finally 
agreed  with  McKinlay  to  leave  their  cattle  with  him 
and  take  orders  on  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  foi' 
the  same  number  and  description  of  California  cattle 
in  the  Willamette  Valley.  Among  those  making  this 
arrangement  was  Jesse  Applegate,^**  who  with  Waldo 
owned  more  stock  than  any  other  two  men  in  the 
emigration.^^  Waldo  proceeded  with  the  main  body 
to  the  Dalles  by  land,  while  Burnett,  Beagle,  McClane, 
the  Applegates,  and  others,  seventy-one  in  all,  decided 
to  take  the  advice  of  Whitman  and  descend  the  Colum- 
bia in  boats.  Whitman  accompanied  them  to  bring 
home  his  wife,  who  was  still  at  the  Dalles,  where  she 
had  taken  refuge  from  the  violence  of  the  Cayuses. 
Burnett  had  a  Hudson's  Bay  boat  and  an  Indian 
pilot.  Beagle,  who  was  with  him,  was  steersman. 
He  was  a  good  boatman,  and  familiar  with  the  lapids 
of  the  Ohio  at  Louisville;  but  those  compared  to  the 
rapids  of  the  Columbia  were  insignificant,  and  Burnett 
relates  that  Beagle's  cheeks  often  paled,  though  he 
obeyed  the  intrepid  Indian  pilot  implicitly.^^  This 
party  arrived  in  safety  at  the  Dalles. 


^ Fremont's  Ejplor.  Ex.,  184.  Gray  saya  Applegato  sold  or  mortgaged 
his  cattle  to  get  supplies  at  Walla  Walla.  Ili«t.  Or.,  422.  But  Burnett  denies 
this,  and  says  it  was  an  exchange,  or  one  dollar  a  head  for  herding  them;  and 
that  when  Applegate  arrived  at  Vancouver,  McLoughlin  protested  against 
Applegate  making  such  a  bargain  to  his  injury,  and  not  only  gave  him  his 
American  cattle  back  but  refused  compensation  for  the  care  they  received 
during  the  winter. 

^^  Burnett's  Jfccollectwn.-^,  MS.,  i.  ?74-5.  Concerning  tliis  matter,  Waldo 
liimself  says:  'I  started  from  Missouri  with  108  head,  and  got  here  with  08. 
They  were  worth  in  Missouri  $48  a  head. '  Here,  horses  were  wortli  from  $7 
to  $10,  while  American  cattle  were  worth  $100,  Spanish,  §9.  Critiques,  MS., 
10. 

^' '  On  one  occasion,  I  remember,  we  were  passing  down  a  terrible  rapid 
with  a  speed  almost  like  a  race-horse,  when  a  huge  rock  arose  above  the  water 
before  us,  against  whicli  the  swift  and  miglity  volumne  of  the  river  furiously 
flashed  in  vain,  and  then  suddenly  turned  to  the  right,  almost  at  right  angles. 
The  Indian  told  Beaglo  to  hold  the  bow  of  the  bout  directly  towards  the  rock 
as  if  inteniUng  to  run  plumb  upon  it,  while  the  rest  of  us  pulled  upon  our  oars 
with  all  our  might,  so  as  to  give  her  such  a  vehicity  as  not  to  be  nmch  afJ'uctud 
l)y  the  surging  waves.  The  Indian  stood  cool  and  motioidess  in  the  bow,  pad- 
illo  in  hand,  with  features  set  as  if  to  meet  immediate  death,  and  when  we 
were  within  from  20  to  30  feet  of  that  terrible  rock,  as  quick  almost  as 
thought  he  plunged  his  long  patldle-blade  into  the  water  on  the  left  side  of 


408 


Tm:  IMMIGRATION  OF  1843. 


a 


III 


The  Applegate  company  being  in  less  nianageablc 
canoes  constructed  by  themselves,  and  less  skilfull\- 
handled,  were  not  so  fortunate,  one  of  their  boats 
ovei"turning  in  the  rapids,  by  which  accident  a  son 
of  Jesse  Applegate  was  drowned,  a  son  of  Charles 
Applegate  crippled  for  life,  while  Elisha,  a  son  of  Lind- 
sey  A[)plegate,  and  William  Doke  narrowly  escaped. 
C.  M.  Stringer  and  McClelland  were  also  drowned.'^'' 

The  main  part  of  the  innnigration,  which  t(H)k  the 
land  route  to  the  Dalles,  met  with  no  other  obstacles 
than  some  difficulty  in  crossing  the  two  principal  riv- 
ers in  their  course,  the  John  Day  and  Des  Chutes, 
and  had  no  accidents.  To  be  the  first  to  reach  the 
Dalles,  the  terminus  of  the  emigrant  road  to  Oregon 
for  1843,  was  an  honor  that  was  contended  for  by  the 
foremost  drivers,  and  I  find  is  claimed  by  both  Nine- 
veh Ford  and  Kaiser.^* 

At  the  Dal!  ;  the  immigrants  had  still  the  most 
difficult  and  dangerous  portion  of  their  journey  before 
them,  there  being  neither  a  road  over  the  rugged 
mt)untains  that  separated  them  from  the  Willamette 
Valley,  nor  boats  in  which  to  embark  on  the  river. 
It  was  too  late  to  attempt  opening  a  wagon-road  intf) 
the  Willamette  Valley,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles  of 
extremely  rough  country,  and  there  were  few  facilities 
for  constructing  a  sufKcient  number  of  boats  to  con- 
vey the  families  and  goods  to  their  destination. 

The  innnigration  of  1843  was  differently  situated 
from  any  company  that  had  preceded,  or  any  that  fol- 

tlio  bow,  and  with  it  gave  a  sudden  \vTench,  and  tlic  boat  instantly  turned 
upon  its  centre  to  the  right,  and  we  passed  the  rock  in  safety.'  Burnett'a 
L'ecollcctimis  of  II  /'ioiiecr,  129. 

^^  A  member  of  Fremont's  expedition,  which  was  in  the  rear  of  the  immi- 
gration all  the  way  to  the  Dalles,  returning  to  St  Louis  the  same  season,  car- 
ried a  very  unfavorable  report  of  the  condition  of  the  immigrants,  8  of 
whom  he  said  had  perished  of  hardship.  A'iles  Jli'ij.,  Ixv.  '243.  The  trutli 
was,  that  9  deaths  occurred  on  the  road,  if  we  count  that  of  William  Day. 
who  died  at  Vancouver;  4  from  sickness,  and  4  by  drowning,  one  out  of  every 
100 — and  none  of  these  of  what  might  properly  be  called  hardships. 

'■'*  Ford  says,  '  My  wagon  was  in  front  of  the  caravan  when  it  got  to  the 
l)alles.'  Kaiser  says,  'My  father's  teams  broke  tlie  sage-brush  from  Green 
River  to  the  Dalles.'  James  Athey  is  content  to  claim  the  second  or  thinl 
place  in  the  van,  and  says,  '  Mine  was  the  second  or  third  team  to  drive  up 
to  the  Dalles.'   Workshop.^,  MS.,  1. 


ARRIVAL  IN  OREGON, 


409 


■d 


lowed  it  into  Oregon.  When  a  company  came  by  sea 
to  Fort  Vancouver,  or  a  small  i)arty  overland  to  Walla 
Walla,  every  facility  for  continuing  their  journey  or 
prosecuting  their  designs  was  tendered  to  tJiem  by  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company.  White's  party,  which  was 
(jnly  a  pack-train,  arrived  early,  and  j^roceeded  direct 
to  the  settlements  without  any  serious  hinderance. 
But  here  were  nearly  nine  hundred  people  wit4i  their 
household  goods  and  a  largo  number  of  cattle  and 
horses.  It  was  impossible  to  meet  this  whole  colony 
as  guests,  and  help  them  to  their  destinations  with 
all  manner  of  courtesies  as  had  so  often  been  done  in 
regard  to  smaller  parties.  They  must  help  themselves, 
and  help  themselves  they  did. 

Going  inU)  the  ])ine  forest  which  beautifies  the  foot- 
hills near  the  Dalles,  they  felled  trees  and  made  rafts 
of  logs  from  a  foot  to  eighteen  inches  in  diameter 
and  twenty  feet  long,  which  being  securely  lashed  to- 
gether, the  wagons  were  taken  apart  and  with  their 
loads  placed  upon  them.  Sometimes  one  covered 
wagon-bed  was  reserved  as  a  cabin  for  the  use  of 
women  and  children.  A  child  was  born  in  one  of  tliese 
cabins  on  a  raft,^""  between  the  Dalles  and  the  Cas- 
cades. Others  who  had  come  from  Walla  Walla  by 
boats  kept  ori  to  the  Cascades  in  the  same  manner. 
Some  left  their  wagons  and  stock  at  the  Dalles,  while 
the  greater  number  drove  their  cattle  down  the  river, 
swimming  them  to  the  north  side,  and  ferrying  them 
back  again  to  the  south  side  o})posite  A^ancouver. 

On  arriving  at  the  Cascades  a  formidable  bar  to 
further  progress  was  discovered.  The  rafts  and  boats 
couM  not  be  taken  over  the  rapids.  Two  weeks  were 
occupied  in  cutting  a  wagon-road  round  the  Cascades 
by  which  the  wagons  brought  down  on  rafts  could 
reach  the  lower  end  of  the  portage.  In  the  mean 
time  the  autumn  rains  had  set  in,  and  the  weather  in 
the  heart  of  the  great  range  was  cold  and  wintry. 

The  few  immigrants  who  had  friends  or  relatives  in 

^^ Foi-d's  Road-mtden,  MS.,  15. 


4IU 


THE  IMMIGRATION   OF   1843. 


Oregon  had  received  sono  assistance  at  the  Dalles. 
Robert  Shortess  met  the  Applegates  at  that  plac;« 
with  a  canoe-load  of  provisions;  but  before  passing- 
the  Cascades  portage  these  were  consumed  by  the 
party  of  seventy  who  had  made  the  voyage  from 
Walla  Walla  in  boats,  and  they  were  in  danger  of 
starvation.  There  were  no  means  of  transportation  at 
the  Cascades,  and  starving  or  not,  many  women  and 
children  were  compelled  to  wait  for  a  passage  in  some 
boat  from  below.'" 

James  Waters,  who  had  been  among  the  earlier 
arrivals  at  the  settlements,  became  alarmed  at  the 
failure  '^f  the  rear  to  come  up,  and  feeling  sure  that 
they  were  suffering  from  want  of  food,  went  to  Mc- 
Loughlin,  to  whom  he  represeated  the  situation  of 
those  still  at  the  Cascades,  and  asked  for  credit  to 
obtain  provisions  for  their  relief  Though  contrary 
to  rule,  this  favor  was  accorded,  the  only  condition 
required  being  that  the  provisions  shoukl  be  sold  to 
the  immigrants  at  Fort  Vancouver  prices,  and  that 
Waters  should  navigate  the  bateau  carrying  the  sup- 
plies."''" This  timely  relief  rescued  many  people  from 
perishing  of  want  and  cold. 

''Ford  says:  'I  had  a  cousin  that  brought  the  long-hoat  of  the  Peacock 
to  take  us  down  the  river.  He  had  packed  across  the  plains  in  1842,  and 
heard  that  we  were  coming.  There  were  women  and  chihlren  that  had  no 
mode  of  conveyance,  ami  were  waiting  for  some  means  of  getting  away,  and  I 
prevailed  on  my  cousin  to  take  them.  They  were  strangers  to  me,  hut  in 
distress,  and  I  could  stand  it  better  than  they  coidd. '  Ford  fortunately  pro- 
cured four  Indian  canoes,  which  he  lashed  side  by  side,  and  taking  the  boards 
of  five  wagon-beds,  made  a  platform  over  them,  loading  on  it  the  running-gear 
and  other  goods,  and  lashing  all  down.  Then  setting  up  a  mast  in  the  centre, 
with  a  wagon-sheet  for  a  sail,  and  with  two  natives  and  two  white  men  to 
assist  in  managing  the  craft,  not  only  sailed  down  to  Vancouver,  but  up  to 
Oregon  City,  where  he  arrived  on  the  10th  of  Novendjer.  McLoughlin  met 
Ford  as  he  stepped  ashore  at  the  former  place  with  many  kindly  compliments 
upon  hia  enterprise.  Eoad-mnkers,  MS.,  1(>-19. 

^'  Says  Appiegate,  in  Vietcs  of  Orerjon  HMory,  MS. :  '  The  first  full  meal 
my  party  of  70  had  for  three  weeks  was  out  of  the  bounty  of  Dr  McLoughlin, 
dispensed  by  Captain  Waters. '  Concerning  the  conditions  put  upon  Waters, 
Burnett  remarks:  '  Many  of  the  purchasers  never  paid,  but  contenteil  them- 
selves with  almsing  the  doctor  and  the  captain,  accusing  them  of  wishing  to 
speculate  upon  the  necessities  of  poor  emigrants.  The  final  result  was  a  con- 
siderable loss,  which  Dr  McLoughlin  and  Captain  Waters  divided  ecpially 
l>etween  them. '  Of  Waters,  whose  title  of  captain  came  from  his  having  been 
at  the  head  of  one  of  the  emigrant  companies,  Burnett  says;  '  He  was  a  most 
excellent  man,  possessed  of  a  kind  heart,  truthfid  tongue,  anil  patient  dispo- 


yoi)])  AND  CLOTHING. 


411 


A  small  party  of  tlio  belated  immigrants  beinj]f 
wind-bound  behind  Caju;  Horn  for  a  number  of  days 
— a  circumstance  that  frequently  ha}H)ened  at  this 
part  of  the  i  iver— were  in  dani^er  of  death  by  starva- 
tion, being  reduced  to  eating  })oiled  rawhide,  whicli  they 
had  upon  their  boat.  Ford  relates  that  a  Mr  Delaney 
had  a  box  of  hemp-seed  which  he  consumed.  Among 
them  was  an  immigrant  who  had  been  d  Vancouver 
and  returned  to  the  Cascades  to  the  assistance  of  his 
friends.  Remembering  that  he  had  breakfasted  at  a 
certain  spot  on  his  way  up  the  river,  he  searched  upon 
his  knees,  in  the  snow,  for  crumbs  that  might  have 
fallen,  weeping  bitterly,  and  expecting  to  perish.  But 
McLoughlin,  with  his  wonderful  care  and  watchful- 
ness over  everybody,  being  satisfied,  from  the  length 
of  time  the  ])arty  had  been  out,  that  they  were  in 
(Hstr^^s,  sent  another  boat  with  provisions  to  look  for 
and  relieve  them,  which  arrived  in  time  to  prevent  a 
tragic  termination  to  their  six  months'  journey.*^  A 
letter  in  the  Oregon  Hjiectator  of  Januai  y  21,  1847, 
written  by  one  of  the  immigrants  of  1843,  declares  that 
they  experienced  more  hardships  and  sufferings  in 
descending  from  the  Dalles  to  the  Willamette  than 
in  all  the  former  portion  of  their  journey,  and  that 
almost  in  sight  of  the  promised  land  many  were  saved 
from  perishing  by  the  benevolence  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  and  the  timely  assistance  of  a  fellow- 
iinmigrant — presumably  Captain  Waters. 

It  might  be  asked  why  help  was  not  rendered  by 
the  American  settlers  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  and 
tlie  Methodist  Mission.  In  justice  to  the  missionaries, 
I  nmst  say  that  some  help  was  rendered,  but  it  appears 

sition;'  and  of  McLoughlin,  that  'he  Wiis  one  of  the  greatest  and  most  nolilc 
[ihilanthropists  I  ever  saw;  a  man  of  superior  ahility,  just  in  liis  dealings,  and 
a  faithful  Christian.'  Yet  tliese  were  the  men  wliom  a  certain  portion  of  tlie 
immigrants  of  1843  maligned  and  hated,  although  they  were  indebted  to  thorn 
tor  saving  their  lives. 

^*  Ford's  Jioad-mak'ern,  MS.,  24-5;  Letter  of  Lieut  llowisou,  in  Emm' 
ll'mt.  Or.,  MS.,  348.  The  only  death  that  happeneil  at  tlie  Cascades,  and  the 
ninth  on  the  road,  was  of  a  negro  woman,  a  servant  of  Mrs  Burnett,  who 
was  drowned  ))y  stepping  on  the  edge  of  a  canoe  which  sheered  from  under 
her,  when  she  fell  into  the  river  and  disappeared.  Ford,  MS.,  21. 


ii«ii 


41: 


THE  I.MMKiKATlON  OF   1W3. 


to  have  been  uuirely  the  scndincf  of  some  provisiiiiis 
to  peiHoiuil  friends  and  aoquaintanoe.s,  and  wa.s  enthely 
inadequate  to  the  needs  of  the  new-comers.  As  far  as 
the  settlers  were  concerntxl,  tliey  were  too  scattered, 
and  liad  not  the  nusans  to  render  niucli  assistance,  wliicli 
required  boats  as  well  as  provisions  in  larjj^c  quantities. 
Tt  is  i)lain  that  the  greatest  surferers  were  those  who 
were  prevailed  upon  by  Whitman  and  McKinlay  t(» 
leave  cattle  and  wagons  at  Walla  Walla.  No  lives 
were  lost  anioiig  those  who  took  the;  land  route,^  and 
those  wlio  had  cattle  had  always  something  to  cat. 

Though  the  main  innnigration  came  down  from  tlu- 
Dalles  in  boats,  parties  of  horsemen  accompanied  the 
cattle-drivers  on  shore.  One  party,  consisting  of  M.  M. 
McCarver,  James  Chase,  the  two  Doughertys,  and  a 
dozen  others,  took  Daniel  ]^ee's  cattle  trail  over  the 
Cascade  Mouiitains  into  the  Willamette  A^alley.  The 
immigrants  all  along  this  portion  of  the  route,  whether 
in  boats  or  ashore,  were  nmch  annoyed  by  the  natives, 
who  stole  the  cittle,  or  who  came  in  large  numbers, 
and  when  the  assistance  of  one  or  two  was  required, 
would  i-efuse  to  give  it  unless  all  were  employed  and 
l)aid,  which  was  only  another  form  of  robbery.  Bur- 
nett mentions  one  chief  who  spoke  English  very  well, 
and  was  dressed  in  a  suit  of  broadcloth,  witli  a  paii' 
of  fine  shoes.  With  absolute  authority  he  counnanded 
his  thirty-five  subordinates  to  do  no  work  unless  all 
were  engaged.  This  was  the  practical  working  of  the 
head-chief  system  of  Elijah  White  turned  against  the 
Americans. 

The  lateness  of  the  season  v/lien  the  travellers  ar- 
I'ived,  the  last  of  November,  with  the  difficulty  of 
sheltering  so  many  in  a  new  country,  rendered  it  im- 
practicable for  the  majority  to  select  land  for  a  set- 
tlement before  spring.  Those  who  had  means  bought 
the  necessaries  of  life  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  ; 


'"Dr  Ttilirtie  usetl  to  say  tliat  we  could  go  anywhere  with  a  wagon  tliat 
th(\v  eoulil  witli  a  pack-hor.se.'  .S'////v.'</r)-'.x  Oti/nijwt,  MS.,  ];j 


SKLECTION  OK  HOMK  SITES. 


413 


thosi'  wlio  had  iiotliiiij^  K-ft,  and  who  could  HirI  ciii- 
|)loyiii«.'nt,  went  to  work.  Many  rnnaiiuMl  at  Oregon 
('ity,  whiro  a  proof  of  tlicir  uncoiKiucrahlo  vijjjor  of 
hraiii  as  wdl  as  muscle  was  afforded  hv  tin;  fouii(lin<i- 
of  a  circulatiniij  lihrary  from  the  l)ook.s  wiiich  had  been 
brought  across  the  plains,  an  account  of  which  has  been 
given  in  a  previous  chapter. 

Waldo  drove  his  cattle  up  into  the  liills  south-east 
of  Salem  which  bear  his  nanie,  and  made  a  settlement 
without  delay.  Kaiser  wintered  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Willamette  opposite  the  old  mission;  but  in  the 
snrinjTf  selected  a  claim  a  mile  and  a  half  below  Salem. 
The  Fords  euul  Xesmith,  after  r(Mnainin<if  a  short  tinu; 
at  Oregon  City,  settled  at  that  jortion  of  tlu;  Yamhill 
district  which  constitutes  the  ))resent  county  at  l*olk.*" 
McClane  settled  in  Salem  and  bought  the  uiission  mills 
at  that  place;  Howell  on  a  plain  near  Salem,  whicli 
is  now  known  as  Howell's  Prairie.  The  Applegates 
wintered  at  the  (>ld  mission,  Jesse  Ain)legiite  being 
employed  in  surveying  both  at  Salem  and  ( )regon  City. 
In  the  spring  the  three  brothers  opened  farms  in  Yaui- 
hill  district,  near  the  present  site  of  Dallas."     Atlu'y 


'"  The  Fords  were  originally  from  North  Carolina,  where  Nineveh  Fonl, 
autlior  of  the  lioml-inakcrs,  MS.,  was  horn  July  lo,  KSl.").  They  emigrated  to 
Missouri  in  1840,  but  taking  the  prevalent  Oregon  fever,  joined  Burnett's  eoni- 
liany.  • 

"  Some  of  the  younger  members  of  the  Applegiito  family  long  resided  in  the 
Willamette  V^alley;  but  the  three  elder  ones  made  their  homes  in  soutliern 
Oregon;  Jesse  and  Charles  in  tlie  Uniixjua  Valley,  where  they  settled  in 
18411,  and  Lindsey  in  the  Kogue  Kiver  Valley,  to  which  he  removed  in  185!(, 
and  several  of  their  children  in  the  Klamath  Valley.  The  Applegates  wen; 
from  Kentucky,  where  Jesse  was  born  in  181 1 .  Tlie  family  removed  to  Missotiri 
in  182'2,  where  Jesse  was  a  jiroUije  and  pupil  of  Edmund  Biites,  whose  voice 
m  congress  was  ever  against  the  project  of  settling  Oregon  from  tlie  western 
stfvtes.  There  is  a  flattering  ami  kindly  tribute  to  Jesse  Api)legato  in  the 
Or.  Pioneer  Anxoc,  Tnnin.,  187"),  01,  by  .1.  \\.  Nesmith,  in  which  he  says: 
'  No  man  did  more  upon  the  route  to  aid  the  destitute  auil  encouragi^  the  weak. ' 
'As  a  frontiersman,  in  courage,  sagacity,  an<l  natural  intelligence  he  is  the 
eipial  of  Daniel  Boone.  In  culture  aiul  experii^nce,  he  is  the  superior  of  half 
tlie  living  statesmen  of  our  land.'  A/.,  S5-(i;,V.  /'.  Pnxf,  Sept.  l.'i,  1877;  Ashlntiil 
'/'ii/im/s,  June  27,  1879.  Mrs  .lesse  A[)plegate"s  maiden  name  was  Cynthia 
I'arkcr,  her  father  being  at  the  time  of  her  marriage  a  Mississippi  liatboatman. 
He  was  four  times  married,  and  Cyntiiia  was  tlie  daughter  of  his  second  wife, 
liy  whom  he  had  eight  children,  all  boys  but  this  one.  Mrs  Parker's  maiden 
name  was  Yoiint,  of  Pennsylvania  Dutch  descent,  and  Mrs  Applegate  was 
l>rought  up  by  the  Younts.  One  of  this  family  came  to  California  at  a  period 
earlier  than  the  advent  of  Captain  Sutter,  and  settled  at  Napa,  where  he  had 


r::-| 


414 


THE  IMMKiRATION  OF   1843. 


was  employed  on  the  flouring;  mill  of  the  luilling  com- 
pany at  Oregon  City,  and  finally  built  a  house  and 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture,  being  by 
trade  a  cabinet-maker/" 

Like  Hastings  of  the  year  before,  Ricord  wa^ 
offered  employment  by  McLoughlin  as  his  legal  ad- 
viser; but  he  held  to  the  missionaries,  as  I  have  else- 
where related,  and  in  the  spring  went  to  the  Hawaiian 
Islands,  where  he  became  chancellor  to  the  king, 
whom  he  left  for  tlie  gold-fields  of  Califc  rnia  in  1849.'''^ 

a  large  establishment  and  mill,  with  huuilrctla  of  Indian  servants.  Anotluii- 
wa.s  a  wealtliy  farmer  iu  Missouri  at  the  time  of  Mrs  Applegate's  marriage. 
After  a  long  and  usefnl  life,  she  died  at  her  residenee  in  Umpqua  Valley,  in 
the  spring  of  1881.  Applryat!''/  Cnrre.-<j)Oiidi:iire,  M.S.,  30.  Lindsey  Applogate 
was  horn  in  Henry  (.'onnty,  Kentucky,  in  1808.  Afterward  his  father,  David 
Applegate,  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  emigrated  to  Missouri,  where  he  settled 
near  8t  Louis,  tlien  a  small  Freneh  to'^i,  and  where  Lindsjy  had  few  e^  iuca- 
tional  advantages.  In  his  fifteenth  > ear  he  left  home  to  join  Ashley  i.i  his 
expedition  to  the  Rocky  Mountains.  One  part  of  Ashley's  company  ascedded 
tlie  Missouri  in  boats;  the  rest  proceeded  overland.  Young  Applegate  btloi.ged 
to  the  river  detachment,  which  was  attiicked  by  the  Ari'^karees,  defeated,  and 
driven  back  to  t'ouncil  Bluffs.  Falling  ill  at  this  place,  he  was  sent  back  witi\ 
the  wouniled  to  St  Louis.  He  afterward  worked  in  the  lead-mines  of  Illinois, 
and  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  He  was  married  in  18H1  to  Miss  Eliza- 
beth Miller  of  Cole  ("ouuty,  Missouri,  and  removed  soon  after  to  the  south- 
western part  of  the  state,  where  he  built  the  first  grist-mill  erected  in  that 
portion  of  Missouri,  and  where  he  resided  till  1843.  Mrs  Applegate  was  a 
woman  of  superior  character  and  abilities;  she  died  at  he»  home  in  Ashland 
in  the  spring  of  1882.  J (tcknonvHle  Sentinel,  July  30,  I879',  AMand,  Or.,  Tidiwjx, 
Aug.  8,  187S).  Charles  Applegate  was  two  years  the  senior  of  Lindsey.  la 
IS'JO  he  married  Miss  Melinda  Miller,  antl  witli  her  and  several  children 
emigrated  to  Oregon.  He  is  described  as  a  man  of  iroi.  constitution,  deter- 
mined will,  and  chpntable  dispt,  ncion.  He  also  possessed  considerable 
natural  ability  as  a  writer,  having  published  several  tales  of  frontier  life.  He 
iliedat  his  lionie  in  Douglas  County,  in  August  1870;  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  6(dvnhStatet,nieti,  Aug.  15,  1879;  Ro.ichur<j  Wctif  Star,  Aug.  15,  1879. 

*^Athey  gives  an  interesting  account  in  a  brief  dictation  in  a  manu- 
script called  l\'orkj</io}»<,  of  the  introduction  of  furniture  in  Oregon,  and  other 
matter,!.  He  says:  '  At  first  I  m.i'1'3  l)reakrast-t;ibles,  bedstea<ls,  chau's,  and 
fill  artu  les  of  common  furnitur* .  I  had  a  turniug-latlie  wiiich  I  made  myself, 
jjrobab'iy  the  first  one  on  the  '.^acific  coast.  But  I  could  not  get  enougii  to 
do  to  pay  me.  They  went  to  shi;)j)ing  old  iurnitur!  in  here  from  the  Ciist. 
Captain  Wm  K.  Kilborn  of  the  brig  Ihnrii  broutjlit  a  cargo  of  it  so  nearly 
in  pieces  that  I  charged  him  more  for  mending  it  i.p  than  it  cost.  It  was 
second-liand  furniture,  stoves,  and  everything.  It  w  is  just  like  coining  money 
to  sell  that  off.  L^t'-ves  sold  for  $45  and  $(50.  It  was  a  venture  from  New- 
buryport.  I  afterwa/d  did  some  turning  in  iron.  I  Imuglit  a  wheel  from  a 
scliool-teacher  at  Vaiic>iuver,  made  a  lathe,  and  used  it  for  turning  iron.  That 
was  not  till  1817,  and  was  notliing  more  than  tinkering  and  making  such 
things  as  I  wanted  for  my  own  use.'  Athey  was  born  in  V'i  ,  inia  in  181t). 
He  took  up  a  claim  on  the  Tualatin  River  in  1851,  ami  clearei  .i,  but  did  not 
succeed  at  farming,  and  sold  it  after  a  few  years  for  ^1,800  He  afterward 
engaged  in  building  a  small  steamer. 

*'^  Jloiiolidn  I'olyiieaiaii,  Dec.  '11,  1845;  Cunip-Jire  O /•.«'. "jh.h,  ^'S.,  13. 


THE  TOWN  OF  JJNNTON. 


415 


The  Garrisons  found  farms  in  the  Tualatin  plains,  now 
Washinoton  County/*  Burnett  and  McCarver  toolt 
a  piece  of  land  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Willamette 
River,  not  far  above  the  head  of  Sauvd  Island,  and 
laid  out  a  town  which  they  named  Linnton,  after 
Senator  Linn; "'  but  as  no  one  came  to  purchase  lots, 
after  having  cat  out  a  road  from  the  river  to  the 
Tualatin  plains,  iliey  removed  in  the  spring  to  the 
vicinity  of  the  present  town  of  llillsboro,  and  o})ened 
farms  near  the  Garrisons.**  ^hively  settled  on  a 
claim  above  the  old  fort  of  Astoria,  which  together 
with  the  clahn  of  Colonel  John  McClure,  before  men- 
tioned, became  afterward  the  site  of  the  present  town 
of  Astoria.  Lovejoy  remained  at  Oregon  City,  em- 
ploye:! by  McLoughlin  as  an  agent  to  do  business 
between  the  Americans  and  himself,  until  he  became 
a  part  owner  in  the  land  where  Portland  now  stands, 
and  where  he  with  F.  W.  Pettygrove  laid  off  tliat 
towii.*^ 


With  regard  to  the  general  condition  of  the  new 
colonists,  it  was  one  of  destitution.  In  subduinjj;  a 
wilderness  without  reseived  supplies  tliere  is  often  a 


**  Joseph  (iarrison  died  at  the  Dalles  Jan.  17,  1884,  aged  71  years.  S.  F. 
Aha,  Jail.  18,  1884.  See  also  Portland  Par.  ChriMitn  AilrofaU',  April  It, 
1874. 

*^  Buchan!  u  iiL  a  >eech  remarked  that  the  oitiz«ns  of  Oregon  would  deservi' 
the  brand  of  inj^ratitude  if  they  ilid  not  name  tlieir  first  city  the  City  of  Ijinn. 
Comj.  Glr;'i3,  »843-4,  370.  Tliere  were  two  attempts  to  sh<»w  gratitude  in 
this  way  .vhich  faile<l;  but  the  county  of  I.iun,  one  of  the  fiiie.st  in  tho  ttate, 
perpetuates  his  name.   Dciul/i'x  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  77. 

*"  McCarver  was  horn  in  Kentucky,  hut  removed  to  Iowa,  where  1.  !  laiil 
off  the  town  of  Burlington,  from  wliich  he  emigrated.  Burlington  i.-i  now  a 
city  v/hile  Liuuton  is  unknown  Long  afterward  lie  iaiil  out  the  town  of 
Tafonia,  in  W'ashington.  Burnett  w;us  horn  in  Tennessee  in  1807,  removing 
to  Mi.^souri  when  ten  years  of  age.  His  wife  was  Miss  ilarriet  Rog_'rs. 
horn  in  Wilson,  ?.nd  married  in  Hardeman  Co.,  Tenn.  For  biographies  of  the 
Burnett  family,  see  Hecolkrtioiif  of  ii  I'icnecr,  l-3(). 

*'  Lovejoy  was  born  in  Boston  i".  1811.  He  went  to  Missouri  in  1840,  and 
re8ide<l  at  vSparta,  Buchanan  County;  but  losing  his  health  l)y  tlie  malaria  ot 
the  Missouri  bottom-lands,  resolved  to  join  White's  emigration  in  1842,  as 
we  know.  In  the  winter  of  1848  he  acce])tiil  from  a  man  named  Overton  a 
half-interest  in  the  present  site  of  Portland,  Pettygi-ove  buying  t!ii'  other 
half.  The  town  was  laid  otF,  and  a  road  optiied  to  Taalatin  plains  in  1845. 
Lovejoy-  was  prominent  in  the  early  atl'airs  of  the  country,  out  became  of 
feeble  intellect  before  hii  death,  which  occurred  in  tlie  autumn  of  188'J. 


■'■if 

-ViS 


i  ' 


416 


THE  IMMKiRATION  OF   1843. 


near  approach  to  starvation  for  a  year  or  two.  Here 
were  many  persons  expecting  to  live  by  agriculture 
who  had  neither  seed  nor  fanning  iinplenieiits  with 
which  to  begin.  Many  had  large  families,  and  how  to 
feed  them  was  a  question  which  interested  not  only 
the  immigrants  hut  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company. 
McLouglilin  was  not  slow  to  comprehend  the  situa- 
tion. With  feelings  inimical  to  the  great  corporation, 
tliese  men  would  never  see  their  children  starve  while 
tliere  was  plenty  within  the  walls  of  the  company's 
storehouses.  Both  his  heart  and  his  reason  pointed 
the  course  to  be  pursued.  Immediate  necessities 
must  be  relieved,  and  they  must  be  encouraged  to 
begin  at  once  their  only  road  to  self-support,  the 
opening  of  farms.  Accordingly,  witliout  waiting  to 
be  asked,  he  pro))osed  both  these  remedies  for  the 
threatening  disaster.  He  offered  credit  to  the  desti- 
tute, furnislung  them  what  was  absolutely  required 
for  the  jnvsent,  and  seed  and  farm-tools  with  which 
to  begin  their  plantations.  Thus  he  not  only  dis- 
armed, to  a  great  extent,  the  antagonism  of  the  west- 
ern men,  but  made  himself  defenders  against  the 
arrogance  of  the  missionaries  by  excelling  them  in 
kindness  toward  their  own  countrymen,***  establish- 
ing at  the  same  time  a  balance  of  power  between 
British    and    American,   and    between    old   and  new 


«•() 


lonisti- 


4;) 


'h 


Notwithstanding  this  timely  help  the  privations  of 
the  immigrants  were  great.  Burnett  had  stated  that 
tluring  the  first  two  years  his  family  were  often  with- 
out meat  for  weeks  at  a  tim(\  and  sometimes  without 
bread,  while  occasionallv  both  were  wantiiii>'  at  the 
same  time.     !Milk  and  potatoes,  with  butter,  made  a 

^'' 8aya  Waldo,  in  \\\s  Cnt!<iii<»,  MS.,  1.'),  Ki:  'Jiimoii  Loo  played  the  devil 
\\\)  at  the  Dallea.  He  said  tlie  MLs»iaii  hail  always  ruled  the  cmiitry,  and  it 
there  wore  any  persons  iu  tlie  innnigration  wlioilid  not  like  to  ho  ruled  liy  tiie 
Mission,  they  niigiit  tind  a  eountry  idsewliere  to  go  to.  It  got  all  over  tlie 
country,  of  cour.se,  very  quiekly.  That  nuide  war  with  tlic?  missionaries  at 
onee.  We  c;wno  here  pretty  nidcpendent  fellow.s,  and  did  not  ask  many 
favors.'  See  also  Whlle.-<  Ten  Ymrn  in  Or.,  2').3. 

*'■'  MrLmiijhlins  I'riaifr.  j"-f;*r/w,  MS.,  ;id  sen,  10-12 


t 


9'^ 


P 


SUPPLIES  AND  PRICES. 


417 


.satisfying  diet,  though  it  liappcned  more  than  once 
tliat  even  these  were  ab.sent. 

Game  was  scarce  and  poor.  In  the  winter  wild 
fowl  were  numerous,  but  the  lakes  and  bayous  to 
which  they  resorted  were  distant  and  difficult  of  ap- 
proach, and  the  settlers  soon  learned  not  to  de[)end 
on  either  wild  game  or  wild  fruit.  Had  they  given 
their  time  to  })r(K'uring  tlie.se  su[)plies,  they  could  have 
done  nothing  else.  The  sudden  accession  of  popula- 
tion had  raised  the  price  of  tlour  to  four  cents  a 
pound,  })ork  to  ten  cents,  and  other  articles  in  ])ro- 
[)()rtion.""  Indeed,  so  hard  was  it  to  get  enough  to 
rut,  without  going  hopelessly  into  debt,  that  an  In- 
dian who  had  come  to  Apph;^^ate's  house  to  beg  was 
moved  with  pity  to  divide  his  own  slender  store  of 
dried  venison  with  the  hungry  children. 

In  the  matter  of  clothiny,-  there  was  the  same  desti- 
tution.  Fortunate  was  the  man  who  possessed  a  suit 
of  dressed  buckskin,  for  when  the  homespun  suits  which 
left  Missouri  were  worn  out,  there  were  no  others 
to  take  their  place.  The  women  made  dresses  out  of 
waijfon-covers,  and  some  wore  skin  clothin<jf  like  the 
men.  Moccasons  tcK)k  the  [)lace  of  boots  and  shoes. 
Hai)py  was  he  who  had  an  order  on  either  of  the 
three  merchants  at  Oregon  City,  Ermatinger,  Aber- 
nethy,  or  Pettygrove,  although  when  it  was  presented 
the  dearth  of  goods  at  the  American  .stores  often 
obliged  him  to  take  something  he  did  not  want  for 
the  thing  that  he  needed,'^  the  usual  demand  having 
exhau.sted  the  stock  in  these  ])laces. 

The  circulating  medium  of  the  country  as  estab- 
lished by  the  fur  company,  being  either  furs  or  wheat, 
was  a  serious  inconvenience.""'  The  custom  of  the  set- 
tlers was  to  deposit  with  the  merchants  a  quantity 
of  wheat,  which  represented  so  many  dollars  to  their 
credit.      Orders  on  the  merchants  then   became  the 


^Xilen'  Rt'ii.,  Ix 
;>i  --  -  '• 


1.S7,  2  Hi. 


yetiiii/Ji,  m  ('iimp-fhr  < h-ntionii,  MS.,    Vl\  McClniiv's  Fimt  Wn<pn  Troiii, 
MS.,  7;    }V<il//n'x  ('rifiiiiif.",  MS,,  jiuHHiiii. 
•'•^  'J\)linie'.i  PiiijH  Sound,  MS.,  14. 
Hist,  on.,  Vol.  I.    27 


13 


418 


THE  IMMKJKA'IION   OF   184:5. 


m 


mediuiu  of  payment  for  labor  or  property.  Should 
the  merchant's  stock  be  low,  the  holder  of  the  order 
either  took  what  he  could  get,  or  else  waited.  None 
but  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  kept  an  assortment 
of  general  riierchandise.  The  vessels  from  Boston 
and  New  York  were  freijjhted  with  goods  of  one  or 
two  classes,  while  from  the  Islands  only  a  few  articles 
could  be  obtained.  There  were  silly  fanatics-;— self- 
sacrificing  patriots, .  they  imagined  themselves — who, 
to  encourage  American  and  discourage  British  trade, 
would  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  company,  and 
these  were  put  to  severe  tests.  Sometimes  it  was 
sugar,  tea,  cofiee,  or  salt  they  had  to  do  without ;  and 
again  not  a  yard  of  cotton  goods  or  a  half-dozen 
cups  and  saucers  could  be  obtained.  This  being  the 
condition  of  the  market  in  Oregon  Citv,  if  a  man 
required  a  certain  article  he  nmst  take  furs  or  wheat 
to  Vancouver,  or  he  must  ask  credit  at  that  place  till 
a  crop  could  be  raised.  But  if  a  stock  of  the  current 
year  was  already  exhausted,  the  rules  of  the  company 
did  not  allow  of  opening  the  next  year's  stock  before 
the  arrival  of  the  annual  supplies,  lest  by  tlie  loss  of 
a  vessel  there  should  be  a  dearth  in  the  country  for  a 
long  period.  The  wants  of  tlie  immigration  of  184;3 
produced  the  effect  of  a  vessel's  loss  on  the  company's 
stores,  by  exhausting  the  goods  on  hand.^'* 

Why  it  was  that  none  of  the  innnigrants  foresaw 
the  circumstances  in  which  tliey  were  to  be  placed, 
is  a  question  that  has  never  been  answered.  I  think, 
however,  tliat  it  is  possible  to  solve  it.  None  of 
them  realized  the  distance  of  the  Willaniette  Valley 
beyond  the  liocky  Mountains.  As  Edwards  wrote 
to  Bacon,  many  imagined  that  all  they  had  to  do  after 
reacjiing  Snake  liiver  was  to  embark  upon  its  waters 
and  Hoat  down  to  the  moutli  of  the  Co  uml)ia.'''^     In- 


■''  ^^oLouglllill  liiid  it  in  his  power  to  tk'i)iii-t  from  tlio  oompaiiv'n  rule,  iunl 
really  did  so.  Khlu'rts,  in  his  TriippirM  lAj'c,  MS.,  ;{;{(>,  givu.-s  a  hroail  Hketcii 
of  the  iloctor  H  luamicr  of  dealing  witli  and  yieliling  to  tin;  American  .settler.s. 
for  which  I  have  not  room  here.     He  was  more  ol'teu  overruled  than  otherwise. 

^*  Sketch  of  Orojoii,  MS.,  3. 


I'HK  IMMORTAL   I'ATHFIXDKU. 


410 


d, 

ik, 
(.f 
vy 
U' 
tor 
ers 
.11- 

and 

L'tcll 

Icrs. 


stoail  of  this,  tluy  i'ouud  a  stream  iiiipracticiihlc  tor 
navigation,  and  borderod  with  sand,  rocks,  an<l  artc- 
niisia  for  liundrcds  of  iuili;s.  It  was  owinj.^  to  tlie 
oxcellunce  and  abundance  of  their  appointments  tJuit 
they  accomplished  tlie  journey  to  tlio  Coiuuibia  in 
sucii  good  time  and  with  so  little  loss.'"'^ 

From  the  repeated  statements  made  in  congn.ss 
of  the  facilities  for  commerce  of  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia,  and  of  the  actual  trade  carried  on  by  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  they  had  formed  exaggerated 
id(;as  of  the  amount  of  pro(Uictiv)ns,  and  the  general 
capacity  t)f  the  country.  For  the  rest,  tliey  were 
idealists,  'men  of  destiny'  they  had  bet!i  called,  who 
had  the  same  faith  that  all  would  be  j'ight  with 
them  in  Ori'o-on  which  the  religionist  feels  that  he 
will  wake  in  lu>avi>n  when  lie  slee|)s  in  death'.  Or,  if 
all  was  not  riglit,  it  would  be  the  fault  of  the  British 
fur  company;  in  which  case  they  would  pull  down 
Vancouver  about  the  ears  of  its  venerable  factor  and 
help  themselves. 

The  state  of  disappointment  and  discontent  v/hich 
followed  the  first  introductioii  to  the  mw  life  was 
after  all  not  long.  When  spring  came  with  sunny 
skies  and  balmy  air,  they  forgot  the  sorrows  of  the 
winter,  and  yielded  conteiidedly  U)  the  witchery  of 
fresh  sceiu'S  and  the  pleasure  of  new  l)(\giimn;gs.  By 
autumn  they  wer-e  settled,  and  had  already  becouie 
well  incorporated  with  the  old  colony/" 

Some  mention  should  bu  made  in  this  place  of  the 
second  expedition   i4'  Fremont,  wliich   though  it  had 

*■' It  is  without  doubt  just  to  T)r  Wlutiii.iu  to  say  that  iu  the  matter  of 
insisting  upon  their  keeping  in  motion  and  aeeomplishing  some  ilistariee  each 
day,  tiiey  were  indelittu  tor  tiuir  success.  He  kmw  the  weary  nides  before 
them,  and  warned  them  eoimtuntly  to  travel.  Ayjilci/'i/i,  in  ih-irlnml  Mnuthln. 
i.  1'27. 

*  In  writing  this  eliapter,  I  iiave  been  often  guidiJ  by  lUirm'U'i  Ilcfiril''- 
liou-1  nf  II  Pioiiicr,  New  >drk,  l.ScS(t,  chirlly  beeause  he  ke^-t  a  journal  ot  his 
traxfls  and  his  early  life  in  Oregon.  Tiie  i)()ok  abounds  iii  rieidents  told  m  i 
natural  uuiniier.  It  contain:.,  besides,  numerous  pen-pictures  of  other  puHieers. 
with  whieli  these  pages  will  lie  from  tiuio  to  time  illustrated,  aud  valuable 
remarks  on  eaily  goveruuient  ati'airs 


'I    i 


i-M 


Tiij;  i.mmi(;kation  uf  i84:{. 


nothing  to  do  witli  tlio  ciuijj^i'iition  inovi'iiiciit  of  I  H4:i, 
was  ail  incident  ot"  it.  Tliu  expedition  left  tlie  Mis- 
souri River,  near  tlie  junction  of  tiic  Kansas,  on  the 
•JDtli  of  May,  travellinj^  just  beliind  the  eniii^rants  as 
far  as  Soda  Sprinjj^s  at  the  (ireat  Bend  of  Bear  Kiver, 
wliere  tliey  turned  off  to  Salt  Lake.  Havinjj^  made  a 
hasty  visit  to  that  inland  sea,''"  they  returned  to  tlu' 
emigrant  roa<],  which  they  followed  to  the  Dalles,''** 
arriving  there  on  the  4th  of  Novend)er.  Tlu-re  Fre- 
mont left  his  men  and  animals,  and  took  a  canoe  tn 
Fort  Vancouver  to  purchase  sup[)lies  for  his  expedi- 
tion to  California,  which  were  furnished  him  on  the 
credit  of  the  United  States,  the  company  sending  the 
goods  to  the  Dalles  in  their  own  boats.  The  emi- 
grants ridicule  Fremont's  sobri(piet  of  'l^ithfinder.''''* 
The  naturalist  Audubon  was  skirting  the  eastern 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  the  summer  of  184o, 
in  pursuit  of  his  favorite  study  of  ornithology;  and 
mentioii  is  made  of  airerman  botanist  named  Luders, 
wiiom  Fremont  met  on  the  Cohunbia,  at  a  little  bay 
ludow  the  Cascades,  which  was  called  afti'r  him  Lu- 
ders' Bay.  The  toils  and  dangers  of  this  class  of  men 
occupy  but  little  space  in  history,  yet  ai'e  iione  the  less 
wortiiy  of  mention  that  they  are  not  ])erformed  for  gain 
or  political  prefernu'nt.     If  it  is  a  brave  dt;ed  to  dai-e 

■'•'The  follow iiijj;  alwnnl  report  ipjuuncl  in  t\w  St  l.'nm  Gazette;  'On  tln' 
Kith  of  St'[iti:iiil)Lr  thfV  -urvoycil  tlio(Jreat  Salt  Lake,  .sujiposed  to  empty  into 
tile  I'acitie,  aiiil  computed  its  length  to  ikj  2S0  mileB,  ami  its  breadth  1(K). ' 
X:(,^  J{,y.,  Ixv.  iJ43. 

^^'Waltlo'.i  Critj<iiie/i,  MS.,  17:  Er^nm''  Hiit..  <h.,  MS.,  'Jlli.  According  to 
Nesmitli,  .r.  (J.  Camphell,  Kaiisom  t'lark,  ( 'hapiiiaii,  and  Major  William  (ill- 
pill  travelled  a  ith  Frrmont  s  company,  "h:  Pioneer  .-l.wof.,  Trann.,  1S7.">, 
jKVti;  Frriiioiif'n  Rejil.  E'l'loi.  E.r.,  107. 

•'"This  feelinj^is  illiiMtrated  liy  tlie  foUowiag extract  from Neaniith's  Address 
in  (h:  I'iomcr  Ak-soi'.,  Tnin-t.,  1S7.">,  (iO:  "  la  the  eastern  .states  I  have  often  been 
asked  liow  long  it  \v;is  aftiT  Fntnont  discovered  Orvjjon  tliat  1  emigrated  there. 
^  ,  is  true  that  in  the  year  IMii  Fremont,  then  a  tk'uteiiant  ii\  the  engineer 
corps,  ilid  (Tiiss  the  plains,  anci  l)rouiriit  liis  party  to  thi^  Dalles  in  the  rear  ol 
our  emigivition.  His  outtit  coiitaincil  all  tlie  conveiueiices  and  luxuries  that 
;>.  governimiit  appropriation  could  procure,  wiiile  he  "  I'oughed  it.  "  in  a  covered 
I'arriage,  surrounded  by  servants  paid  trom  the  public  purse.  He  returned  to 
the  States,  ami  Avas  rewariled  with  a  ;iresidential  nomination  as  the  "  J'atli- 
liiider. "  The  t«th  he  found  wiis  thaB  made  by  the  liardy  frontiersmen  wlio 
preceded  him  t-  ;iie  I'acilic,  and  whostiHid  bytkicir  ritltsi  and  held  the  country 
against  hostile  Indians  and  British  tin'cats.  without  uovemmeiit  aiil  or  reuog- 
nitioii  untU  l>mw,  wJicn  tUuiirst  gi>«^ laamuait  troops  ciuau;  to  our  rebel.' 


-.!  f 


BIOORAPHICAL. 


421 


tlio  perils  of  the  wildcrne.ss  fur  these,  in  companies 
of  hundreds^  liow  much  nobler  is  it  for  the  solitary 
student  of  science  to  risk  life  for  the  benefit  of  man- 
kind!'^ 


•'^Of  tlio  immifrration  of  1843  :nany  have  passed  away.  John  Ford  died  in 
Salem  Oct.  10,  187."),  ageil  .")().  .John  (Jill  Caiiipholl  died  at  Oregon  City  Nov. 
'_'l,  1S7-,  aged  ."),").  III!  vas  a  I'liiladelpliian  hy  hirth,  and  married,  in  1840, 
Miss  Kdthilda  K.  Huek  of  Oregon  t'ity.  Jolni  Howell,  born  in  Tennessee 
lU'c.  (i,  1787,  died  Oct.  4,  18(it),  aged  82.  A.  Olingor,  a  native  of  Ohio,  died 
mar  .Sahnn  .Jan.  'A,  1874,  aged  &2.  Thomas  Owens  dii;d  .Jan.  '2'i,  187S,  at 
i'iety  Hill  in  California.  He  was  l)orn  in  TazeMX'U  (.'onnty,  Virginia,  Jan.  12, 
1808.  He  settli'd  hrst  in  Oregon  near  Astoria,  where  he  remained  10  years, 
wiicn  he  renioveil  to  Kosehnrg.  His  age  was  G").  Steplien  Tarhox  was  horn 
ill  Maine  in  1812,  of  Irish  parentage.  He  never  married.  Before  emigrating 
to  Oregon  he  had  hcen  a  soldier  in  the  U.  8.  army  under  Kearny  eommand- 
iiig  the  1st  regt  of  dragoons  stationed  at  Leavonworth.  He  died  Nov.  G, 
1878,  in  Benton  County,  Oregon,  aged  0(i.  ^Villian^  Holmes  died  Sept.  18, 
187!',  at  Ills  home  in  Oregon  City,  at  tile  age  of  7.">.  .Tesse  Looney  died  Miireli 
2"),  1809,  aged  88.  His  iiome  was  in  Marion  i'ounty,  where  his  ehildren  still 
reside,  Daniel  Matiieney  died  near  Wheatland,  Yamlidl  County,  J''el).  1,  1872, 
ageil  7!).  He  was  horn  in  N'irgiiua  Dec.  11,  17'.i:{,  and  removed  successively 
to  Kentucky,  Ir.diana,  and  Hlinois.  He  was  married  Dee.  1!),  181',).  He  served 
in  tlie  war  of  1812,  receiving  his  tiiseliarge  at  the  victory  of  New  Orleans. 
He  fought  again  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  under  (General  Atkinson,  and  was 
elected  1st  lieutenant  of  a  company,  and  in  18.'{i)  again  enlisted  and  was 
elected  captain  in  the  Mormon  war.  In  tlie  inimigrotion  of  1843  he  was  one  of 
tiie  most  active,  cxjiloring  and  opening  the  road  from  Fort  Hall  to  the  Dalles. 
Henry  Matiieney  w..<  married  in  Indiana  in  1828;  his  wife  died  in  .June  1877, 
tlie  Imshand  preceding  her.  David  T.  Lennox  Wiis  horn  in  New  York  in 
1S02,  removi'd  to  Kentucky  in  1810,  to  Illinois  in  1828,  to  Mis.souri  in  18.37. 
He  was  among  the  foremost  men  of  this  migration.  He  settled  on  the  Tualatin 
plains,  when'  he  lived  many  years,  tilling  several  places  of  piddic  trust.  He 
liied  at  tlie  home  of  Ins  son-udaw,  .John  S.  White,  in  Umatilla  County,  Oct. 
10.   1874,  aged  nearly  7.3. 

Kieliard  Holison  M'as  born  in  Kngland  in  Oct.  1829,  and  was  theref,)re 
under  the  age  of  U),  which  entitled  'iim  to  be  enrolled  as  ablediodied  m  1843. 
He  emigrated  tnim  Liverpool  witi  ids  fatlier  s  family  ia  .January  1 '>4.3,  with 
the  design  of  going  to  Oregoii.  and  arrived  at  Vancouver  Nov.  17t'i  of  tliat 
year.  His  fatlier,  .John  Hohson,  located  on  Clatsop  plains  in.Janu.ry  1844, 
vlur^-  tlie  family  still  reside.  Kiehaid  visited  Australia,  ami  returned  to 
Oregon  in  18.")0.  He  then  became  a  pilot  on  the  Columbia  River,  in  which 
iaisiness  he  remained  until  his  death  in  1878,   it  the  age  of  49. 

.John  Holiiiaii  »  as  a  nativo  nf  Woodford  County,  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
horn  Sej  t.  1 1,  17'*7.  In  Oct.  18l(>  he  married  a  daughter  of  Tlioniius  Duvall. 
About  the  same  time  lie  jmnoH  the  Baptist  ehureh  at  Hillsboro.  In  1817  hi' 
emiiirated  t«>  M ii Idle  Ten nesst'e,  iind  resiiled  in  the  county  of  Lincoln  until 
I82»>,  when  lie  removed  to  ('Jay  County,  Missouri.  In  this  insalubrious 
climate  lie  lost  his  wife  and  three  eh  ihlreii,  and  in  1843  detiiniined  to  join 
the  emigration  to  Oregon,  wlu'ie  he  spent  tlie  decline  of  his  life  in  traiKjiiil 
haiipiness.  He  died  .May  ];"•  18(14,  at  the  resilience  of  his  son,  Daniel  Hol- 
maii  of  Me.'-' :!iiiville.     His  a^e  was  77  years> 

Charlei)  H.  Katon,  horn  in  Oswego  County,  N.  Y.,  l>ee.  22,  1818,  removed 
with  his  parents  t(>  I'aulding  County,  Ohi(^  when  a  buy,  whiMiee  he  emi- 
grated to  ()regou  in  l.v4.3.  In  184G  he  settled  in  the  I'liget  Sound  region, 
with  whose  liistory  hi^  own  is  idtjutilied.  He  died  Dee,  1(),  1870,  at  ^'akiiiia 
I'ity,  aged  M 

William  Fowler,  \v  itji  thv  other  two  of  that  name,  went  to  California  in 


\  ^  h 


4lIiJ 


THE   IMMKaiATJON   OF    IM.}. 


The  innuigration  by  stui  for  tlic  year  1843  amounted 
to  fourteen  persons.  The  bark  Fama,  (^a])tain  Nye, 
from  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  brouj^ht  Francis  W.  Pet- 
tyii^rove,  wife  and  chikl,  Phihp  Foster,  wife  and  four 
cliildren,  Peter  H.  Hatch,  wife  and  child,  and  Nathan 
P.  Mack.      These  all  settled  at  or  near  Oregon  City. 

F.  W.  Pettygrovc  was  a  native  of  Calais,  Maine. 
He  came  to  ()regon  as  agent  for  A.  G.  and  A.  W. 
Benson,  with  about  $15,000  worth  of  merchandise, 
supposed  to  be  suited  to  the  trade  of  the  country,  and 
established  himself  first  in  competition  with  the  Cush- 
irigs,  and  the  Methodist  Mission  which  ()[)ened  a  store 
at  Oregon  City  this  year,  and  later  competed  with  the 
traders  of  the  Hudson's  liay  Company  very  success- 
fully,"^  buying    beaver-skins,    and   erecting    a   wheat 

1S44,  and  settled  in  tlie  Napa  V^alley.  Ho  ■was  born  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  ami 
ilii'd  cat  tlie  residence  of  his  son,  Henry,  at  C'ali.stoga,  Calfornia,  Feb,  3,  bSO"), 
aged  80. 

T.  (t.  Naylor,  a  native  of  Albemarle  County,  Virginia,  and  later  a  resi- 
dent of  Missouri,  from  wbicli  state  be  eiiii<,'rated,  was  l)orn  Oct.  12,  1S14. 
On  eoining  to  Oregon  lie  settled  on  Tualatin  plains,  a<ljoining  tbe  land  eliiiin 
on  whiob  Forest  (!rove  is  situated,  wlui'e  be  li\i'd  until  Ids  deatli,  Dee.  .">, 
1872,  at  tlie  age  of  iVJ.  He  was  twice  muiried,  ami  tbe  fatber  of  18  cbildreii, 
\'>  of  wbom  survive.  His  ebarueter  as  a  true  man  gave  lum  intbience  in  tbe 
Congregational  cluireb,  of  wbicb  be  was  a  deacon,  and  nuiib!  bini  a  trustee  of 
tbe  raeitio  University,  and  director  in  tlie  state  agricultural  society.  He  was 
a  generous  sujiporter  of  all  wortliy  jmblie  institutions. 

Orris  Brown  w:is  liorri  in  Massaciiusetts,  Sept.  4,  IS(H),  bis  fatber  ])eing 
tlie  Rev.  (birk  Ibdwii,  and  bis  motber,  Taliitlia  Urown„famous  in  tbe  bistory 
of  tbe  I'aoilic  University  of  Oregon.  His  parents  removed  to  Maryland, 
wliere  bis  fatber  di(;d,  and  bis  motber  emigrated  to  Missouri  witb  ber  ebildren 
in  1821.  In  1843,  being  tben  marrieil,  lie  came  to  Oregon,  leaving  bis  family, 
but  returned  in  184.")  witb  a  small  Jiarty  under  Wliite,  wbicb  was  roblieil  on 
tlie  road  by  tlie  Pawnees.  He  lirougbt  back  to  Oregon  in  1840  bis  own 
family  and  bis  motiier's,  most  of  wbom  settled  at  Forest  drove.  Mr  Jirown 
bad  12  ebildrei;.      He  died  May  5,  1874,  aged  74. 

Daniel  Delaney  was  murdered  at  tbe  age  of  more  tban  70,  Jan.  !),  1805, 
upon  bis  own  premises,  18  miles  from  Salem.  One  of  tlie  men  convicted  of 
sliooting  bim  to  obtain  bis  money  was  (Jeorge  1'.  Beale,  also  an  immigrant  of 
1843,  and  at  tbat  time  only  a  lad.  Beale  was  executed,  witb  bis  confederate, 
May  17,  ISO,"). 

Margaret  (larrison,  wife  of  Itev.  Enoch  (iarrisou,  was  born  in  Kentucky 
January  24,  1814.  Her  maiden  name  was  Herren.  At  tbe  age  of  18  yeans 
she  removed  to  Indiana,  where  in  1830  slie  was  married  to  Mr  (iarrisou,  and 
'■•ith  bim  went  to  Oregon  in  1843.  She  was  the  motber  .  f  8  children,  only 
A   )f  wlioin  outlived  lier.     She  died  in  Yamhill  County,  ]\Iaicli  20,  1874. 

"'In  a  manuscript  called  Onujon  in  iS.}J,  Imt  giving  an  intelligent  view  of 
tbo  business  of  tbe  country  down  to  1850,  and  the  gold  excitement;  with  a 
history  of  the  founding  of  I'orthwid,  of  v.liicli  be  was  one  of  tlie  first  owners; 
and  of  the  opening  of  American  commerce  on  I'uget  Sound,  IVttygrove  re- 
lates his  introduction  to  MeLouglilin.     He  came  to  the  Islands  in  the  ship 


L 


I 


INCOMERS  BY  SEA, 


423 


warehouse  at  (  hampoeji^,  to  purdiase  tlie  crops  of  the 
French  Canadians.  This  course  led  to  tlie  estabhsli- 
iiient  of  a  store  at  Orejjjon  City  by  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  which  was  placed  in  charjjce  of  Frank  Ernia- 
tiiioer;  so  it  niay  be  said  that  Pettygrove  added  two 
stores  to  that  infant  metropolis. 

Mr  Foster,  from  Maine,  who  also  came  from  New 
York  by  the  same  ship  which  brou<,dit  Pettygrove 
to  the  Islands,  remained  for  a  year  or  two  at  Oregon 
City,  but  finally  settled  sixteen  miles  u[)  the  Clack- 
amas River,  on  the  trail  leading  to  the  Dalles,  his 
farm  becoming  a  halting-place  for  the  innnigrants 
who  took  the  Mount  Hood  road  into  the  Willamette 
N'^alley.^"  Mack,  who  was  a  ^lassachusetts  man,  had 
been  in  Pacific  waters  f(»r  several  years,  trading  and 
whaling.  Being  by  vocation  a  carpenter,  he  found 
ample  employment  at  Oregon  City  for  three  or  four 
years,  after  which  he  settled  on  a  farm  ten  miles  east 
(^f  that  place,  but  finally  removed  to  Salem."'* 

About  tlie  first  of  September  there  arrived  in  the 

Victoria,  from  New  York,  Captain  Jolin  H.  Spring,  and  from  the  Islands  tfi 
the  Colinnbia  in  the  Fmnii,  as  above  stated,  tlie  Iiark  lying  in  the  river  oppo- 
site Vancouver  for  two  weeks,  and  I'ettygrove,  who  liad  come  to  Oregon 
prepared  to  lind  only  oppression  and  hostility  in  all  tiie  acts  of  tlie  fur  com- 
pany's oHicers,  was  compelled  to  remain  a  guest  of  McLouglilin  and  Douglas 
until  some  means  offered  of  getting  his  goods  conveyed  to  Oregon  CHy.  Hav- 
ing at  length  secured  the  service  of  the  company's  little  schooner  used  for 
navigating  the  Willamette,  he  emliarked  cargo  and  family,  and  repaired  to 
McLoughlin's  otHee  to  in(|uire  to  what  extent  he  was  indehtud  for  the  favors 
extended  to  him.  'Show  me  your  invoice,'  said  the  doctor.  I  offered  him  a 
memorandum-hook  containing  the  nnmher  of  packages  shipped  in  the  Fdiuii 
from  Honolulu.  He  looked  it  over,  and  remarked  he  could  '  learn  nothing 
from  that.'  I  did  not  intend  he  should;  and  again  asked  for  my  hill  cf 
expenses.  He  made  me  a  very  low  how,  and  said:  '  We  are  happy  to  receive 
such  men  as  yoxi  in  our  mi<lst;  we  charge  you  nothing.'  1  felt  so  humiliated 
by  my  unjust  .suspicions  and  his  generous  conduct,  that  I  wouM  gladly  have 
drojiped  into  the  ground  out  of  sight.'  When  the  doctor  found  I'ettygrove 
bought  beaver-skins  to  ship  to  New  York,  he  oifered  him  all  they  were 
worth  in  that  market,  giving  him  a  draft  on  Canada  at  'J."»  per  cent  discount, 
which  offer  was  accepted.  In  l>S4(i  McLoughlin  ask(;d  I'ettygrove  to  take  liis 
son  Uavid  into  partnership  with  him,  to  learn  the  American  mode  of  business 
transactions,  offering  to  furnish  !<'J(),(KM)  capital  as  his  portion  of  the  partner- 
ship. This  arrangement  was  finally  m.ide  and  continued  for  '2  years,  when 
the  firm  was  dissolved. 

"■■'Jlonoliilii,  S.  /.,  Friend,  Oct.  ITi,  1849. 

'^'■'  Mxrk-'s  Ori'i/oii,  MS.,  ]-',i.  This  manuscript  deal.'*  only  with  the  author's 
private  affairs,  the  substance  of  which  here  appertaining  is  given  in  the  above 
paragraph,     it  coutirms  in  some  particulars  I'ettygrove  s  Or<(jon  in  16'4'J,  M8. 


y.\  ' 


I. 

I 
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424 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  l*i3. 


niC 


i^ 


Columbia  tlio  brij^  Pallas,  Captain  Sylvester,  from 
Ncwl)uryport,  with  a  carjj^o  of  Indian  goods  consigned 
to  Cusliing  and  Company.  In  the  brig  came  Edmund 
Sylvester,  also  of  Maine,  brother  of  the  captain,  who 
reniahied  in  Oregon,  and  assisted  in  buildhig  the  first 
two  houses  in  Portland.  In  184G  he  removed  to 
I*uget  Sound,"^  and  siittled  at  Olynipia,  of  which 
town  he  was  one  of  the  founders. 

It  will  be  observed  that  those  who  came  by  sea 
were  New  Englanders.  As  the  missionaries  were  all 
from  N(nv  England  and  New  York,  they  received  these 
traders  and  sea-going  pt^ople  with  a  welcome  warmer 
than  that  they  extended  to  the  western  settleiu 
Their  impression  on  the  country  was  distinct.  One 
class  bought  and  sold,  built  mills,  and  speculated  in 
any  kind  of  property.  The  other,  and  now  tlie  larger 
class,  cultivated  the  ground,  opened  roads,  exercised 
an  unbounded  hospitality,  and  carried  the  world  of 
politics  on  their  shoulders. 

'"These  items  are  found  in  Si/lrcitcrK  Oti/mpia,  MS.,  1-4,  which  treats 
liriiicipally  of  the  early  settlement  and  business  of  Puget  Sound  in  a  clear 
;;iid  comprehensive  manner.  This  manuscript  is  one  of  the  most  valuahlo 
authorities  on  Washington  Territory.  Sylvester  says  that  tlie  brig  took  away 
:{(HI  or  400  barrels  of  salmon;  also  that  his  brother  sold  the  Pallux  at  the 
.Sandwich  Islands  to  a  purchaser  from  Mazatlan,  to  carry  the  United  States 
mail  between  that  port  and  the  Islands.  He  does  not  say  what  became  of 
the  cargo,  or  whether  it  was  on  the  route  to  Xewburyport  that  she  was  sold, 
or  on  the  return  to  the  Columbia  River  with  anotiier  cargo.  All  that  is 
known  is  that  the  brig  was  lost,  and  that  in  1845  Captain  Sylvester  was  in 
connnand  of  the  ('/icnaiiiii/i,  which  sailed  from  the  Columbia  River  for  New- 
buryport.  The  C/iciKiiiiK.'t  never  returned  to  Oregon  after  her  voyage  of  1S45-G, 
of  wliich  I  shall  speak  hereafter. 


\:S  T 


CHAPTER  XA^I. 


LEOISLATI  \'  K   1'K(1C  v:p:I)IN<  JS. 


1844. 


I'UARACTER    OF    THE    ImMIORATIOX     OF     1843 — TlCK    LaND    LaW — OlD    AM> 

New  SEriLEus — OufiANic  Laws — rKKsoNNEi.  of  tiik  Commiitees — 
Message  of  the  Execctive  CoMMriTEE-  Revision  anh  Cokkection 
OF  Leoislative  Errors — Judicial  Affairs — The  Blessi.nos  of  Lam> 
Asv  THE  Ballot — Willameite  Falls  the  Seat  of  (Ioverx.mest— 
The  QiEsTioN  of  Boundary — Law  Relatisc!  to  Marriaue — LiyioR 
Law — Slavery — Neoroes  and  Mulatfoes— Atiitude  towari>  the 
British  Fur  Company- — Independence  of  Oregon. 


t  '■       i      :\i 


The  imniigTatioii  of  1843  was  coin[)Osed  of  people 
of  pronounced  character,  rudely  arrogant  and  aggress- 
ive rather  than  tame  and  submissive.  The  poorest 
might  claim  the  liberal  uraiit  of  land  offered  by  con- 
gress  to  actual  settlers,  while  the  leaders  aspired  to 
achievements  no  less  than  founding  a  state,  and  framing 
laws  to  govern  it.  If  what  liad  been  already  done 
suited  them,  well;  if  not,  they  would  undo,  if  strong 
I'liough.  Hence  immediately  on  arrival  they  were 
deeply  interested  in  what  had  been  done  by  tiic  pro- 
visional government.  They  then  discussed  the  laws 
passed  by  the  legislative  committee,  the  most  hnpor- 
tant  of  wliich  was  the  land  law,  whose  objectionable 
])arts  were  the  proviso  allowing  the  missions  six  miles 
s([uare  of  land,  and  granting  but  twent}'  days  to  new 
settlers  in  which  to  record  their  claims,  the  old  set- 
tlers havino-  a  year.^ 

This  injurious  discrimination  against  new-comers, 
joined  to  the  greed  of  the  missionaries,  and  the  inti- 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14580 

(716)  872-4503 


423 


LE(JISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


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Illation  given  by  Jason  Leo,  who  met  the  iniiuigration 
at  the  Dalles,  that  the  Methodist  Mission  intended  t 
make  the  laws  for  the  colonists,  was  sufficient  to  arouse 
the  independent  spirit  of  the  western  men,  who  had 
l)csidesa  liberal  contempt  for  the  close-tisted  Yankee 
class  to  which  most  of  tlie  missionaries  belonged," 
But  the  Methodist  was  of  all  the  Protestant  denomi- 
nations most  poi)ular  on  the  western  frontier,  where 
zeal  rather  than  intelligence  contributed  to  the  quali- 
fications of  members;  and  among  the  immigration 
were  many  zealous  Methodists.  Obviously  these  were 
likely  to  indorse,  or  at  least  excuse  and  condone,  any 
acts  of  the  missionaries. 

But  of  the  leading  men  few  were  hampered  by  this 
religious  allegiance.  Men  of  note  amongst  western 
communities,  they  ])ossessed  not  only  greater  freedom 
from  conventionalities  than  the  ordinary  New  Eng- 
lauder,  but  greater  mental  culture.  By  reason  of 
their  struggles  with  the  har'dshi})s  of  pioneer  life,  not 
to  mention  that  of  their  ancestors,  they  were  often 
lacking  in  J'efinement  of  manner,  and  always  in  the 
})olish  which  inherited  ease  imparf  ^t  their  ideas 

were  bold,  strong,  and  speculative,  ^  their  conver- 
.-ation,  tliough  sometimes  bookish,  was  seldom  pedantic, 
wJiile  their  adventurous  past  furnished  them  with 
original  matter  of  interest  far  beyond  the  ordinary 
topics  of  salovs.  That  this  was  so,  and  that  they 
won  the  friendship  and  respect  of  the  more  regularly 
educated  and  trained  uentleinen  of  the  aristocratic 
Hudson's  Bay  Com})any  by  their  true  manliness  and 
evident  talents,  is  a  matter  of  liiiitory.'^ 

If,  then,  some  of  the  immigiants  of  18415  affiliated 
at  once  with  the  Mission,  others  openly  exhibited  a 
I'egard  and  deference  for  the  officers  of  the  fur  com- 
pany, which  was  in  missionary  eyes  heretical  and  dan- 
gerous. There  was  still  anotiier  class  composed  of 
those  who  had  conscientiously  opposed  the  formation 


'•Si/tri',ttir'>i  Oli/tiijiiii,  MS.,  H. 

■' f '/•((Hy'o/v/'v  .)//.s.>i/(i;)((/vV.v,   MS.,   17. 


(lOVKKNMENT. 


4t.'7 


of  a  government  in  tlie  doubtful  eondition  of  national 
affairs,  who  comprised  nearly  half  of  the  former  set- 
tlers, leaving  out  the  Canadian  j)opulation.  These; 
were  glad  to  consult  with  the  new-comers  as  to  the 
right  of  the  colonists  to  take  such  a  step,  and  having 
some  grievances  of  their  own,  were  not  averse  to 
drawing  party  lines. 

That  some  form  of  government  was  made  necessary 
l)y  the  present  addition,  and  by  the  probability  that 
with  every  year  it  would  be  increased,  was  clear,  even 
to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  who,  however,  could 
not  bring  themselves  to  give  allegiance  to  the  United 
States,  but  favored  a  temporary  government  which 
should  l)e  independent  of  any  sovereignty.*  And  see- 
ing the  embarrassment  under  which  the  fur  magnates 
labored  between  their  allegiance  and  the  pressure 
brought  to  bear  by  the  colonists,  there  were  found  some 
Americans  {)repared  to  give  their  consent  to  such  a 
compromise,  But  the  majority  were  opposed  to  the 
scheme:  the  Mission,  because  in  the  event  of  a  union 
hetween  the  two  nationalities  it  could  not  hope  to 
preserve  a  leading  position  in  colonial  affairs;  and 
others,  because  it  was  not  patriotic  to  act  inde])en- 
(leiitly  of  the  United  States  government.  Of  this 
way  of  thinking  were  most  of  the  immigrants  of  184;], 
who  were  prompt  to  take  part  in  the  politics  of  the 
colon  v. 


According  to  Article  I.,  Section  2,  of  the  organic 
laws  adopted  the  [)revious  year,  the  election  of  an 
executive  and  legislative  conunittee,  and  other  officers 
of  the  provisional  government,  was  lield  on  the  second 
Tuesday  of  May  1844,  and  resulted  in  the  choice  of 
W.  J.  Baihy,  Osborne  liussell,  and  ]*.  (I.  Stewart,  to 
constitute  tlie  executive  arm  of  the  government;  and 
for  the  legislative  branch,  P.  H.  Burnett,  M.  M.  Mc- 
Carver,  David  Hill,  and  Matthew  Gilmore,  from  the 

*  Af^phjnte's  r'/r/ri,  MS.,  41;  Or<ii/'s  Tlkt.  Or.,  261. 


Hi 


I 


iliii 


i  :(■■' 


*» 


428 


LE(  as  LATI V  E  PROCEEDINGS. 


Tualatin  district;  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  from  the  Clackamas 
district;  and  Daniel  Waldo,  T.  D.  Kaiser,  and  Hubert 
Newell,  from  the  Cliampoeg  district.  Yamhill  dis- 
trict was  not  represented.  The  reader  is  already 
acquainted  with  most  of  these  men.  Bailey  had  been 
in  Oregon  since  1835.  He  was  of  English  birth  and 
liberal  education,  though  of  rude  ex})erience,  and  was 
well  adapted  to  the  position. '  Osborne  llussell  was  a 
native  of  Maine,  had  been  several  years  in  the  moun- 
tains with  the  fur  companies,  and  was  of  known 
integrity,"  and  was  well  fitted  to  repn^sent  the  con- 
servative and  moral  element  of  colonial  society.  P.  G. 
Stewart  was  one  of  the  immigration  of  1843,  a  jeweller, 
of  fair  education,  a  calm,  disjmssionate,  and  thoughtful 
man,  deliberate,  and  careful  of  the  interests  of  the 
independent  and  energetic  pioneers  who  made  broad 
the  road  to  Oregon  with  laden  wagons  and  lowing 
herds. 

The  imperfect  laws  of  Oregon  made  no  provision 
for  the  mode  of  conducting  elections,  except  by  adopt- 
ing the  laws  of  Iowa,  with  which  the  })eople  were  not 
familiar.  Two  thirds  of  the  voters  were  of  the  late 
innnigration,  and  liad  liad  neither  time  nor  o])portu- 
nity  to  become  inft)rmed  regarding  the  requirements 
of  their  duties  as  officers  of  the  election.  Hence  those 
first  regularly  elected  to  tlie  legisiatui'e  of  Oregon 
received  no  credentials  as  members  of  that  body. 
But  theie  was  no  disposition  on  the  ]iart  of  any  to 
dis[)ute  their  election  ;  and  they  met  on  the  18th  of 
June,  at  Oregon  City,  in  the  residence  of  Felix  Hath- 
away, where  they  immediately  organized  for  work  by 
taking  an  oath  to  support  the  laws  of  Oregon,  and 
fiithfully  to  discharge  their  duties.  !^^cCarver  was 
chosen  speaker  of  the  house,  and    Burnett  acted  as 

■'Xii<:-<'  ihij.,  ixvii.  :m. 

"Says  liiirnctt:  'AH  his  comrades  agreed  tliat  he  never  lost  liis  virtuous 
habits,  but  always  reiiiaineil  true  to  )iis  iirinciples.  He  was  never  marrii'd. 
He  is  a  iiuin  of  education  and  refined  feelings.  After  the  diseovery  of  gold  lie 
eanie  to  the  mines,  and  lias  been  engaged  in  mining  in  Kl  Dorado  County  ever 
«inue. '  Jiiirinft'.f  /'cc,  l(Jl-'_'. 


EX K(  L  ri \'  K  -M  KSS A(  ;K. 


42!t 


secretary  in  the  absence  of  J.  E.  Lony;/     The  nies- 
sa<^e  of  the  executive  committee  was  then  read.^ 

'  l>r  Joliu  K.  Long  was  born  in  Engliuul  ami  l)re(l  to  the  iirofession  of 
medicine.  He  immigrated  to  the  United  Ntiites  in  ISIW,  and  to  Oregon  in  1843. 
Ilewiia  a  niemlKr  of  tlie  Catholic  churci;  of  Oregon  City,  but  at  the  same 
time  was  a  firm  supporter  of  the  provisional  govei'nmt  nt.  Me  Wiu?  drowned  or 
killed  Jnne  '21,  184(5,  by  a  fall  from  his  horse,  which  became  uinnanagcablc 
■it  a  ford  of  the  Clackamas  River,  throwing  liini  into  the  stream.  Or.  !<vccliitor, 
July  9,  184(). 

•^  To  the  Honorable  the  Legislative  Assend)ly  ot  Oregon  Territory — f  len- 
tlenien:  As  a  rising  colony,  under  no  immediate  external  control  or  civil 
protection,  we  have  abundant  reiison  for  rendcrin,{  up  our  thanks  to  the 
(Jreat  Kuler  of  the  Universe  for  his  parental  care  ii,!i(l  protection  over  us, 
from  the  iirst  entrance  into  this  country  unto  the  present  day.  And  it  be- 
conies  us  hund)ly  to  acknowl(;dge  our  dependence  on  him  as  our  protector 
and  preserver,  and  implore  a  continuance  of  his  care  and  watciifuluess  over 
us,  and  wisdom  to  direct  us  in  the  discharge  of  tlie  duties  devolving  upon  us. 
This  country  has  been  po[iulated  by  powerful  Indian  tribes,  but  it  has  jjleased 
tiie  great  di.spo.ser  of  human  events  to  reduce  tliem  to  a  mere  shadow  of  their 
former  greatness,  thus  removing  tiit  cliief  ol)structu)n  to  the  entrance  of  civili- 
zation, ;in<l  opening  a  way  for  the  introduction  of  Christianity  wliere  igno- 
rance ami  idolatry  have  reigned  uncontrolled  for  many  ages.  Tliere  liave 
p'Thajis  been  few  colonies  planted  in  North  America  under  tlie  same  circum- 
slances  in  wiiicli  tiu;  present  settlers  of  this  territory  are  placed.  We  arc 
situated  in  a  portion  of  country  remote  from  civilized  nations,  amt/iig  the  few 
renuiining  savages  who  are  the  original  proprietors  of  the  soil.  Tlie  country 
is  claimed  by  two  powerful,  civilizeil,  and  enlightened  nations,  proud  of  their 
national  liberties,  and  jealous  of  their  respective  rights  and  privileges.  It 
is  obvious  that  these  claims  must  be  adjusted,  and  the  soil  purchased  from 
tlie  original  proprietors,  previous  to  any  right  being  conferred  upon  the 
citizens  of  those  governments,  relative  to  the  cultivation  of  lamls  in  this  Ter- 
ritory. The  government  of  (ireat  Britain  has  never  publiely  extended  her 
claim  so  far  south  as  to  include  the  lands  now  under  cultivation  in  tlii"-  colony. 
But  a  treaty  now  exists  between  that  government  and  tlie  United  States, 
giving  to  either  party  the  right  of  mutual  occupancy  of  this  Territory  in 
relation  to  the  Indian  trade.  The  United  States  have  held  out  inducements 
to  their  citizens,  and  indirectly  encouraged  the  settlement  of  this  country  by 
them.  Conseipieiitly  we  are  now  improving  the  country  by  their  consent, 
but  without  th.eir  protection;  and  it  is  self-evident  that  every  conimunity 
have  a  right  to  make  laws  for  their  mutual  benelit  and  protection,  where  no 
law  exists.  It  was  under  these  impressions  that  the  settlers  in  this  Territory 
establ'slied  a  form  of  government  last  year,  and  adopted  such  rules  and 
I'egulations  ;is  were  at  that  time  deemeil  necessary  for  tlie  protection  and 
prosperity  of  the  colony.  These  regulations  were  so  constructed  as  to  be 
altered  or  amended  by  a  legislative  assembly,  whose  members  were  to  be 
chosen  by  the  people,  annually,  until  such  time  as  the  governinent  of  the 
United  States  shall  exteml  tluir  jurisdiction  over  the  Territory.  At  the  time 
of  our  organization  it  was  expected  that  the  United  States  would  have 
taken  possession  of  the  country  before  this  time,  but  a  year  has  rolled 
around,  and  there  aiipears  little  or  no  prospect  of  aiil  from  that  ipiarter,  con- 
se(piently  we  are  yet  left  on  our  own  resources  for  protection.  In  view  of 
the  lu'e.ient  state  of  aflairs,  geiitlemi'ii  of  the  assembly,  we  would  recommend 
to  your  consideration  the  ailoption  of  some  iiK'asures  for  a  more  thorough 
organization.  Also  to  take  into  consideration  the  pr  'iriety  of  laying  a  light 
tax  for  the  support  of  government.  We  woulil  also  it  jomniend  to  your  con- 
sideration the  propriety  of  vi'sting  the  executive  power  in  one  person;  and  the 
imiiropriety  <if  vesting  the  power  of  supreme,  probate,  anil  district  judges  in 
one  person;  and  the  necessity  of  having  an  individual  jud;ie  for  each  court. 
We  wouhl  rccomniend  that  such  of  the  laws  of   Iowa  as  lia\c  been  or  may  be 


lyilgnyilllll^^ 


4:u) 


LKOISLATI VE  PROCKKWX<  IS. 


It  is  not  .surprising  that  there  should  bo  those  who 
reiifarded  tlie  existinyf  or<»"anization  as  iu»])erfec't.  The 
organic  laws,  however  ably  drawn,  had  elearly  been 
framed  by  one  not  versed  in  law;  and  while  the  com- 
pact, notwithstanding  the  looseness  of  its  provisions, 
might  be  ke[)t  by  the  lew  who  were  in  the  country 
at  the  time  of  its  adoption,  and  who  were  acc(mipanied 
to  govern  themselves  without  law,  it  was  likely  to  fail 
of  its  object  with  the  addition  of  several  hundred 
persons  annually  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States 
and  the  world.  So,  at  least,  the  executive  committee 
had  decided,  and  they  tlirew  upon  the  legislative  com- 
mittee the  ungrateful  task  of  casting  a  doubt  on  what 
the  friends  of  the  or-iginal  organization  thought  good 
and  suffici(Mit,  by  askiiig  them  to  remodel  the  most 
important  portions  of  that  work. 


rji^^^ "  Til 


adopted,  he  so  amended  as  to  auit  the  circumstances  of  the  country.  That 
the  militia  law  l)e  so  amended  that  military  othcers  hold  their  commission 
during  gooil  hchavior,  ami  that  eadi  company  sliall  have  the  privilege  of 
electing  tlieir  own  oHicers,  at  such  time  and  place  as  they  shall  think  fit,  ex- 
cepting the  days  of  annual  review;  and  tluit  such  portions  of  tiie  militia  law 
of  Iowa  he  adopted  as  will  suit  all  the  circumstiinces  of  our  military  organiza- 
tion. \\'e  would  recommend  that  the  first  article  of  the  land  law  be  so 
amended  as  to  require  that  some  permanent  imnrovement  be  niailc  on  a  claim 
before  recording,  and  that  siieh  improvement  be  designated  on  record,  with 
such  otlier  regulations  relative  to  land  claims,  as,  in  tlie  opinion  of  tills 
a,ssend)ly,  will  be  most  beneficial  to  the  inti^rests  of  tiie  public.  We  would 
recommend  that  the  fourtli  article  of  tlie  land  law  be  repealed,  as  it  is  con- 
sidered detriiiiental  to  the  interests  of  tlie  community.  We  would  recoiu- 
nieiid  tliat  commissionars  be  appointed  to  locate  rondn,  in  such  places  as  tiiis 
.assembly  shall  deem  necessary  for  the  interests  of  the  public,  and  that  a  law 
be  enacted  for  the  puniose  of  establishing  ferries  at  dilt'erent  tl'oroughlare.s 
crossing  the  Willamette  Kiver.  We  recommend  the  encouragement  of  tlu^ 
means  of  education,  as  far  as  our  limited  circumstances  will  allow.  We 
would  also  recommend  that  tiie  laws  of  Iowa  be  taken  into  consideration, 
coneerniug  bhicks  and  mulattoes,  and  that  a  law  be  enacted  for  the  punish- 
ment of  offenders  iucitiiig  the  Indians  against  the  whites,  and  regulating  tiie 
intercourse  of  the  whites  among  the  Indians  of  tills  colony.  And  in  con- 
clusion, we  .lc:iire  to  impress  upon  your  minds,  tliat  altliough  the  colony  is 
small,  and  its  resources  feebl',  yet  tlio  Life,  riglits.  and  lilierties  of  an  indi- 
vidual here  are  of  ecjual  value  to  him  as  to  one  m  tiie  city  of  Washington 
or  liondon.  And  it  is  a  duty  whieli  devolves  on  you,  and  on  us,  to  use  as 
mucli  discretion,  vigilance,  and  caution  in  maturing  and  adopting  me;usiires 
for  promoting  the  interests  of  tiiis  little  colony,  as  if  we  expected  our  names 
and  acts  \Nduld  be  enrolled  in  the  pagi^s  of  history,  or  inscribed  on  pillars  of 
stone,  when  our  day  ami  generation  shall  have  passed  away. 

r.  (!.  .SrKWART, 


Willamette  Falls,  June  18,  1S44. 


O.  RrssKi.i., 
W.  ,T.  Baii.kv, 

Kxecutive  Committee. 


STANDING   C'O.MMirrEl':s. 


4.U 


The  legislature  of  1844  has  been  censured  by  some 
for  undoing"  so  much  of  the  work  of  the  prtjvious  year.' 
But  in  their  opinion  as  well  as  in  the  judgment  of  the 
executive  committee,  it  nmst  l)e  done  ;  the  code  of  the 
older  colonists  must  be  changed,  but  it  was  an  un- 
grateful task.  Tlie  new-comers  composed  three  fourths 
of  the  legislative  committee  of  eight,  the  ninth  mem- 
ber not  being  elected.  But  two  thirds  of  the  executive 
connnittee  who  recommended  the  changes  were  old 
colonists.'"  Burnett  before  going  to  take  his  seat  in 
the  committee  had  never  been  at  Oregon  City,  n(»r 
examined  the  laws  of  I84."l"  Therefore  to  charge 
upon  him  as  has  been  done  a  premeditated  inttnition 
of  subverting  them  is  n.'anifestly  unjust. 

Having  his  attention  drawn  to  the  peculiarities  of 
the  orjfanic  law  by  the  executive  committee  before 
making  an  examination  of  it,  Burnett,  who  had  been 
district  attorney  in  Missouri,  and  was  an  able  jurist, 
declares  that  on  attempting  to  se})arate  the  funda- 
mental from  the  statutory  part  of  the  code,  or  to 
understand  where  the  constitution  ended  and  the 
statutes  began,  he  found  himself  unable  to  do  so,  and 
that  it   became   necessary  to  make    some  distinction 

'The  standing  committees  were  as  follows:  Ways  and  means,  Newell, 
Hill,  and  (iilmore;  niilitiiry  afi'airs.  Hill,  Kaise.',  and  Oilinore;  land  claini><, 
Walilo,  Lovejoy,  and  Newell;  roads,  Bii>uutt,  Waldo,  an<l  Kaiser;  judiciary, 
IJuruett,  Lovejoy,  an<l  (Hlinore.  (Jilmore  was  a  plain  fanner,  and  carrie<l  no 
great  weight  on  the  judiciary  eonimittee.  IJuriutt,  it  is  nnderstood,  did  tlie 
responsible  work.  The  connnittee  to  draught  rules  for  the  government  of  the 
house  consisted  of  Lovejoy,  Burnett,  and  AValdo.  Tiie  diti'erent  parts  of  the 
executive  message  were  then  referred  to  the  committees  cliosen  to  consider 
tlieui;  and  on  iriotif)n  of  Burnett,  so  mi'.ch  of  the  executive  committee's  mes- 
.sage  ius  relates  to  a  more  tiioroujih  orifanization,  to  vesting  tlie  executive 
jiower  in  a  single  iiulividual,  and  to  tlie  aiipointmeiit  of  several  judges,  and 
also  tiiose  parts  of  sai<l  message  that  lelate  to  tlie  amendment  of  the  laws  of 
chancery,  wore  referred  to  the  jmliciai'y  committee,    (rrorrr'n  Or.  Arr/iircs,  'M. 

'"Oray,  who  was  on  the  lirst  lef;islative  connnittee,  i.s  very  hitter  toward 
the  eouimittees  of  l(S4l.  I/iit.  Or.,  'M').  And  even  the  more  just  Ajiplegate. 
offended  heeause  his  friend  Shorte.ss  was  not  found  to  he  a  faultless  legislator, 
says:  '  The  few  and  simple  duties  prt'scril>e(l  to  these  committees  liy  tlie  organic 
law  were  far  too  iimiteii  for  tiie  display  of  aiiluue.-i  and  suit,esmanslii[)  wliich 


they  hoped  to  ohtiin  the  credit  of  possessing;  and  not  understanding  that  tiit 
ajiparent  defects  of  the  organic  law  were  its  wisest  provisions,  witliout  war- 
rant first  obtained  from  the  people  to  do,  and  witliout  submitting  their  work. 


;ing  tiieir  work, 
idel  the  orifaiiic 


when  done,  to  their  sanction  or  rejection,  jn'oeeeded  to  remodel  tlie  orga 
law  itself  to  an  extent  amounting  to  its  subversion.'    Vkw-iof  Hislorj,  MS.,  41. 


m 


mmm 


432 


LK( USLATI V K    PIKM  EKDIN* IS. 


Itffore  furtlu'i"  loi^islation  could  take  j)laco.  As  the 
organic  law  then  stood,  it  was  either  all  constitution 
or  all  stututo.  No  mode  of  amendment  havinii"  been 
provided,  if  the  orf^anic  law  was  in  fact  the  constitu- 
tion of  Oregon,  to  amend  it  would  be  revolutionary; 
and  unless  it  could  be  considered  as  statutory,  and 
amended  or  appealed,  there  was  nothing  for  a  legisla- 
tive connnittee  to  do.  Under  these  circumstances  it 
was  decided  to  consider  the  laws  in  the  light  of  stat- 
utes, and  witliout  altering  the  s})irit  or  intent  of  that 
portion  which  might  be  understood  to  be  fundamental, 
to  remodel  the  remainder  where  they  could  be  hn- 
])roved. 

Accordingly  on  the  27tli  of  June  an  act  was  passed 
"regulating  the  executive  power,  the  judiciary,  and 
for  otluT  purposes."  The  reader  already  knows  that 
the  exjx.'dient  of  a  triumvirate  liad  been  adt)pted,  not 
because  it  was  considered  a  form  of  executive  power 
most  efficient  l)y  the  first  connnittee,  but  to  avoid  a 
division  l)y  rival  candidates  which  would  have  defeated 
the  organization.  No  such  necessity  now  existed ; 
therefore  the  judiciary  act  just  mentioned  vested  the 
gubernatorial  power  in  a  single  person  to  be  elected  at 
the  next  ammal  election,  and  to  hold  his  office  for  a 
term  of  two  yeai's,  with  a  salary  of  !?:]00  per  annum. 
The  legislative  })()wer  was  vested  in  a  house  of  repre- 
sentatives consistinij  of  thirteen  members;  nine  beiui^ 
thought  too  few  in  proportion  to  the  increased  popu- 
lation. 

J^y  the  organic  law  the  judicial  power  was  vested 
in  a  supreme  court,  consisting  of  a  judge  and  two  jus- 
tices of  the  peace;  and  in  a  probate  and  justice  court. 
By  this  peculiar  combination  of  jurisdictions,  should 
a  decision  be  made  by  a  majority,  the  two  justices 
could  overrule  the  supreme  judge,  or  if  a  unanimous 
verdict  should  be  recjuired,  a  disagreement  would  de- 
feat any  decision.  The  judiciary  act  of  1844  vested 
the  judicial  power  in  circuit  courts  and  justices  of  the 
peace,  and   provided    for   the  election   (»f  one  judge, 


II 


HMM 


THE  LAND  LAW. 


433 


]US- 
DUrt. 
loukl 
itices 

I  nous 

II  de- 


with  probate  powers,  whose  duty  it  should  be  to  hold 
two  terms  of  court,  annually,  in  each  county,  at  such 
times  and  places  as  the  law  should  direct.  It  like- 
wise established  the  duties  of  clerk,  recorder,  sheriff', 
and  justices  of  the  peace. 

One  of  the  conditions  insisted  on  by  the  old  colo- 
nists in  consenting  to  a  government  organization  was 
that  they  should  not  be  taxed.  But  the  committee 
of  1844  believed  that  no  efficient  and  regular  govern- 
ment could  be  sustained  without  a  revenue ;  that  no 
revenue  could  l)e  had  without  taxation ;  and  no  taxa- 
tion could  be  enforced  unless  the  majority  were  satis- 
fied with  the  government.  The  great  majority  would 
not  support  the  organization  unless  convinced  that 
they  were  receiving  an  equivalent  in  the  form  of  pro- 
tection, and  it  was  a  perplexing  question  how  to  secure 
the  support  of  law-abiding  men.^^  The  legislative  com- 
mittee remembered,  however,  that  Americans  prize 
above  all  things  the  possession  of  land,  and  the  priv- 
ilege of  the  ballot,  and  shaped  their  course  accord- 
ingly. The  ways  and  means  act  in  its  fourth  section 
provided  that  any  person  refusing  to  pay  taxes  should 
have  no  benefit  from  the  laws  of  Oregon,  and  should 
be  disqualified  from  voting.  Thus  by  outlawing  those 
who  refused  to  support  the  government,  the  people 
began  to  consider  its  value  to  them,  and  few  were 
willing  to  forego  its  assistance  in  preventing  trespass 
or  collecting  debts.  Nor  did  many  desire  to  be  de- 
prived of  the  ballot.  ^^  • 

The  land  law  of  1843  was  repealed  and  another 
passed  in  its  place.  By  the  first,  any  person  of  any 
age,  sex,  or  race  could  hold  a  land  claim,  while  by  the 

'^Thia  refers  aa  much  to  the  Canadians,  who  were  law-al)i<ling,  aa  to  the 
American  colonists.  Says  Brown,  WiWimette  I'alli'y,  MS.,  31-2,  the  'Amer- 
icans played  a  pretty  sharp  game  on  tlie  British  subjects  to  bring  them  into 
tlie  organization  of  this  government. ' 

'^  The  ways  and  means  act  called  for  a  tax  of  one  eighth  of  one  per  cent 
upon  the  fair  valuation  of  all  merchamlise  brought  into  the  country  for  sale; 
(in  all  improvements  in  town  lots;  on  mills,  pleasure-carriages,  clocks,  watches, 
horses,  mules,  cattle,  and  hogs;  and  every  white  voter  must  pay  a  poll  tax 
of  .")()  cents.  The  sheriff  was  made  collector  of  the  revenue,  for  wliich  he  re- 
ceived 10  per  cent  for  all  moneys  received.  Burnett's  liecolkction-s,  205. 
Hist.  Or.,  Vol.  I.    28 


i 


434 


LE(  ilSLATl VE  PROCEEDINGS. 


law  of  1844  the  conditions  were  narrowed.  Only  free 
men  over  eighteen  years  of  age,  who  would  be  entitled 
to  vote  if  of  lawful  age,  and  widows,  could  legally  claim 
six  huiidied  and  forty  acres.  The  claimant  nmst  take 
his  land  in  a  square  or  oblong  form,  and  nmst  begin 
improvements  within  two  months  from  the  time  of 
location  with  the  intention  of  occupying.  Yet  a  boy 
under  eighteen,  if  married,  might  hold  land ;  and  all 
claimants  might  own  town  lots  in  addition  to  their 
acres.  The  custom  of  recording  claims  was  dispensoil 
with  as  being  of  doubtful  privilege,  the  country  l)eing 
unsurveyed,  and  involving  as  it  would  oftentimes  a 
long  journey.  By  an  act  passed  at  the  second  session 
of  the  committee  in  December,  the  word  '  occupancy ' 
was  made  to  mean  actual  residence  by  the  owner  or 
his  ayjent.  The  second  act  also  authorized  taking  six 
hundred  acres  of  prairie  and  forty  acres  of  timl)ered 
land,  not  contiguous.  Partnership  claims  were  also 
allowed  of  double  the  usual  amount,  to  be  held  for  one 
year  by  improvements  upon  either  half;  or  longer,  if 
both  halves  were  improved  within  the  year.  All  per- 
sons complying  with  tlic  law  were  deemed  in  actual 
possession,  and  if  supporting  the  government,  had 
the  remedy  of  forcible  entry  and  detainer,  and  action 
against  trespass.^* 

These  were  certainly  improvements  in  the  land  law. 
But  the  great  change  aimed  at  by  the  legislative  com- 
mittee, and  desired  by  the  peo])le,  was  to  forbid  the 
right  of  missions  to  hold  thirty-six  sections  of  land, 
thus  repeating  the  practice  of  land  monopoly  by  the 
Catholic  missionaries  in  California.  As  a  whole,  we 
may  be  very  sure  that  the  repeal  of  the  law  of  1843 
met  with  general  approval  from  both  the  old  and  new 
colonists,  the  missionary  element  only  excepted. ^'^    The 

"Or.  Laws,  1845-^,  72,  77-8;  liines'  Or.  Hist.,  433;  Oreetihow's  Hist. 
Or.,  387. 

'*  Charles  E.  Pickett,  an  emigrant  of  1843  to  Oregon,  but  for  many  years 
subsequently  a  resident  of  California,  published  in  1877  a  pampliiet  entitled 
The  Paris  Nxposition  ami  Other  Exjioidtioiut,  in  which  he  asserts  his  claim  to 
the  distinction  of  having  been  one  of  the  tirst  to  denounce  the  mission  monop- 


BOUNDS  AND  DIMTRlOrS. 


430 


law  of  1844  placed  the  missions  on  the  same  footinj^ 
with  other  claimants.  It  also  ignored  the  issues  be- 
tween McLoui^hlin,  and  Lee  and  Waller,  with  regard 
to  the  proprietorship  of  Oregon  City. 

The  seat  of  government  was  established  by  law  at 
Oregon  City,  called  in  the  act  Willamette  Falls,  after 
the  custom  of  the  early  American  settlers.  The  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  legislature  was  fixed  for  the  fourth 
Tuesday  in  June.  An  act  was  passed  fixing  the  time 
of  holding  courts  in  the  several  districts,  and  another 
regulating  the  salaries  of  the  ofliicers.  On  j)etition  of 
J.  L.  I'arrish,  a  new  district  called  Clatsop  was  estab- 
lished, of  the  extent  of  which  there  is  no  information."' 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  whole  territory  of 
Oregon  was  divided  into  five  districts  by  the  com- 
mittee of  1843,  but  in  language  so  vague  that  a 
strict  ct)iistructionist  would  be  in  doubt  as  to  whether 
the  country  north  of  the  Columbia  was  included, 
The  committee  of  1844  confined  the  jurisdiction  ot 
the  provisional  government  to  the  south  side  of  the 
Columbia,  by  an  act  making  that  stream  the  northern 
line  of  the  several  counties.''^ 

This  action  was  susceptible  of  two  interpretations. 
It  might  mean  that  they  abandoned  the  country  north 
of  the  Columbia  to  the  British  government,  or  it 
might  indicate  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  that 
its  servants  were  excluded  from  participation  in  the 
benefits  of  the  organization.  If  the  latter,  it  was 
more  powerful  to  influence  the  company  than  the  law 

oly,  and  to  enforce  his  views  Ijy  taking  a  claim  on  the  tract  reserved  by  the 
Methodists.  These  articles  were  first  published  in  the  S.  F.  L'xaniimr,  Nov. 
1877. 

'*  A  compilation  was  made  in  1 853  of  The  Laws  qf  Oregon  from  1843  to 
IS40,  incomplete  and  carelessly  done.  It  is,  however,  with  thanks  that  the 
historian  accepts  so  nnich  of  a  guide  to  the  acts  of  the  temporary  government 
of  Oregon.  Previously  the  only  printed  code  was  a  volume  of  Iowa  laws  of 
1838.  It  was  l)rought  to  Or.  in  1843,  and  furnished  tlie  laws  adopted  in  1844. 
It  was  called  the  'blue  book,' and  was  bound  in  blue  Ijoards.  In  1845  the 
larger  revised  statutes  of  Iowa,  of  1843,  founil  their  way  to  Dr.,  also  in  Idue  cov- 
ers, and  were  partially  adopted  in  1849.  Tliis  volume  became  the  '  blue  book,' 
and  the  first  the  '  little  blue  book,'  of  Or.  legislators.  Letters  qf  M.  P.  Deady, 

"Or.  Lam,  1843-9,  74. 


its 


436 


LEfllSLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


of  1843,  wliich  extended  jurisdiction  over  the  whole 
Oregon  Territory,  and  held  out  no  threat  of  outlawry 
to  a  portion  of  its  inhabitants.  It  was  one  of  those 
fine  points  which  in  the  existing  political  conditions 
of  the  colony  could  not  be  rashly  approached.  The 
friends  of  the  original  organic  laws,  who  resented  the 
legislation  of  1844  as  an  affront  to  the  wisdom  of  the 
first  legislature,  saw  fit  to  construe  the  act  to  mean 
that  protection  was  withheld  from  such  Americana  as 
might  settle  north  of  the  Columbia,  and  accused  the 
legislatures  of  acquiescing  in  the  claim  of  the  British 
government,  which  sought  to  make  that  river  the 
northern  boundary  of  the  United  States. ^^ 

So  positive  and  determined  was  the  opposition  to 
any  such  admission,  even  by  implication,  ihat  at  the 
second  session  of  the  committee,  in  December,  an  ex- 
planatory act  was  passed  defining  the  boundaries  of 
Oregon  as  lying  between  latitudes  42°  and  54°  40',  and 
extending  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  sea.'" 
This  made  plain  the  position  of  the  British  residents 
in  Oregon ;  they  were  without  a  foothold  in  it. 

The  prying  eyes  of  the  legislati\  committee  of 
1844  discovered  that  the  marriage  law  of  Oregon  was 
open  to  objection  upon  the  ground  that  it  rendered  in- 
valid marriages  contracted  without  the  consent  of  the 
parents  where  either  of  the  contracting  parties  were 
under  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  exposed  the  couple  to 
the  charge  of  living  in  adultery  as  well  as  their  chil- 
dren to  the  taint  of  bastardy.  The  judiciary  com- 
mittee therefore   amended   the    17th   article   of  the 

^»  Applegate\i  Views,  MS.,  41;  Emm'  I  fist.  Or.,  MS.,  207" 
" '  Commenciug  at  that  point  on  the  Pacilic  Ocean  where  the  parallel  of 
42°  of  north  latituile  strikes  the  same,  as  agreed  upon  by  the  Unitetl  States 
and  New  Mexico;  thence  along  the  coast  of  said  ocean,  so  as  to  include  all  the 
islands,  bays,  and  harbors  contiguous  thereto,  to  a  point  on  said  ocean  where 
the  parallel  of  54°  and  40'  of  north  latitude  strikes  the  same;  thence  east 
along  the  last  parallel,  as  agreed  between  the  United  States  and  Russia,  to 
the  summit  of  the  main  dividing  ridge  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  dividing  the 
waters  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans;  thence  southerly,  following  said 
main  dividing  ridge  to  the  said  parjillel  of  42°  of  north  latitude;  and  tlience 
weat  to  the  place  of  begiuning. '  Or.  Lawn,  1343-9,  72-3;  dayman's  Note  Book,  6. 


MARUIA(JK,  LIQUORS,  SLAVEIiY 


437 


organic  laws  by  an  act  of  three  sections  making  males 
of  sixteen  and  females  of  twelve  years  of  age  eompe. 
tent  to  enter  into  the  marriage  relation ,  but  re- 
quiring the  consent  of  the  parents,  till  the  man  was 
twenty-one  and  the  woman  eighteen.  The  person 
marrying  minors  without  the  sanction  of  parents  or 
guardians  was  made  liable  to  a  fine  of  one  hundred 
dollars,  to  be  paid  to  the  parents  or  guardians;  but 
the  marriage  was  not  invalidated  for  want  of  their 
consent.  Burnett  says  the  law  was  enacted  oidy  to 
obviate  the  evils  sure  to  grow  out  of  the  former  one. 
Early  marriages  are  the  rule  of  all  new  comn)unities 
for  obvious  reasons.  In  Oregon,  especially,  wh^re 
women  were  few,  a  girl  was  sure  to  have  suitor,  be- 
fore she  had  ffirl .  reached  maturity.  But  making 
(children  of  sixteen  and  twelve  years  of  age  competenl 
to  marry  d  to  abuses  in  colonial  and  territorial  times 
resulting  too  often  in  divorce,  and  sometimes  in  death. 

One  of  the  acts  passed  intended  to  have  a  whole- 
some effect  u})on  the  colony,  and  which  met  the  aj)- 
proval  of  the  majority,  was  a  prohibitory  liquor  law. 
The  penalties  were  fifty  dollars  for  importing,  twenty 
dollars  for  each  sale,  and  one  hundred  dollars  i\  )r  man- 
ufacturing, together  witli  the  destruction  of  the  distil 
lery.  White,  as  Indian  agent,  was  permitted  to  make 
some  remarks  before  the  committee  in  favor  of  its 
passage.  The  administering  of  the  law  by  Vv  hite  has 
already  been  alluded  to  in  a  previous  chapter. 

An  act  touching  the  subject  of  slavery,  free  negroes, 
and  muluttoes  is  worthy  of  notice.  The  adoption  of 
the  ordinance  of  1787  as  the  basis  of  the  organic  law 
of  Oregon  had  already  made  this  free  territory,  and 
every  article  of  the  laws  of  1843  was  in  consonance 
with  free  principles.  Some  occasion,  however,  was 
given  for  special  legislation  by  an  atiray  at  Oregon 
City  in  the  month  of  March  })revious,  ii  which  two 
white  men  and  an  Indian  had  been  killed,  and  the 
public  mind  much  excited,  for  all  of  which  it  was 
proven  that  a  free  negro  was  to  blame.     White  had 


m 


4 


mm 


l<! 


ii 


438 


LEGir  NATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


asked  the  secretary  of  war  if  the  immigration  of 
negroes  could  not  be  prevented,  and  the  executive 
committee  had  thought  the  subject  of  sufficient  im- 
portance  to  recommend  the  passage  of  a  law  on  the 
subject  of  such  offences  as  the  negro  had  been  guilty 
of  The  opportunity  offered  for  riddmg  the  infant 
empire  of  Oregon  of  the  negro,  and  all  the  questions 
dependent  upon  his  presence  in  the  community,  was 
too  good  to  be  neglected.  There  was  a  deep-seated 
hatred  of  slavery  by  leading  men  of  the  western  immi- 
^ration.  Most  of  them  were  natives  of  slave  states, 
who,  not  having  been  of  the  privileged  class  of  wealthy 
planters,  well  understood  the  evils  of  poverty  and 
slavery  together.  They  knew  that  education,  honors, 
and  all  desirable  attain.nents  and  dignities  were  denied 
to  the  poor  white  class  of  the  slave  states ;  and  when 
they  emigrated  from  them  they  determined  to  leave 
behind  the  clinging  curse  of  caste,  and  to  have  for 
their  own  a  free  country,  and  free  institutions  to  leave 
to  their  children.  By  a  curious  and  contradictory  im- 
pulse of  the  mind,  no  southern  man,  desiring  freedom 
for  himself  from  the  evils  of  slavery,  ever  could  be 
brought  to  look  with  complacency  upon  a  free  negro. 
The  black  man,  though  not  to  blame  for  the  condition 
of  society  his  presence  entailed,  was  never  forgiven  for 
it,  nor  admitted  to  be  a  suflcrer  by  it. 

Undoubtedly  something  of  this  feeling  of  caste, 
where  no  caste  was  to  be  tolerated,  influenced  the 
founders  of  the  provisional  government  of  Oregon. 
Article  4  of  the  organic  laws  prohibited  slavery  or 
involuntary  servitude  except  for  the  punishment  of 
crimes  whereof  the  party  should  have  been  duly  con- 
victed. The  new  legislation  was  intended,  besides 
settling  the  matter  of  slavery  in  Oregon,  to  rid  the 
country,  in  time,  of  every  free  negro  or  mulatto  in  it, 
and  to  prevent  the  coming  of  others,^"  by  inflicting 

'■* ' Be  it  enacted  by  the  legislative  committee  of  Oregon  as  follows:  Sec.  J . 
That  slavery  and  involuntary  servitude  be  forever  prohibited  in  Oregon.  Si'U. 
2.  That  in  all  cases  where  slaves  shall  liave  been,  or  shall  hereafter  be,  brought 


PUNISHMENT  OF  CRIMINALS. 


corporal  punishment  on  all  of  eighteen  years  of  age, 
or  more,  who  had  not  left  the  territory  within  two 
years  after  the  passage  of  the  act.  But  finding  this 
law  to  conflict  with  the  spirit  of  free  institutions  in 
too  great  a  degree,  it  was  amended  at  the  December 
session  by  repealing  the  sections  making  whipping  tlie 
])unishment  for  remaining  in  the  country,  and  susbti- 
tuting  one  requiring  the  arrest  of  such  contumacious 
negroes,  their  trial  before  a  justice  of  the  peaci;,  and 
if  convicted,  the  hiring  of  the  offenders  to  the  person 
who  should  give  bond  to  remove  them  out  of  the  ter- 
ritory within  the  shortest  space  of  time,  paying  himself 
out  of  their  services.  The  law  was  in  any  case  inop- 
erative for  two  years,  during  which  time  sucli  changes 
liad  occurred  in  the  territory  as  to  do  away  with  the 
motive  for  enforcing  it. 

At  the  December  sess'on  an  act  was  passed  for 
erecting  a  jail  at  Oregon  City  with  money  from  the 
estate  of  Ewing  Young;  the  executive  committee 
being  required  to  appoint  an  administrator  to  close  uj) 
the  business  of  the  estate,  and  collect  debts  due  to  it ; 
and  tlie  government  being  pledged  to  pay  all  money 
so  received  to  the  lawful  heirs  of  Young  whenever 

into  Oregon,  the  owners  of  such  slaves  respectively  shall  have  the  term  of  .'$ 
years  from  the  introduction  of  sucli  slaves  to  remove  tlieui  out  of  the  country. 
Sec.  .3.  That  if  such  owners  of  slaves  sliall  necluct  or  refuse  to  remove  such 
slaves  from  the  country  within  the  time  spucihed  in  ilie  preceding  section, 
sufh  slaves  shall  be  free.  Sec.  4.  Tluit  when  any  free  negro  or  mulatto  shall 
have  come  to  Oregon,  he  or  she,  as  the  case  may  be,  if  of  the  age  of  18  or 
upwards,  shall  remove  from  the  country  within  the  term  of  2  years  for 
males,  and  3  for  females,  from  the  piissjige  of  this  act;  and  tliat  if  any  free 
negro  or  nuilatto  shall  hereafter  come  to  Oregon,  if  of  the  age  aforesaid,  he  or 
she  shall  quit  and  leave  the  country  within  the  term  of  2  years  for  males, 
and  .'{  years  for  females,  from  his  or  lier  arrival  in  the  country.  vSec.  5. 
That  if  such  free  negro  or  mulatto  he  under  the  cage  aforesaid,  the  terms  of 
time  specified  in  the  preceding  section  sliall  begin  to  run  wlien  he  or  she  sliall 
arrive  at  such  age.  Sec.  6.  '.hat  if  any  such  free  negro  or  nudatto  shall  fail 
to  quit  the  country,  as  requi/eil  by  this  act,  he  or  she  may  be  arresteil  upon  a 
warrant  issued  by  some  jastice  of  the  peace,  and  if  giiilty  on  trial  before  such 
justice,  shall  receive  upon  Isis  or  lier  bare  back  Ufit  les.s  than  20  nor  more 
than  ;<9  stripes,  to  be  iuHictei'.  by  the  con.st;ible  cf  the  iiro])er  county.  Sec.  7. 
That  if  any  free  negro  or  nuilutto  shall  fail  to  quit  the  country  within  tlie  term 
of  (}  months  after  receiving  such  stripes,  he  or  she  shall  again  receive  the 
same  punishment  once  in  every  G  months,  until  he  or  she  shall  quit  the 
country.  Sec.  8.  Thfit  when  any  slave  shall  obtain  his  or  her  freeifom,  the 
terms  specified  in  the  4th  section  shall  begin  to  run  from  the  time  when  such 
freedom  shall  be  obtained.' 


N 


440 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


they  should  appear  to  claim  it.  A  lot  for  the  erec- 
tion of  the  jail  was  offered  by  McLoughlin,  and  ac- 
cepted by  the  committee.^^  An  act  was  also  passed 
for  the  protec^'on  of  Indians  in  the  free  use  of  such 
pieces  of  vacant  land  as  they  then  occupied  with  their 
villages  or  fisheries;  and  the  executive  was  empow- 
ered to  bring  suit  in  the  name  of  Oregon  against 
persons  infringing  the  rights  of  the  natives  to  the 
peaceable  possession  of  such  lands. 

The  two  sessions  of  the  committee  of  1844  occu- 
pied less  than  three  weeks,  in  which  time  forty-three 
bills  were  passed,  many  of  them  of  general  impor- 
tance. Some  of  the  shorter  ones  showed  the  improve- 
ments to  wliich  the  accession  of  population  was  giving 
rise.  Hugh  Burns  and  Robert  Moore  were  granted 
rights  to  keep  public  ferries  on  the  Willamette ;  John 
McLoughlin  to  construct  a  canal  round  the  falls ;  W.  H. 
Wilson  and  L.  H.  Judson  to  construct  a  mill-race  in 
Champoeg  County.  Jesse  Applegate  was  appointed 
engineer  to  survey  for  a  canal  from  the  crossing  of  the 
Tualatin  River,  down  Sucker  Creek,  to  the  Willamette 
River,  in  order  to  determine  the  cost  of  making  this  a 
mode  of  transportation  from  the  Tualatin  plains  to  the 
Willanuitte.     Several  road  acts  were  also  passed. 

The  legislative  conunittee  fixed  the  pay  of  the  ex- 
ecutive conmiittee  at  one  hundred  doliars  each,  per 
annum,  for  their  services,  the  three  receiving  nothing 
above  the  amount  fixed  as  the  salary  of  the  gov- 
ernor provided  for  by  an  act  passed  the  following  tlay. 
But  as  the  organic  law  did  not  contemplate  j)aying 
the  executive  committee  in  anything  but  honors,  one 
hundred  dollars  to  each  might  be  considered  as  a  gift. 
The  legislative  committee  voted  themselves  two  dol- 
lars a  day,  and  the  assessor  of  the  revenue  the  same."'^ 

"The  founders  ui  a  new  colony,  whatever  Utopia  of  human  virtue  nud 
nappineas  they  nii^ht  originally  project,  have  invariably  recognizeil  it  among 
tlieir  earliest  practical  necessities  to  allot  a  portion  of  the  virgin  soil  as  a 
cemetery,  and  anotlier  as  a  site  of  a  prison.'  Hmrthomc^s  Scarlet  Letter,  3.^. 
'  Wo  are  getting  along  finely, '  writes  a  settler;  'and  have  already  laid  tlie 
foundation  of  a  jail.'  Niles'  Rfij.,  Ixx.  214, 

■'  Oreijou  Lawn,  184J-9,  76. 


CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION. 


441 


The  judiciary  report  of  1843,  in  defining  the  pow- 
ers of  the  executive  committee,  gave  them  authority 
to  "recommend  such  laws  as  they  might  consider 
necessary,  to  the  representatives  of  the  people,  for  their 
action;"  and  they  had,  at  the  opening  of  the  second 
session,  recommended  to  the  representatives  to  make 
provision  for  framing  and  adopting  a  constitution  for 
Oregon  previous  to  the  next  annual  election  on  the 
first  Tuesday  in  June.  Accordingly  an  act  was  passed 
to  provide  for  holding  a  constitutional  convention, 
requiring  the  executive  committee  to  notify  the  in- 
habitants of  all  the  counties  that  they  should  at  the 
next  annual  election  give  their  votes  for  or  against 
the  call  for  a  convention  to  frame  a  constitution,  and 
notify  the  legislative  committee  elected  of  the  result. 
This  act,  in  which  both  committees  elected  by  the 
people  were  agreed,  was  unfavorably  commented  upon 
by  certain  friends  of  the  original  organic  law,  as  a 
movement  toward  an  independent  government.  Ap- 
plegate  expressed  the  opinion  that  the  changes  made 
in  the  mode  of  administration  were  unnecessary  for  the 
short  time  the  provisional  government  was  expected 
to  last.^ 

Two  of  the  executive  committee,  I  think,  leaned 
toward  independent  government,  and  they  were 
among  those  who  hud  been  longest  in  the  country. 
This  was  hinted  in  the  message  of  June  signed  by 
the  whole  committee,'"*  though  bearing  the  impress 
of  but  one  author.^"  The  second  message  explains 
that  adjourmnent  to  December  was  made  in  the  ex- 
pectation of  receiving  some  information  from  the 
United  States  relative  to  tlie  adjustment  of  claims 
with  Great  Britain.  When  tliis  fact  is  taken  into 
consideration,  and  that  no  satisfactory  intelligence  liad 
been  obtained  of  such  settlement,  the  coloring  given 
to  the  acts  passed  in  December  is  such  as  to  justify 

'■*•'  Vieim  nf  Jfintori/,  MS.,  41. 

"^Thu  message  of  l)eccinl)er  was  signed  only  by  Russell  anil  Stewart. 
^''  Burnett  says,  '  I  think  Russell  wrote  the  message, '  but  thia  is  simply  an 
opinion. 


^, 


442 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


\r  ^ 


an  opinion  that  there  was  a  determination  to  perfect 
as  rapidly  as  possible  a  government  which  would  be 
able  to  cope  with  the  exigencies  to  which  it  was  liable 
to  be  subjected.^®  In  advising  the  adoption  of  a  con- 
stitution, the  writer  of  the  message  used  this  lan- 
guage: "It  should  be  constructed  in  such  a  manner 
as  would  best  suit  the  local  situation  of  the  country, 
and  promote  the  general  interests  of  the  citizens, 
without  interfering  with  the  real  or  pretended  rights 
of  the  United  States  or  Great  Britain,  except  when 
the  protection  of  life  and  property  actually  require  it." 
The  legislative  committee,  by  calling  for  the  votes  of 
the  people  upon  a  constitutional  convention,  may  have 
been  feeling  their  way  toward  what  the  future  had  in 
store  for  them,  without  meriting  much  opprobrium. 

It  is  noteworthy,  however,  that  at  the  first  session 
Lovejoy  moved  to  strike  the  word  'territory'  out  of 
the  journal  of  legislative  proceedings.  This  might 
mean  that  the  legislative  committee  did  not  wish  the 
country  to  b  considered  a  territory  of  the  United 
States,  or  that  in  their  estimation  it  was  not  such  at 
present.  An  attempt  was  made  in  the  legislature  of 
1845  to  establish  the  name  Oregon  Territory,  but  it 
was  never  adopted  until  the  boundary  was  determined 
and  the  question  of  sovereignty  set  at  rest.  Again, 
in  the  judiciary  act,  the  nineteenth  article  of  the 
organic  law  is  repealed,  the  same  being  a  resolution 
that  a  connnittce  should  be  appointed  to  "draw  up  a 
digest  of  the  doings  of  the  people  of  this  territory, 
with  regard  to  an  organization,  and  transmit  the  same 
to  the  United  States  government  for  their  informa- 
tion." That  committee,  consisting  of  Lee,  Hines, 
and  Walker,  never  informed  the  government  of  the 
organization,  nor  did  the  legislative  committee  of  1844. 
It  was  not  until  1845  that  congress  was  notified  that 
Oregon  enjoyed  a  govermnent  in  which  the  United 

**McLoughliu  wrote  to  Alexander  Siiiipsou  under  date  of  Nov.  1844: 
'Theydeelare  that,  if  in  ten  years  the  boundary  is  not  settled,  they  will 
erect  themselves  into  an  independent  state. '  This  refers  to  the  colonists  at 
large,  tiou  l^iniysoii's  Or.  Tcr,  Ctainin,  41. 


REVENUE  AND  EXPENDITURES. 


448 


States  had  as  yet  no  part.  The  repeal  of  the  resolu- 
tion may  have  signified  that  the  committee  did  not 
desire  to  have  its  doings  reported  to  congress,  or  it 
might  have  been  done,  because  such  a  resolution  was 
out  of  place  in  tlie  organic  law. 

But  however  the  legislative  committee  may  have 
favored  the  ind-jpendence  of  Oregon,  there  is  no 
reason  to  suppose  they  intended  to  yield  aught  to  the 
British  government  or  Hudson's  Bay  Company,""  but 
on  the  contrary,  there  appeared  a  disposition  to  vote 
down  the  bills  and  petitions  presented  in  the  interest 
of  John  McLoughlin.^^  In  many  small  ways  they 
unintentionally  left  proof  that,  if  they  aimed  at 
independence  for  Oregon,  it  was  as  a  government 
free  from  all  influences  foreign  to  their  republican 
principles.  ^^ 

The  economy  of  the  government  is  shown  in  the 
appropriations,  which  for  its  whole  expenses  for  the 
first  year  amounted  to  $917.96,  to  meet  which  there 
were  $358.31  in  the  treasury,  the  tax  collector  not  yet 
1  laving  completed  his  labors.  This  was  less  than 
fifty  cents  for  each  individual  in  the  country,  accord- 
ing to  the  census  of  1844,  the  correctness  of  which  I 
doubt,  givhig  as  it  does  a  total  of  2,109,*'  including 
the  immigration  of  that  year,  which  was  also  taxed. 

"Gray  accuses  Burnett  'and  a  few  other  Ainericans '  of  truckling  to  tlio 
fur  comiiany.  HM.  Or.,  .384;  Kiles'  lieij.,  Ixix.  224;  J/owLionn  t'ou-nt  <tiitl 
Country,  17. 

'■'*  One  of  tlie  tirst  petitions  presented  was  from  McLoughlin  for  permission 
to  establish  a  fiirry  across  the  Willamette  Biver,  wliicli  was  refiisetl.  Mc- 
Loughlin alsi  •  ■■'oustrated  against  leav>.  being  granted  certain  Ainericans  to 
construct  a  •  .,  :o  the  island  mills,  but  the  leave  w:is  granted.  But  the 
petition  for  Icavo  to  construct  a  canal  around  the  falls  was  allowed,  because 
that  was  a  work  re(|uiriug  a  large  outlay,  and  one  which  would  be  of  great 
benefit  to  the  colony.  jJcLoughlin's  name  of  '  Oregon  City  '  for  his  town  was 
steadily  rejected  by  the  legislative  committee,  who  wrote  'Willamette  Falls  ' 
at  the  neail  of  their  proceedings,  till  at  the  December  session  it  was  formally 
incorporated  iis  Oregon  City. 

^  Waldo's  Cntiquee,  MS.,  8. 

*  Males  over  18  years,  72o;  under  18  years,  530;  females  over  18  years, 
303;  under  18  years,  485.  Champoeg  County  liail  tlie  largest  population; 
Tua'atin  next;  then  YandiLll,  Clackanuis,  and  Clatsop,  in  a  descending  scale. 
White  in  his  report  gave  the  population  at  4,000.  Ten  Ycnri  in  Or.,  225;  Co/i- 
c'me  View,  MS.,  54.  The  census  of  1844  wiis  taken  by  Thomas  H.  Smith,  later 
a  resilient  of  Los  Angeles  Coimty,  Cal.,  according  to  an  act  of  the  legislature. 
It  would  h»      been  impossible  to  obtain  a  perfect  count  at  the  time. 


Li 


444 


LEGISLATIVE  PROCEEDINGS. 


No  census  was  taken  of  the  amount  of  property  in 
the  country. 

Applegate  calls  the  acts  of  the  legislative  commit- 
tee of  1844  "impolitic  and  unpatriotic;"  and  asserts 
further  that  the  conservative  class,  which  greatly  out- 
numbered the  mere  demagogues  and  their  followers, 
determined  these  wrongs  should  be  righted  at  any 
cost.^^  Had  Mr  Applegate  ever  done  anything  to 
deserve  the  name  of  demagogue,  here  would  be  the 
time  to  accuse  him  of  wishing  in  his  turn  to  subvert 
a  good  government,  because  it  was  proposed  to  place 
it  on  a  firm  basis.  He  was  perhaps  unconscious  of 
the  influence  at  work  to  create  public  sentiment 
against  the  acts  of  the  legislative  committee,  or  the 
jealousies  v/hich  struggled  to  prevent  either  of  two 
of  the  members  of  the  executive  committee  from  being 
governor  of  the  colony.  How  the  people  finally 
decided  I  shall  relate  in  a  future  chapter  concerning 
the  legislature  of  1845,  of  which  Applegate  was  a 
member. 

After  all  there  appeared  to  be  no  great  need  of  law 
in  Oregon.  The  only  occasion  on  which  Judge  Bab- 
cock,  elected  at  the  primary  meeting  of  1841,  exercised 
his  probate  powers,  Avas  at  the  death  of  Cornelius 
Rogers  in  the  spring  of  1843.^^  All  the  disturbances 
occurring  in  the  colony  had  been  of  a  nature  to  bring 
them  under  the  jurisdiction  of  White.  There  is  but 
a  single  mention  of  an  assault  previous  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  circuit  courts,  and  that  one  was  accom- 
panied by  extenuating  circumstances,  the  oflender 
escaping  with  a  fine.  But  in  the  spring  of  1845  Joel 
Turnham  assaulted  Webley  Hauxhurst  with  sucli 
violence  that  a  complaint  was  entered  against  him. 
Turnliam,  being  a  constable,  could  not  take  himself 
into  custody,  and  John  Edmonds  was  deputed  to  make 
the  arrest.     Turnham  resisted  and  attacked  Edmonds, 


"  Vierm  of  Huttory,  MS.,  41-2. 


reaic 


''•^  HiucH  and  Gray  appraised  tli^  estate  at  $1,500,  debts  $700.     Rogers'  heirs 
idedjiii  Utica,  N.  "i.    Hiiiea'  Or.  Hist.,  14>,. 


SHERLFJ'  MEEK. 


446 


who  was  compelled  to  fire  on  him,  the  shots  result- 
ing fatally.  The  grand  jury  found  no  bill  against 
Edmonds.^*  Not  long  after  this,  Sheriff  Meek  had  a 
warrant  to  arrest  V.  W.  Dawson,  an  enemy  of  the 
government,  who  openly  defied  the  organization,  and 
would  have  resisted  the  officer  had  not  Meek  been  as 
kind  and  cool  as  he  was  courageous.  Dawson,  finding 
he  must  submit,  thereafter  was  a  firm  friend  of  law, 
and  insisted  that  as  he  obeyed,  everj  other  must. 

"  White'n  Concise   View,  MS.,  40;  Nilea'  Jieij.,  Ixviii.  393;  Kaiser's  Nar., 
MS.,  10,  11:  Salem  Dircct<ynj,  1871. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1844. 

Bbllioerent  Attitude  of  the  British  and  Americans — Vancouver  Fok- 
TtFiED  —  Gathering  of  the  Emigrants — The  Sevkkal  Divisions 
AND  Companies — The  InuF'-endent  Colony — Cornelius  Gilliam — 
Nathaniel  P'ord-  -The  Journey — Sufferings  on  the  Journey — 
Their  DESTrrt-TE  Condition — Reception  by  Missionaries  and  Fuu- 
traders — Names  of  the  Immigrants — Biographical  Notices. 


11.: 


I  HAVE  said  that  there  were  two  sessions  of  the 
legislative  cominittee  of  1844,  which  adjourned  from 
June  27th  'o  December  16th,  in  order  to  have  an 
opportunity  of  learning  from  the  immigrants  who 
were  expected  in  the  autumn  the  attitude  of  affairs 
between  the  rival  claimants  of  the  Oregon  Territory. 
No  less  anxious  than  the  Americans  were  the  Britisli 
subjects,  who,  being  well  informed  by  the  belligerent 
speeches  in  congress,  and  the  temper  of  the  western 
people,  began  to  look  on  their  position  in  Oregon  as 
insecure. 

Nor  was  McLoughlin  ignorant  that  the  pilgrims 
of  1843  were  prevented  by  circumstances  rather  than 
by  will  from  hostile  acts ;  and  notwithstanding  that 
the  danger  was  averted  for  the  time,  he  did  n(jt 
regret  having  written  to  England  for  protection.^ 
In  the  summer  of  1844  he  had  added  a  bastion  to 
Fort  Vancouver,  and  otherwise  increased  the  defences 
of  the  place,  which  before  was  hardly  in  a  condition 
to  resist  attack.  Tlie  reason  given  for  these  prepara- 
tions was  the  threatening  demeanor  of  the  natives  of 
the  interior,  and  the  necessity  of  doing  something  to 


^  McLoughlin' a  Private  Papers,  MS.,  3(1  ser.,  12. 


(446) 


WAR  CLOUDS. 


447 


secure  the  company's  property  in  case  of  an  outbreak. 
But  these  explanations  did  not  deceive  the  more  in- 
telhgent  of  the  Americans,  and  while  some  smiled  at 
the  admission  that  the  Americans  were  feared,^  others 
chose  to  take  alarm,  and  to  accuse  the  company  of 
intending  to  make  war  on  them. 

Early  in  July  1844  a  British  sloop  of  war,  the 
Modeste,  Captain  Thomas  Baillic,  carrying  twenty 
guns,  entered  the  Columbia,  and  anchored  opposite 
Vancouver ;  but  it  does  not  appear  from  McLoughlin's 
papers  that  any  proffer  of  protection  was  made,  or 
that  the  sloop  remained  long.  It  is  certain,  however, 
that  the  board  of  management  had  been  otticially 
notified  that  England  would  not  yield  any  of  Oregon 
north  of  the  Columbia,  and  that  they  were  to  govern 
themselves  accordingly. 

The  position  which  the  officers  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  filled  at  this  time  was  one  of  great 
delicacy  and  not  a  little  dn^ad,  which  every  fresh 
intelligence  from  the  United  States  or  England  in- 
creased. On  the  24th  of  January  Wentworth  of 
Illinois  had  said  in  congress :  '*  I  think  it  our  duty  to 
speak  freely  and  candidly,  and  let  England  know  that 
she  never  can  have  an  inch  of  Oregon,  nor  another 
inch  of  what  is  now  claimed  as  the  United  States 
territory."  A  determination  to  maintain  this  position 
was  the  issue  upon  which  a  president  of  the  United 
States  was  to  be  elected."^  On  the  other  hand,  it  had 
been  said  in  the  English  parliament,  by  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  "  England  knows  her  rights  and  dares  maintain 
them ; "  *  and  by  Lord  Palmerston,  that  if  Linn's  bill 

'  Gray,  who  seems  not  to  iinderstaiid  the  influence  of  congress  on  these  acts 
of  the  company,  attributes  its  deft-nsive  attitude  at  this  time  to  the  forma- 
tion of  the  military  force  called  the  Oregon  Rangers;  anil  says  sneeringly: 
'  The  company  had  found  that  since  the  Americans  began  to  settle  in  the 
country  these  Indians  had  become  more  dangerous.  IJi.ft.  Or.,  .3745. 
Blanchet  takes  Gray  up  sharply  on  this  statement,  wliich  he  seems  to  think 
is  seriously  meant.  He  says:  'It  is  false  that  the  company  had  anything  to 
fear  from  the  Indians.  If  the  fort  ■was  repaired,  bastions  built,  and  all  other 
protective  and  defensive  measures  were  completed,  it  was  to  defend  itself 
against  another  kind  of  sivageness.'  Ilwt.  CcUli.  Church  in  Or.,  145. 

'^(ireenJmng  Or.  and  Cal,  .394. 

*  Roberts'  Recolkctionti,  MS.,  0. 


ii( 


V»i 


S4- 


i. 


11 


148 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1844. 


had  passed  both  houses  of  congress  ifc  would  have 
been  a  declaration  of  war.^  This  belligerent  attitude 
on  both  sides  was  also  as  well  known  to  uneducated 
western  men,  who  were  capital  Indian-fighters,  and 
who  had  served  under  Jackson  and  Taylor,  as  it  was 
to  the  Ischolarly  oflicers  of  the  British  fur  comyany." 
The  inducement  to  go  to  Oregon  was  not  lessened  by 
the  prospect  of  having  to  drive  out  the  nation  which 
had  been  fought  at  New  Orleans  and  along  the  bor- 
der, and  a  large  number  of  people'  collected  at  differ- 
ent points  on  the  Missouri  River,  amounting  in  all  to 
fourteen  hundred  persons.  The  company  which  ren- 
dezvoused near  Weston,  at  a  place  called  Capler's  land- 
ing, was  led  by  Cornelius  Gilliam,  who  had  conceived 
the  idea  of  an  independent  colony,  as  best  suited  to 
his  fancy  and  the  temper  of  the  men.  The  leaders 
of  1844  were  hardly  equal  to  those  of  the  previous 


*  Cong.  OM)e,  1843-4,  app.  98. 

^Minto's  Early  Days,  MS.,  20. 

'  McLoughliu  places  the  number  of  immigrants  of  1844  at  1,475.  Private 
Papers,  MS.,  2(1  ser.,  9.  A  letter  in  the  WeMern,  Mo.,  Expositor  of  May  18, 
1844,  and  dated  at  'Oregon  Camps'  May  ^1 5th,  saya:  'Our  company  when 
joined  with  yours  will  bo  very  large — much  the  largest  that  has  ever  crossed 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  There  are  in  the  Independent  Oregon  Colony,  at  this 
date,  1  minister,  1  lawyer,  1  millwright,  3  millers,  1  tailor,  1  ship-carpenter, 
2  blacksmiths,  1  cooper,  1  tailoress,  2  cabinet-makers,  5  carpenturs,  4  wheel- 
wrights, 2  shoemakers,  1  weaver,  1  gunsmith,  1  wagon-maker,  1  merchant, 
and  the  rest  farmers.  There  are  48  families,  108  men  (of  whom  60  are  young 
men),  323  persons;  410  oxen,  IGO  cows  (16  of  which  are  team  cows),  143  young 
cattle,  54  liorses,  41  mules,  and  72  wagons.  Many  men  from  the  adjoining 
counties  arc  on  their  way  to  join  us. '  This  letter  was  written  by  Civptain 
Cornelius  Gilliam,  who  was  encamped  with  his  company  nine  miles  below  St 
Joseph,  Mo.,  to  Captain  Nathaniel  Ford,  who  was  at  Independence  with 
another  company.  S.  I.  Friend,  Nov.  1,  1844;  N.  Y.  Express,  June  7,  1844; 
Nilcs'  Ifetj.,  l.\v.  100.  John  Minto,  who  joined  Gilliam's  company,  thinks  tho 
immigration  of  1844  numbered  about  800.  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc,  Trans.,  1876,  42. 
A  correspondent  of  the  S.  I.  Friend,  of  Jimc  2,  1845,  says  there  were  over  600. 
In  tho  message  of  the  executive  committee  of  December  1844  the  number  is 
estimated  at  upwards  of  750  persons,  dray's  Hist.  Or.,  382.  Elwood  Evans, 
in  Or.  Pioneer  A.isoc. ,  Tram. ,  1877,  26,  places  the  number  at  475.  We  can  count 
300  of  (Jilliam's  company,  before  tlie  accession  of  all  tlie  87  wagons  comprising 
it.  Ford's  company  swelled  the  host  to  about  8(X),  and  tliere  was  still  another 
company  iinder  John  Thorp,  which  started  from  near  the  mouth  of  the  Platte 
River,  and  travelled  on  tho  north  side  of  that  stream.  As  tliey  would  not 
come  together  until  tho  different  organizations  had  been  mucli  broken  up,  it 
would  l)e  dillicult  to  judge  of  each  other's  original  numbers.  No  count  would 
again  be  made  until  they  reached  tlie  Dalles,  from  which  point  the  agents  of 
tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company  would  bo  on  tho  alert  to  ascertain  their  strength, 
for  obvious  reasons. 


CUUXKLIUS  (ilLLlAM. 


440 


vcar.  Xor  l)y  sayint;'  this  do  I  mean  any  cUsrcHpoct. 
They  were  l)r'avc,  loyal,  oarucst,  hut  hcttiT  fitted  to 
execute  than  to  conunauvl;  to  l)e  loyal  to  a  ^vjveni- 
luent  than  to  construct  one.  Thoir  tendencies  were 
more  toward  military  glory  than  j)ride  of  statesinan- 
ship.  This  spirit  1(k1  them  to  or<j;ani/e  under  military 
rules  for  their  journey  to  the  Columhia,  and  to  elect 
a  set  of  officers  sufficient  for  an  army,  with  Gilliam 
as  general. 

Nothing  is  known  of  Gilliam's  antecedents.  He 
was  brave,  obstinate,  im[)etuous,  and  generous,  with 
good  natural  abilities,  and  but  little  education.  His 
accomplishments  were  varied;  he  had  servetl  in  the 
J^lack  Hawk  war,  and  also  in  the  Seminole  war  in 
Florida,  as  captain;  he  had  preached  the  gospel  of 
Christ;  he  had  been  sheritt'  of  a  county,  and  had 
served  in  the  ^Missouri  legislature.  He  was,  indeed, 
just  the  robust,  impulsive,  sympathetic,  wilful,  and 
courageous  leader  the  men  o+'  the  border  would  choose. 
His  aid  was  John  Inyard.^ 

The  colonel  of  the  organization  was  Michael  T. 
Simmons,  uneducated,  but  brave  and  independent, 
who  sought  in  emigration  to  Oregon  recovery  of  for- 
tune and  health.  Four  captains  were  elected  under 
(lilliam:  R.  W.  Morrison,  William  Shaw,  Richard 
Woodcock,  and  Elijah  Hunton."  Instead  of  a  judge 
advocate,  w'itli  that  instinct  toward  civil  liberties 
which    characterized    the    frontiersman,    a   court   of 

"Minto,  ill  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc.,  Trnnx.,  1876,  30;  Letter  of  W.  H.  Roes  to 
John  Miuto.  Inyanl  had  served,  in  a  subonliiiato  capacity,  witli  ( iilliain  in  the 
SL-miiiole  war,  taking  part  in  the  battle  of  Okechobee.  In  (ieiioral  Taylor's 
report  o.  the  battle,  some  disobedience  of  Captain  (Jilliani,  which  entailed  a 
loss  of  life,  was  mentioned,  for  which  nnfavorable  report  both  (Hlliam  and 
Inyard  bore  over  after  an  inveterate  enmity  toward  the  future  hero  of  the 
Mexican  war.  Inyard,  according  to  Kecs,  was  'an  average  man  of  the  class 
reared  in  the  south-west  amid  the  ruinous  institutions  of  human  slavery.'  /(/. 
'I'his  name,  I  find,  is  sometimes  spelled  Engart. 

^Morrison  was  a  thrifty  farmer  fr'vn  the  neighborhood  of  Weston.  Minfo'n 
Enrlij  I>(i!/x,  MS.,  18.  Shaw  was  ijorn  in  North  Carolina,  near  Raleigh,  in 
1795;  but  emigrated  with  his  father  to  Tennessee  when  a  chiM;  and  again  to 
Missouri  in  1819,  when  the  inhabitants  were  living  in  forts  to  protect  them- 
selves against  the  natives.  He  liad  fought  under  Oeneral  Jackson  in  '&I4:- 
13,  in  the  wax  against  the  Creeks  and  the  British.  Sfiaio's  Pioneer  Life,  MS., 
1,2. 

nisT.  Or.,  Vol.  L    29 


450 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   li^. 


i 


I    i 


II  f 


oquity  was  estahlislied  by  tlio  election  of  a  judn'c, 
with  two  UHHociate  justices.'"  But  the  court  was  in- 
operative, martial  law  ])rovailiug  during  the  mainte- 
nance oi' military  discipline.'^ 

When  the  independent  colony  reached  the  hutlalo 
grounds,  (iilliani  used  to  dash  oft*  after  tiie  game,  to 
the  disappointment  of  those  left  in  charge  of  the 
train.'"  Sjuieches  were  made  in  camp  on  this  .suhject, 
and  some  legulations  were  laid  down  for  hunting,  hut 
they  were  not  regaixled ;  and  as  liapj)ened  in  184:5, 
when  the  Kocky  Mountains  had  been  passed,  there 
was  no  longer  any  attempt  to  keep  together  in  large 
companies. 

Th<!  other  divisions,  led  by  Nathaniel  Ford,  a  man 
of  character  and  influence,  and  John  Thorp,  appmir 
not  to  have  found  it  necessary  to  burden  themselves 
with  too  many  regulations,  and  progressed  well  with- 
out tliem.  Moses  Harris,  well  known  in  the  moun- 
tains among  the  fur-traders  and  tra})pers  as  Black 
Harris,  acted  as  guide.  A  com})any  under  Subletti; 
also  travelled  with  them  from  the  Platte  to  Green 
River.  The  spring  was  unusually  rainy.  By  the  over- 
flowing of  streams,  as  well  as  the  softening  of  the 
earth,  so  much  time  was  lost  that  by  the  1st  of  Jul}'' 
not  more  than  one  hundred  miles  in  a  straight  course 
had  been  travelled.  Yet  they  did  not  sutt'er  them- 
selves to  be  discouraged,  only  one  man  out  of  Gil- 
liam's connnand  turning  back.'^  Two  mo;  ths  of  wet 
weather  produced  dysei  *:ery  and  rheumatism."  The 
delay  occasioned  by  sto  'ns  was  so  much  additional 
time  in  which  provisions    'ere  being  consumed;  hence 

"•Benjamin  Niuhols,  judge;  Jose  (tagc  and  Theopliilus  Magnider,  asso- 
ciato  justices.     Charles  Saxtoii  was  :      retary  of  tlie  independent  company. 

"  Clark  Eades,  for  violating  a  g  eral  order,  was  tried  before  (General 
Gilliam,  and  sentenced  to  be  '  tied,  a'  (  staked  out  in  the  hot  sun  from  eleven 
o'clock  A.  M.  until  tlie  going  down  of    aesame.'  Letter  of  W.  H.  Rees. 

'■' Fremont's  Rept.  for  184;}-4,  in  L'.  S.  t'nth.  Mmj.,  iv.  L>()5. 

'* '  An  Oregonian,' in  .SVi/t';/(  1)7//.  Fnriiifi;  Dee.  17,  187;). 

'*  Sublette  8  company  consisted  of  '2'2  men,  11  of  wliom  were  travelling  for 
their  health.  Tliree  of  these  died  within  a  few  days  of  each  other:  Marshall, 
June  27th,  Kotchum,  July  .3d,  Browning,  July  7th.  Clyimiiin  Xote  Book,  MS., 
22,  25,  2G.  A  Mr  Baruutt  of  the  emigration  died  at  Green  River,  of  tj-phoid 
fover.  Id. 


fLYM.VN.  MINTO,  AND  WATT. 


451 


at  Fort  T^arnmio  many  families  wore  already  witliout 
lldUi'^  iiiitl  cominllcd  to  jturcliasc  it  at  thirty  and  f'oity 
dollars  a  harri'l.  Suj^ar  could  l)o  procured  only  at  a 
dollar  and  a  half  a  pint. 

The  route  from  (jrreon  River  to  Fort  TT;dl  was  tlie 
same  o[H'ne<l  the  year  hefon^  hy  way  of  Fort  J^ridy'er. 
Many  were;  hitteily  disapj)ointed  on  reachini^  this 
point  to  be  told  that  tluy  were  then  oidy  half-way  to 
their  destination ;  and  a  nmall  conqjany  of  men  without 
families  abandoned  their  wa<^ons  two  days  west  of  this 
|M)st,  and  prepared  to  ti'avel  with  hoi'ses  only.'''  They 
I'cached  Fort  Jlall  op  the  lOth  of  Septend)er,  findin«if 
tliiur  at  this  place  too  high  for  their  niean.s.  Gilliam's 
wagons  arrived  here  the  Kith,  where  a  letter  awaited 
them  from  Burnett,  advising  them,  if  tlu'V  were  likely 
to  need  assistance  before  reaching  the  Colund)ia,  to 
send  word  to  tlu;  settlers.  As  it  was  manifest  that 
assistance  would  be  needed,  a  l>arty  of  young  men  were 
sent  forward  on  horses,  who  reached  Oi'egon  City  on 
the     I8th    of    October,      These    wen;    John    Alinto,^^ 


Ml''. 

i 


'*  Of  this  company  was  James  Clyman,  who  kept  a  ihiily  journal  or  iioto- 
lidok,  wliich  lia.s  fortunately  \>ecn  prcsurvod  through  iriaiiy  vicisnitudus,  and 
■whiuli  I  have  found  very  useful.  ]Jeside.s  tlie  incidents  of  the  journey,  it  eon- 
tains  many  instructive  remarks  on  the  country  traversed;  and  an  account  of 
affairs  in  the  Oregon  colony  during  tliu  winter  of  ltS44- ").  Clynian  was  a  Vir- 
ginian hy  liirth,  Imt  emigrated  from  Stiirk  County,  Oliio. 

"'.lohii  Minto  became  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  in  Oregon.  J^ie 
T\as  of  English  l)irth  and  education,  a  native  of  Wylam  on  the  Tyne,  in  Nor- 
thuinlierland,  born  Oct.  10,  1822.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1S40,  and 
settled  at  Pittsburgh,  I'a.,  as  a  coal-miner.  From  Pennsylvania  he  v.ent  to  St 
Louis  in  tho  spring  of  1)S44,  on  his  way  to  the  frontier  of  Iowa,  and  learned  at 
tills  place  of  the  emigration  to  Oregon,  which  he  determined  to  join.  Having 
no  means  to  procure  an  outfit,  he  engaged  with  11.  W.  Morrison  to  drive  team 
and  make  himself  u.seful,  for  his  passage  and  board.  It  is  to  Mintox  i'Jurlij 
piiyt,  a  manuscript  by  his  own  hand,  that  1  am  chiefly  indebted  for  the 
account  of  (Hlliam's  company.  I*  cor  :ains,  besides,  valuable.  riMuarks  on  tiie 
political  situation  of  lS44-(),  on  tiie  industrie;!  of  the  country  and  stock- 
raising,  and  on  the  social  condition  of  tlie  colonists,  with  other  miscellaneous 
matter.  Minto  married  Miss  Martha  A.  Morri^oii  when  they  ha'l  Iteeu  about 
three  years  in  Oregon,  and  they  went  to  reside  near  Salem.  Minto  h;is  lieen 
a  useful,  intelligent,  and  every  way  an  exemplary  builder  on  the  edifice  of  u 
new  state;  a  farmer,  stock-raiser,  and  editor;  public-.spirited  in  every  positio»i 
lie  lias  been  called  upon  to  till.  Mrs  Minto  is  known  throughout  tlie  state  for 
lier  fearless  vindication  of  what  she  esteems  the  right;  and  has  been  called  tlie 
'  musket-member '  of  the  Woman's  Sutlrage  Association  of  Oregon.  According 
to  Minto,  her  mother  uarried,  or  at  least  w;i8  furnished  with,  a  rifle,  on  lier 
journey  to  Oregon,  which  she  was  competent  to  use  had  it  been  necessary. 
Mrs  Miiitu  has,  as  well  as  her  hubband,  furnished  a  manuscript  to  my  coUec- 


Ii  11 1 


462 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1844. 


Samuel  B.  Crockett,  and  Daniel  Clark.  Accordino- 
to  Clyman,  they  encountered  at  the  Grand  Hoik  I 
James  Waters  of  the  previous  emigration,  who  was 
t^oinff  to  meet  his  family,  and  who  supplied  them  with 
j)rovisions  for  the  remainder  of  tlieir  journey.^" 

Ford's  company,  being  in  advance  of  Gilliam's, 
also  sent  three  young  men  to  the  Willamette  Valley 
with  Minto's  party.  Snow  had  now  begun  to  fall  in 
the  mountains  while  a  large  part  of  tlie  emigration 
was  between  Fort  Boise  and  the  Dalles.  Tlie  misery 
entailed  upon  the  belated  travellers  by  the  change  to 
winter  weather  was  indescribable.^^     The  road  from 


tion.  It  was  tak  from  her  lips  by  a  stenographer  at  a  incotiiig  of  the  Pion(>or 
ANsociatioii  in  1878,  and  is  called  Femitk  Pionceriii;/.  As  it  gives  the  woman's 
view  of  frontier  life,  it  is  especially  valnalile — few  reeords  having  been  m;ulc 
of  the  trials  which  women  were  called  upon  to  endure  in  tlu;  settlement  of  the 
Pacific  Stiites. 

"  Minto  compares  the  warm  interest  and  sympathy  exhibited  by  Waters 
with  the  chilling  indifference  and  absolute  ignoring  of  tneir  presence  or  tlieir 
wantd  by  the  niiasiouaries  Waller  and  Brewer  at  tlie  Dalles.  Clyman,  wlio 
brought  letters  to  the  missionaries,  find  who  Wiis  a  few  ilays  ahead  of  Minto's 
party,  remarks  that  he  was  not  tliankod  for  the  trouble  of  carrying  them  from 
the  Stati!S,  which  he  attributes  to  his  travel-worn  and  iinshaven  appearance. 
Note  Hook;  MS.,  (58. 

'*  Joseph  Watt,  born  in  Ohio,  author  of  a  manuscript  called  Firnt  Thiii'js^ 
gives  an  acecmnt  of  the  incoming  of  1844,  and  of  the  importation  of  slu'cp 
from  the  States  by  himself  in  1847,  the  erection  of  the  first  wooUen-niilLs  in 
Oregon,  and  other  first  things,  and  tlescribes  his  passage  from  Burnt  Kiver 
to  tlie  Willamette.  Watt  was  tlien  a  young  man  and  poorly  ecjuippeil  for 
such  a  journey,  but  drove  can  ox-team  as  far  as  Burnt  River.  Hen;,  probal)ly 
because  he  thought  there  were  too  many  mouths  for  the  jirovisions,  he  wi  i.L 
forward,  afoot  and  alone.  At  tlio  end  of  the  first  ilay  he  found  a  cabin, 
occupied  by  Blakeley,  an  emigrant  who  gave  him  a  few  crusts.  Bowman, 
a  destitute  traveller,  joined  Watt,  and  they  walked  on  together  until  they 
overtook  Ford's  company,  from  whom  they  obtained  one  meal.  In  the  (Jraiul 
Rond  they  lost  tiieir  way,  but  regaining  the  road,  met  a  family  nanied 
Walker,  who  had  nothing  to  eat,  and  thought  of  killing  their  oxen.  Being 
overtiikcn  by  others  who  still  had  a  little  food,  they  liegged  them  to  divide; 
but  want  an<l  fear  had  hardened  their  hearts,  and  they  refused.  The  pedes- 
trians made  a  lire  of  green  wood,  before  which  they  sat  througliout  the  night 
drying  their  wet  clothing;  and  in  tlie  morning  found  it  snowing.  Tht'n, 
with  soleless  shoes  and  ])antaloons  half  gone,  they  renewed  tiieir  journey. 
Bowman  had  a  family  wiiom  he  left  witii  tlie  wagons  while  he  liiisteiicil 
on  to  procure  ivssistance.  Says  Watt:  'I  think  tiiere  were  snow-flakes 
as  large  aa  my  hat,  and  it  was  damp  snow.  Bowman  w;us  speculatinjj 
what  ho  and  his  son  "  Billy  "  could  do  when  they  got  down  to  the  valley. 
Waters,  whom  we  had  met  on  I'owder  River,  had  told  him  it  was  worth 
so  much  a  hundred  to  make  rails;  and,  says  he,  "Billy  and  I  can  make 
lots  of  money  at  tliat.  Whiskey-barrels  are  worth  so  much;  whiskey  is 
worth  something.  I  can  make  whiskey."  Says  I,  "You  obi  fool,  you  will 
never  get  out  of  these  mountains  !  "  '  Proceeding,  sometimes  be-vUdered  on 
account  of  the  crail  being  hidden  by  snow,  they  came  to  the  camp  of  some 


y,  ¥i  i' 


ON  THE  COLUMBIA. 


453 


Burnt  River  to  the  Dalles  was  a  panorama  of  suffer- 
ing and  destitution,  and  the  rear  of  the  caravan 
remained  at  Whitman's  over  winter/"  Shaw,  who 
turned  aside  to  Whitman's  station  to  lay  in  provisions, 
left  tlierc  a  family  of  seven  chilch-en  named  Sager, 
wliose  parents  had  died  on  the  road,  the  father  while 
the  company  was  at  Green  River,  and  the  mother 
two  weeks  later.  These  children  were  adopted  hy  ]3i- 
Whitman.""  Shaw  failed  to  reacli  tlie  Willamette 
tliat  season,  as  some  of  his  family  were  prostrated  by 
sickness,  and  he  remained  until  March  1845  at  the 
])alles,  with  several  other  families. ^^ 

Two  or  more  small  mounted  parties,  the  first  to 
reacli  the  Dalles,  took  the  cattle  trail  round  the  base 
of  Mount  Hood,  and  arrived  safely  in  the  valley. 
But  the  later  comers  feared  this  route  on  account  of 
the  advanced  sea.son.  The  families  were  assisted  in 
<lescending  the  Columbia  by  the  loan  of  boats  belong- 
ing to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company ; "  and  the  cattle 
were  crossed  by  swinnning  to  the  north  side  of  the 
river,  driven  down  to  Vancouver,  and   recrossed   in 


immigrants  who  gave  them  supper  and  brcivkfast.  On  reaching  UmatiUa 
tiiey  were  joiiietl  by  a  man  named  Xash.  They  had  also  tiiu  good  fortune 
to  kill  a  dozen  sageheus.  At  a  Ciyu.se  camp  they  borrowed  a  large  kettle 
and  made  a  stew  of  chicken  and  ]iotatoes,  purchiused  of  tlie  natives  with  an 
extra  shirt.  At  Waiilatp.i  Whitman  gave  tiiem  some  corn  meal.  A  cow 
w  liicii  belonged  to  Watt  was  sold  to  tiio  doctor  for  provisions  to  take  tlicm  to 
the  J>allcs.  An  immigrant,  Barton  Lei,',  \va<  engaged  to  transport  tlicm,  i»iiii 
a  horse  was  hired  of  Adams.  At  the  DaiUs  they  found  the  fur  eoip'Kiny's 
bateaux,  which  had  been  phiccd  at  tlic  service  of  certain  ])ersons  to  bring 
down  the  immigr.ttion  with  a  i(!W  to  ast-ist  them;  but  for  a  passage  on  which 
they  were  charged  six  dollars  each  hy  those  having  them  ir  charge.  'I  had 
no  money,'  says  Watt,  'and  they  toM  me  if  the  other  passengers  would  board 
me  tiiey  woidd  take  me  down,  but  I  iUUm.  sing  wlienc^ver  I  w;us  ordered. 
They  called  me  the  "  tigure-head."  (hi  the  IGth  of  Novendier  I  arrived  at 
Oregon  City.'  Firs/.  T/iliiii»,  MS.,  1-7. 

''••O/'.  ,Sv('C/ntoi;  Jan.  i'l,  1.S49. 

■"',S7(((«'j«  I'iomir  L[l'i;  M>i.,  1?. 

'■"Shaw  says  in  his  Pioneer  Life,  MS.,  l-t-18,  which  is  a  comparison  of 
pioneiT  life  in  the  western  states  and  Oregxm,  with  a  narrative  of  the  in- 
eiilents  of  the  emigration,  that  in  March  ho  went  down  the  Colnndiia  to  a 
place  seventeen  miles  above  Vancouver,  wliere  he  made  shingles  for  the 
Hud.son's  Hay  Company,  to  pay  what  he  owi'd  them  for  p"ovisions  ancl  cloth- 
ing furnished  liiin  while  at  the  Dalles.  In  S('pteml)er  he  remove<l  to  the  Wil- 
lamette Valley,  where  he  rented  the  farm  of  Beers  for  one  year.  The  next 
year  he  bought  a  farm  of  a  French  (Vi  ulian,  ten  luilea  uurth  oi  Salem,  where 
ho  made  his  permanent  resilience. 

'"McLou(i/ilinf  Private  Papers,  MS.,  'Jdser.,  9. 


pr.i 


454 


THE  IMMIGRATION   OF   1844, 


"l! . 


If 


boats,  as  they  had  been  the  previous  year.  The 
scenes  of  suffering  at  the  Cascades  in  1843  were  re- 
peated in  1844.  Minto,  who  it  will  be  remembered 
hastened  to  the  Willamette  for  help  for  his  employer 
and  friends,  tells  us  that  on  returning  with  a  boat- 
load of  provisions  to  the  Cascades  he  found  "men  in 
the  prime  of  life  lying  among  the  rocks  seeming  ready 
to  die.  I  found  there  mothers  with  their  families, 
whose  husbands  were  snow-bound  in  the  Cascade 
Mountains,  without  provisions,  and  obliged  to  kill  and 
eat  their  game  dogs.  Mrs  Morrison  had  traded  her 
(mly  dress  except  the  one  she  wore  for  a  bag  of  pota- 
toes. There  was  scarcely  a  dry  day,  and  the  snow- 
line was  nearly  down  to- the  river." ^ 

In  such  a  plight  did  the  immigration  of  1844,  whicli 
set  out  with  high  hopes  to  plant  an  independent  colony 
in  Oregon,  find  itself  on  reaching  the  promised  land. 
The  loss  of  life  had  been  light  notwithstanding  the 
hardships  of  the  journey;'*  but  the  loss  of  prop- 
erty in  cattle,  clothing,  and  household  and  other  goods 
had  been  great,  to  the  ruin  of  many.  The  cattle  had 
become  fat  during  the  weeks  of  detention  on  the 
grassy  plains,  and  were  unfit  for  the  hard  work  of  haul- 
ing loaded  wagons  for  the  remainder  of  the  summer. 
Many  died  of  exhaustion,  some  were  taken  by  the 
natives,  who,  although  not  in  open  hostility,  were 
troublesome  at  several  places  on  the  route,  at  the 
Kansas  agency,  at  Laramie,  in  the  Cayuse  country, 
and  on  the  Columbia;^'  although  White  had  deputized 


''^ Camp-Jire  Orations,  MS.,  15. 

■•"^  Besides  Bjiriiette,  Thomas  Vance,  Mr  and  Mrs  Sager,  and  a  young  girl 
mentioned  in  ^Irs  Minto's  Female  Pioiiceriii;/,  MS.,  I  hud  no  other  deaths 
noted  in  the  several  maimscripts  and  books  referring  to  this  immigration. 
All  the  otliers  came  through  to  Oregon,  except  a  party  of  eighteen  who  turne<l 
tiff  on  tlie  California  road  after  passing  Fort  Hall.  This  party  had  thirteen 
wagons,  the  lirst  to  enter  California  from  the  United  States.  The  names  of 
the  party  wore  Townsend,  James  Montgomery,  .John  Oreonwood,  Britian 
Greenwood,  and  another  (Jreenwood,  John  Sullivan  and  brother,  Dennis 
Martin,  John  Martin,  MurT)hy  and  four  sons,  Jackson,  tftgvciis,  and  Hitch- 
cock. Or.  Pioneer  Asmc,  Tnivi.,  187(5,  42. 

''''  Clyman  relates  that  the  Cayuses  were  very  anxious  to  know  of  liim  when 
the  wagons  and  stock  miglit  l)e  expected,  as  tiiey  wished  to  exchange  horses 
for  cattle;  but  that  although  they  had  horses  to  sell,  they  did  not  refrain  from 


CONDITION  OF  THE  NEW-COMERS. 


456 


28 


H.  A.  G.  Lee  to  be  among  the  Cayuses  during  the 
passage  of  the  immigration,  and  to  assi.^t  in  the  pur- 
chase of  cattle  witli  the  ten-dollar  drafts  mentioned 
in  a  previous  chapter — a  device  which  proved  unsuc- 
cessful, as  the  immigrants  preferred  their  cattle  to  the 
drafts.  Tho  natives  were  able,  however,  to  sell  their 
crops  to  the  immigrants  for  good  prices,  by  exchanging 
wheat,  corn,  and  potatoes  for  clothing  and  other  arti 
cles.  Not  being  able  to  buy  cattle,  they  stole  them ; 
and  unable  to  purchase  American  horses  with  their 
less  valuable  ponies,  they  stole  those  also,  until  the 
immigrants,  losing  patience,  retaliated,  and  took  In- 
dian horses  regardless  of  individual  ownership;  and 
became  robbers  in  their  turn,  without  reflecting  upon 
the  evil  consequences  which  were  likely  to  fall  upon 
the  next  immigration;  savages  being  like  civilized 
men  in  this  respect,  that  they  are  ready  to  punish 
misconduct  in  others  for  which  in  themselves  they 
find  ample  excuse. 

The  condition  of  the  Immigrants  of  1844,  after  they 
had  passed  all  the  perils  of  the  journey  to  Oregon, 

stealing  his  fine  but  hall-starved  mare — they  having  burned  off  the  grass  to 
annoy  the  immigrants.  Note  Book,  MS.,  65. 

^"H.  A.  G.  Lee,  an  immigrant  of  1S43,  was  much  esteemed  for  his  probity 
and  intelligence  in  the  management  of  public  aflfairs.  His  name  appears  fre- 
quently in  the  public  i)rints.  Burnett  remark?  on  the  justness  of  his  views  of 
the  Indian  character,  and  the  impending  Indian  troubles.  Lee  says  in  his 
report  on  the  afifairs  of  1844:  'The  immigrants  are  still  very  imprudent  in 
breaking  off  into  small  parties,  just  when  tliey  should  remain  united.  .  .These 
robbers  furnish  us  a  true  miniature  likeness  of  the  whole  Indian  population 
whenever  they  fad  to  obtain  such  things  as  they  wish  in  exchange  U.t  such 
as  they  have  to  give.  These  are  robbers  now  liecauso  they  liave  notliing  to 
give;  all  others  will  be  robbers  when,  with  M-hat  they  liave  to  give,  they  can 
not  procure  what  they  wish.  .  .  The  next  immigration  will,  in  all  probability, 
call  forth  developments  of  Indian  cliaracter  which  liavc  been  almost  denied 
en  existence  among  these  people.  Indeed,  sir,  had  you  not  taken  the  pre- 
caution to  conciliate  their  gooti  feelings  and  friendship  toward  the  whites  ju.st 
at  the  time  they  were  meeting  eacli  otlier,  it  is  to  be  doul)ted  whetlier  there 
had  not  been  some  serious  ditliculty.  Individuals  on  both  sides  have  been 
mutually  provoked  and  exasperated  during  the  passage  of  each  innriigration, 
and  these  cases  are  constantly  multiplying.  Much  prudence  is  rcijuircd  on 
the  part  of  the  whites,  and  unfortunately  they  have  very  little  by  tlio  time 
they  reach  the  Columbia  Valley.  Some  of  the  late  iminigrantH,  lo.sing  tlieir 
horses,  and  naturally  supposing  them  stolen  by  tlie  Indians,  went  to  the  bands 
of  horses  owned  by  the  Indians  and  took  as  many  as  they  wislied.  You  are 
too  well  acquainted  with  Indians  to  suppose  that  such  a  course  can  be  per- 
sisted in  without  jirodu  ing  serious  results.'  Whites  Concine  View,  61;  Bur- 
nett'a  Rec  qfa  Pioneer,  245^. 


45G 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1844. 


was  worse  than  that  of  1843,  for  the  reason  that  there 
had  not  been  time  for  the  country  to  recover  from  the 
draft  upon  its  resources  made  the  year  previous. 
Thanks  to  the  fertiUty  of  the  soil,  and  to  the  good 
judgment  of  McLoughhn  in  encouraging  farming, 
there  was  food  enough  for  all,  though  man^'^  lived  on 
short  rations  rather  than  to  incur  debt.  But  the  great 
want  of  the  new-comers  was  clothing.  All  the  goods 
in  the  several  stores  had  long  been  exhausted;  even 
at  Vancouver  there  was  no  stock  on  hand  except  the 
reserved  cargo,  which  was  not  opened  when  the  im- 
migration arrived."^  Clothing  was  made  by  putting 
piece  to  piece  without  regard  to  color  or  texture ;  and 
moccasons,  which  took  the  place  of  boots  and  shoes, 
were  the  almost  universal  foot-covering.  A  taimery 
had  been  begun  in  the  summer,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Burnett's  farm,  but  the  autumn  supply  of  leather, 
besides  being  inadequate,  was  only  half  tanned,  and 
had  a  raw  streak  in  the  centre. 

This  destitution,  while  there  was  a  year's  supply  in 
the  warehouses  at  Vancouver,  occasioned  complaints 
on  the  part  of  the  less  reasonable  of  the  immigrants, 
who  were  unable  to  see  Avhy  they  should  not  receive 
as  many  favors  from  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  as 
those  of  the  previous  year  had  had,  under  the  same 
circumstances.  Mcljoughlin  had,  with  his  usual 
sasracitv,  foreseen  that  there  would  be  this  feclinii', 
and  while  prepared  to  defend  the  company's  property 
from  pillage  in  case  of  a  collision  with  the  innnigrants, 
sought  by  every  means  to  cultivate  a  friendly  feeling. 

-"  Minto  describes  his  costume  when  he  went  t«  Vancouver  to  receive  tlic 
boat  and  cargo  which  he  took  up  the  Cohunbia.  His  pantaloons  were  ripped 
up  to  the  knees;  he  had  no  coat,  having  worn  out  the  one  he  started  with;  a 
blanket  obtained  at  Vancouver  was  doubled  across  liis  shoulders  over  a  string. 
His  feet  were  nearly  bare,  and  became  quite  so  before  he  retumeil  from  hia 
expedition.  Minto'n  Female  Pioiieeriwj,  Mi^.,  1^,19.  Mrs  Minto  siiys:  'There 
waa  but  one  bolt  of  calico  in  the  whole  of  Oregon  that  we  could  hear  of,  and 
that  was  at  Astoria.  .  .  The  next  summer  my  sifter  and  I  uatliered  a  barrel  of 
cranberries  and  sent  them  to  Oregon  City,  and  got  a  little  lilue  drilling  which 
made  us  a  covering.'  Id.,  10.  Tlie  dearth  of  goods  affected  all  classes.  Parrish 
says  that  in  1844  he  wore  an  old  coat  which  he  brought  from  New  York  in 
1839,  and  jjantaloons  :^iade  of  English  duffle,  '  a  kind  of  coarse  cloth  similar  to 
our  horso-blankets, '  with  a  buckskin  vest  and  moccasons.  /(/.,  20. 


HOMES  FOR  THE  SETTLERS. 


467 


ty 


lie 

1<1 


re 
d 


Minto  relates  that  when  Gilliam  was  at  the  Dalles 
he  received  a  present  of  food  and  clothing  from  the 
gentlemen  at  Vancouver ;  and  remarks  that  although 
kindly  meant,  it  was  a  mistake  on  the  part  of  the 
company,  as  it  led  to  the  discussion  of  subjects  con- 
nected with  the  politics  of  the  country,  which  were 
lieing  forgotten  in  their  more  present  anxieties,  and 
to  a  great  deal  of  gossip  concerning  the  meaning  of 
the  recent  action  of  the  company  in  strengthening 
tlieir  defences,  of  which  they  had  been  informed^  and 
also  of  the  visit  of  the  Modeste.  These  conversations 
were  so  frequent  that  the  naturally  generous  Gilliam, 
whose  prejudices  were  becoming  softened,  was  led  to 
declare  at  the  Cascades  that  although  willing  to  live 
in  peace  with  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  so  long  as 
they  kept  within  their  treaty  rights,  he  would  have 
no  hesitation  in  knocking  their  stockade  about  their 
oars  if  they  did  not  carry  themselves  properly.^ 

But  it  would  have  been  strange  if  the  generous 
assistance  which  extended  to  everything  except  open- 
ing their  storehouse  against  rules  and  without  pay, 
and  the  untiring  courtesy  of  McLoughlin  and  his 
associate,  Douglas,  could  not  have  removed  many  of 
the  preconceived  and  ill-founded  notions  of  these 
western  Americans.^  But  the  conflict  which  im- 
])endcd  it  was  impossible  to  avoid  by  anything  less 
than  an  admission  that  to  the  United  States  belonged 
the  whole  of  Oregon,  and  that  the  company  occupied 
the  country  temporarily  under  a  convention  which 
could  be  annulled  at  any  time — an  admission  they 

•>» Early  Days,  MS.,  27. 

-"  Minto  iiieutions  this  case:  'The  doctor  was  standing  on  the  porch  of  the 
main  house,  ainl  motioned  us  to  come  to  him.  He  asked  us  if  we  were  the 
young  men  from  Liunton  who  liad  come  up  with  their  boat.  We  said  we  were. 
He  told  us  to  go  to  that  house,  pointing  to  the  door  of  bacliolor's  hall,  wlien 
the  dinner-bell  rung.  We  thanked  him,  and  as  we  were  leaving  he  called  to 
us  and  sjiid:  "  Maybe  you  would  like  to  write  to  your  friends  in  the  east.  Wo 
are  going  to  send  an  express  down  to  the  n\outh  of  the  river,  and  there  will  be 
no  other  opportunity  for  sending  letters  for  six  months."  I  replied  that  as  1 
had  no  writmg  materials  I  couhlnot  accept  the  favor  offered;  lie  immediately 
sent  a  servant  to  bring  us  paper,  pens,  and  ink;  and  I  wrote  to  my  father  the 
first  letter  since  leaving  home. '  t emale  Pioneerimj,  MS.,  17,  18. 


458 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1844. 


U 


i 


Vi-A' 


were  not  prepared  to  make  until  instructed  by  the 
British  government  to  do  so. 

McLoughhn  was  very  desirous  that  the  immigra- 
tion should  find  homes  south  of  the  Columbia  River; 
first,  because  he  believed  that  was  their  proper  place 
of  settlement,  under  an  American  form  of  govern- 
ment; but  principally,  as  he  alleged,  because  contact 
with  the  free  and  independent  frontier  men  would 
destroy  the  spirit  of  obedience  for  which  the  com- 
pany's servants  were  remarkable,  and  on  which  the 
success  and  prosperity  of  the  company  depended. 
To  his  great  dissatisfaction,  a  considerable  number 
encamped  for  the  winter  at  W  ..:;!-.ougal,  about  seven- 
teen miles  above  Vancouver,  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  river.  They  were  some  of  those  most  thoroughly 
imbued  with  the  Bentonian  idea  of  American  pr^ 
prietorship,  and  soon  found  means  of  expressing  that 
idea  acco'-ding  to  their  several  natures. 

Elwood  Evans  states  that  Michael  T.  Simmons 
and  his  company,  who  were  among  those  at  Washou- 
gal,  had  first  designed  to  settle  in  the  Rogue  River 
Valley ;  but  that  finding  McLoughlin  anxious  to  have 
the  Americans  settle  on  the  south  side  of  the  Columbia, 
determined  to  locate  himself  and  company  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river.  According  to  Evans,  who  had 
means  of  obtaining  his  information  from  Simmons 
himself,  the  latter,  after  deciding  to  take  a  look  at  the 
Puget  Sound  region,  applied  to  McLoughlin  to  furnish 
his  family  winter  quarters  in  the  fort;  the  request 
was  refused  unless  he  would  agree  to  live  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river— a  promise  which  Simmons 
would  not  give.  A  cabin  outside  the  fc^rt  was  finally 
obtained,  and  his  family  established  in  its  shelter,  when 
Simmons  set  out  for  Puget  Sound,  accompanied  by 
Henry  Williamson,  Henry,  James,  and  John  Owens, 
and  James  Lewis.  They  proceeded  no  farther  tiian 
the  forks  of  the  Cowlitz  River,  sixteen  miles  north  of 
tJK^  Columbia,  when  finding  their  provisions  becoming 
exliausted,  and  the  journey  excessively  difficult,  owing 


LAND  CLAIMS. 


459 


both  to  the  nature  of  the  country  and  the  severe 
weather,  they  returned  to  Washougal,  where  they 
passed  the  remainder  of  the  winter  and  the  first  part 
of  summer  in  making  shingles,  which  they  sold  to  the 
fur  company,  or  in  any  employment  they  could  find 
to  pay  expenses. 

In  February,  Henry  Williamson,  wlio  was  from  La 
Porte  County,  Indiana,  and  Isaac  W.  Alderman, 
erected  a  hut  with  a  few  logs,  half  a  mile  from  Van- 
couver, on  land  occupied  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany, and  posted  a  notice  on  a  tree  that  they  intended 
to  claim  the  land.  This  being  reported  to  McLoughlin, 
he  sent  men  to  remove  the  logs  and  take  down  the 
notice ;  which  removal  was  hardly  completed  when 
the  intruders  returned  with  a  surveyor,  and  began 
running  off  a  section  of  land.  Being  remonstrated 
with,  Williamson  and  Alderman  repaired  to  the  fort 
to  argue  their  case  with  the  doctor.  According  to 
White,  Williamson,  '*  a  modest  and  respectable  young 
man,  demeaned  himself  with  propriety;"  but  Alder- 
man, "  a  boisterious,  hare-brained  young  fellow,  caused 
him  to  blush  for  American  honor."*' 

There  were  present  at  this  interview,  besides  White, 
a  number  of  Americans,  and  several  officers  of  tlie 
fur  company.  Williamson  asked  McLoughlin  why 
his  hut  had  been  pulled  down.  McLoughlin  replied 
that  it  was  because  it  was  on  land  occupied  by  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company,  who  were  conducting  busi- 
ness under  a  license  from  the  British  government, 
according  to  a  treaty  which  implied  a  right  to  occupy 
as  much  ground  as  they  required.  This  Williamson 
disputed,^^  and  the  argument  lasted  two  hours,  Mc- 
Loughlin and  Douglas  keeping  their  temper  very 
well,  but   Alderman   declaring   that  if  he  were  dis- 


"  Ten  Years  in  Or.,  251.  According  to  Burnett,  Alderniau  was  a  violent 
and  unprincipled  character,  who  soon  made  himself  notorious.  He  went  to 
(-'alifornia  in  1848,  and  was  killed  in  December  of  that  year  by  Charles  E. 
I'ickett  at  Sutter  Fort,  under  circumstances  that  justified  the  homicide.  Kecol- 
lectioiw  o/  n  Pioneer,  242-4;  Crowforil'K  Nnr.,  MS.,  144. 

^^ McLoiKjhlins  Private  Papem,  MS.,  2d  ser.,  10. 


460 


THK  IMMIGRATION  OF  1844. 


I,     -5       I      ( 


h 


f ' 


ii! 


turbed  in  the  possession  of  the  land  he  would  "  burn 
tlie  finest  building  in  Oregon,"  which  was  thought  to 
mean  that  he  would  set  fire  to  the  fort.  Finding  that 
the  young  men  would  not  yield,  and  irritated  beyond 
measure,  McLoughlin  then  declared  if  Williamson, 
who  seems  to  have  been  regarded  as  the  principal  in 
the  case,  persisted  in  building  there,  he  should  be 
obliged  to  use  force  in  preventing  him;  but  offered,  if 
he  would  choose  a  location  somewhere  else,  away  from 
any  of  the  company's  posts,  to  assist  him  in  establish- 
ing himself;  saying,  as  a  reason  for  desiring  his  re- 
moval, that  it  was  necessary  to  good  order  and 
discipline  that  their  servants  should  be  isolated  from 
the  settlements.  Williamson,  however,  disclaimed 
any  responsibility  for  the  conduct  of  the  company's 
servants,  or  any  desire  to  influence  them ;  and  asserted 
his  ability  to  get  on  without  the  assistance  offered 
him,  as  well  as  his  right,  as  an  American  citizen,  to 
settle  upon  any  unoccupied  land  in  Oregon.  Upon 
this.  Chief  Factor  Douglas,  justice  of  the  peace 
under  the  Canadian  laws,  threatened  to  place  him  in 
irons  and  send  him  to  York  factory  for  trial ;  where- 
upon Williamson  retorted,  "  You  will  have  to  send  me 
farther  north  than  Hudson  Bay  to  place  me  beyond 
the  reach  of  the  United  States  government  "^^ — with 
which  challenge  the  interview  terminated.^ 

Immediately  after,  McLoughlin  and  Douglas  ad- 
dressed a  circular  to  the  citizens  of  Oregon,  in  which 
they  recited  the  case  of  Williamson,  and  stated  their 
position.  The  settlement  was  made  at  Vancouver 
under  a  license  and  a  treaty  which  gave  them  the 
right  to  occupy  as  much  land  as  they  required  for  the 
operation  of  their  business.  They  had  opened  roads, 
and  made  other  impiavements  at  great  expense;  no 

^^Minto'a  Early  Days,  MS.,  28-9, 

.13  White  says  he  had  a  private  interview  with  Williamson  and  Alderman, 
'  which  resulteil  in  a  susjiension  of  hostilities  for  the  present. '  Official  re- 
port, in  Ten  Yvnrs  in  Or.,  "52.  I  think  he  did  all  he  could  to  preserve  the 
peace  in  these  threatening  times.  In  his  anxiety  lie  wrote  to  the  secretary  of 
war  that  too  great  a  portion  of  the  population  came  from  the  western  states 
'  for  one  niouieut's  safety  in  our  present  condition.'  Concise  View,  MS.,  53. 


TRESPASSERS. 


461 


officers  of  either  government  had  questioned  their 
right;  tlieir  presence  and  business  in  the  country 
were  a  manifest  advantage  to  it,  and  a  protection  to 
the  American  as  well  as  to  the  British  settler.  They 
had  given  assistance  to  both,  and  had  done  all  they 
could  do  to  develop  the  resources  of  the  country.  The 
land  they  occupied  on  the  north  bank  of  the  river  was 
indispensable  to  them  as  a  range  for  their  flocks  and 
herds,  and  of  little  value  for  agricultural  purposes, 
being  in  part  inundated  every  summer,  and  in  part 
forest  land.  They  could  not  submit  to  the  infringe- 
ment of  their  right  to  occupy  this  land,  and,  as  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  were  bound 
to  use  every  means  sanctioned  by  the  law  against 
trespassers  on  their  premises,  until  otherwise  directed 
by  the  company.  Yet  it  was  their  earnest  wish  to  be 
at  peace  with  all.  They  entertained  the  highest  re- 
spect for  the  temporary  government  established  by  the 
American  citizens.**  The  advantages  of  peace  and 
harmony  were  evident,  as  were  the  dangers  of  law- 
lessness and  misrule ;  and  thev  felt  confident  that  all 
persons  desiring  the  well-being  of  the  country  would 
determine  to  unite  in  putting  down  every  course  tend- 
ing to  disturb  the  public  peace,  and  in  the  support  of 
justice,  obedience  to  law,  and  mutual  good- will.  The 
circular  closed  with  a  fervent  prayer  to  the  divine 
bestower  of  all  good,  for  the  happiness  and  prosperity 
of  the  whole  community.  A  letter  was  at  the  same 
time  addressed  to  the  executive  committee,  informing 
them  of  the  intrusion  of  Williamson  on  their  premises, 
and  enclosing  a  copy  of  the  circular,  which  explained 
the  course  they  were  bound  to  pursue  in  the  event  of 
the  provisional  government  declining  to  interfere. 

The  reply  of  the  executive  committee  was  couched 

in  terms  altogether  conciliatory.     They  regretted  that 

'unwarranted  liberties"  had  been  taken  by  an  Amer- 

'*  JThia  allusion  was  introduced  because  the  supporters  of  the  organization 
were  making  eflforts  to  induce  the  British  subjects  to  unite  witii  them,  which 
they  still  declined  doing,  through  fear  of  being  considered  disloyal. 


I> 


it 


4xa 


THE  IxMMIORATION  OF  1844. 


lean  citizen  upon  the  premises  of  the  British  company ; 
expressed  pleasure  at  learning  that  Williamson  had 
finally  desisted;'''^  and  thanked  McLoughlin  for  his 
"kind  and  candid  maimer"  of  treating  a  "breach  ot 
the  laws  of  the  United  States,  by  setting  at  naught 
her  most  solemn  treaties  with  Great  Britiiin."  They 
promised  to  use  every  exertion  to  put  down  causes  of 
disturbance,  and  reciprocated  the  desire  for  a  contin- 
uance of  ohe  amicable  intercourse  which  had  hereto- 
fore existed,  which  they  would  endeavor  to  promote 
"until  the  United  States  shall  extend  its  jurisdiction 
over  us,  and  our  authority  ceases  to  exist." 

The  admissions  made  in  the  answer  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  were  not  pleasing  to  the  majority  of 
the  Americans  in  the  country,  who  contended,  as  did 
Williamson,  that  the  treaty  gave  no  vested  rights,  as 
neither  the  sovereignty  of  the  soil  nor  the  boundary 
line  was  determined,  and  joint  occupancy  left  all  free 
to  go  wherever  they  desired.  Some  of  the  more  care- 
ful and  conservative  argued  that  joint  occupancy  did 
not  mean  the  occupancy  of  the  same  place  by  both 
nations,  but  only  the  equal  privilege  of  settling  where 
they  would  not  interfere  with  each  other,  the  first 
party  in  possession  being  entitled  to  hold  until  the 
question  of  sovereignty  was  settled.  The  affaii-  gave 
rise  to  much  discussion,  not  only  among  Americans 
themselves,  but  between  Americans  and  the  gentle- 
men of  the  British  company;  and  while  the  argu- 
ments were  conducted  with  courtesy,  and  each  side 
was  able  to  learn  something  from  the  other,  which 
softened  the  arrogance  of  national  pride  and  preten- 
sions, the  main  question  of  difference — the  propriety 
of  making  the  Columbia  River  practically  a  boundary 
so  long  as  the  sovereignty  of  the  country  remained 
undecided — continued  to  agitate  the  new-comers,  and 
to  interest  every  inhabitant  of  Oregon. 

Mr  Applegate,  commenting  on  the  relative  posi- 
tions of  the  American  and  British  debaters,  has  said 

'*  A  second  letter  iuformed  them  that  Williamson  had  withdraNvn. 


NORTH  AND  SOUTH  OF  THE  COLUMBIA, 


46:} 


that  gentlemen  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  who 
took  part  in  these  discussions  were  more  scholarly  and 
accomplished  than  their  antagonists,  but  the  Ameri- 
cans were  better  informed  on  the  technicalities  of  tlie 
points  in  dispute.  ^The  British  hi  Oregon  had  also  a 
local  weak  point  to  defend.  They  had  been  ordered 
by  the  board  of  management  to  remove  their  estab- 
lishments on  the  south  side  of  the  Columbia  to  the 
north  side,  but  had  not  done  so,  and  were  occupying 
territory  supposed  to  belong  to  the  United  States, 
when  they  forcibly  ejected  an  American  citizen  from 
the  territory  they  claimed  for  Great  Britain.^  This 
gave  color  to  the  opinion  of  some  that  England  in- 
tended, or  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  for  her,  to 
attempt  holding  the  whole  of  Oregon  in  case  of  a 
war,  which  really  seemed  impending  at  this  time,  and 
it  gave  occasion  to  men  like  Williamson  and  Simmons 
to  assert  a  right  to  settle  wherever  they  might  chose, 
if  their  reason  for  choosing  was  only  to  defy  the  power 
of  England. 

In  July  Colonel  Simmons  renewed  his  endeavor  to 
explore  the  country  toward  or  about  Puget  Sound, 
and  started  with  a  company  consisting  of  William 
Shaw,  George  Waunch,  David  Crawford,  Niniwon 
Everman,  Seyburn  Thornton,  and  David  Par-ker. 
They  found  at  a  small  prairie  five  miles  north  of  the 
plain  on  which  the  Cowlitz  farm  of  the  Puget  Sound 
Association  was  situated,  and  ten  miles  from  Cowlitz 
landing,  that  John  H.  Jackson  of  their  immigration  had 
been  before  them,  made  a  location  at  this  place,^^  and 
had  returned  to  bring  his  family.  Jackson  made  his 
settlement  in  the  autumn,  which  he  called  Highlands 

Continuing  to  the  sound,  the  party  took  canoes 
and  made  a  voyage  down  to  and  around  the  head  of 


3«  Views  of  HUtory,  MS.,  43. 

^'  Olympia  Columbian,  in  A  Ha  California,  Nov.  2,  1852.  Jackson  was  born 
in  Yorkshire,  England,  where  he  was  a  butcher's  apprentice.  He  kept  a 
way -side  inu  on  the  road  from  Cowlitz  landing  to  Olympia,  and  was  a  popular 
man  with  the  settlers,  though  too  much  given  to  his  potations.  Roberta  Bee- 
cUectiom,  MS.,  74. 


4IM 


THK  IMMKJRATION   OF   1844. 


Wliidljoy  Island,  returning  through  Deception  Pu.ss 
to  the  east  cliannel,  and  whence  back  the  way  they 
came  to  tlie  (Njhu'.ihia  River.  In  this  expedition 
Sinnnons  ascertained  the  advantages  of  tlu;  sound  for 
connnerce,  and  deterniin(Hl  to  settle  there.  In  Octo- 
ber ho  removed  his  family''"'  to  the  head  of  Budd  Inlet, 
where  he  took  a  claim  which  he  called  Newmarket, 
at  the  falls  of  Des  Chutes  River,  where  there  was  a 
fine  water  power.  He  was  ace  ipanied  by  James 
McAllister  and  family,  David  Kindred  and  family, 
(labriel  Jones  and  family,  (jreorge  W.  Bush  and  family,'''' 
Jesse  Furguson,  and  Samuel  B.  Crockett.  This  small 
company  cut  a  road  for  their  wagons  through  the 
dense  forests  between  the  Cowlitz  landiiiij  find  the 
])lains  at  the  head  of  the  sound,  a  distance  of  sixty 
miles,  in  the  short  space  of  fifteen  days.  All  settled 
within  a  circuit  of  six  mih^s;  and  the  first  house  erected 
was  upon  the  claim  of  David  Kindred,  about  two 
miles  south  of  the  present  town  of  Tumwater,*"  the 
Newmarkcit  of  Sinnnons.  Besides  the  half-dozen 
families  above  mentioned,  and  the  two  men  without 
families  who  settled  about  the  head  of  the  sound  in 
1845,  a  few  others  were  looking  for  locations  in  that 
country,  three  of  whom  were  Wood,  Kimball,^'  and 
Gordon. 

Thus,  by  an  effort  to  avoid  the  censure  of  the 
directors  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  London, 
some  of  whom  had  influence  with  members  of  the 
British  cabinet,*'^  by  keeping  American  b'ttlers  south 
of  the  Columbia  River,  McLoughliu  provoked  their 

''While  at  W.ashougal,  in  April,  Mrs  Siiinuon.-i  ua\  j  birth  to  a  sou,  who 
was  named  Christopher,  the  first  cliild  of  American  parents  bom  in  that 
part  of  Oregon  north  of  the  Columbia  River. 

■'•Bush  was  a  mulatto,  owning  considerable  property;  a  good  man  and 
kiutl  ueighl)or.  It  is  said  ho  settled  north  of  the  Columbia  beciiuse  of  the  law 
against  the  immigration  of  negroes  passed  by  tlio  legislative  committee  of 
1844.  He  took  a  claim  near  Olympia  which  bears  his  name,  and  where  his 
family  long  resi<led. 

*'*  Evaim'  J/iM.  Or.,  MS.,  281-2  Tumwater  in  the  Chinook  dialect  means 
ra^rids;  literally  '  falling  water. ' 

^'  Cli/nian's  Note  Book,  MS.,  100;  Tolmia'a  Hkt.  Puyet  Smind,  MS.,  21, 
Tolmie  is  one  year  too  early  in  his  dates. 

*'  AppUgate'a  Vicwti  qf  Iluitori/,  MS.,  43. 


oji 

1»'| 

W| 


no 
th 


NAMKS   Ol'   Till-:   NKW  CO.MKKS. 


405 


(»|i|)().siti<)ii  and  Imstoiieil  tlie  iH'^iniiiii;^  of  their  (ktu- 
|»iuicy  in  the  region  about  tluit  hcuutil'ul  inland  sea, 
^vi^ich  the  (■oinj)any  luul  no  tlouht  at  tliat  time  would 
conie  into  tlu^  iiossession  of  (ireat  l^ritain.'*' 

With  the  exe((j)tionH  mentioned,  the  immijjfrant.s  of 
1844  settU'd  in  the  Willamette  Valley  tin;  same 
autumn.  The  followini^;  summer  a  mimlx-r  went  to 
California,  the  l>arty  h((in<j^  headed  hy  James  ('lyman. 
Tiiey  rendezvoused  at  La  Creole  Kiver,^^  in  what  is 
now  Polk  (N)unty,  startiujLjf  thence  the  Hth  of  June, 
the  company consisting  of  thirty-nine  men,  one  woman, 
and  three  ehildren.*'  Besides  the  o\erland  immigi-a- 
tion,''"  hut  few  persons  arrived  this  year  hy  sea  ;  and 

"  liohi-rU  HicoUcctioux,  MS,,  GO. 

•'Incorrectly  called  Rickruall  by  inuiiy,  and  ho  printed  on  the  maps. 

*'^The  naiiicH  of  the  party  are  not  given  in  <  'li/iii<ni's  A'o/c  /!<x)l:,  MS.,  except 
incidentally.  He  there  mentions  MeMahan,  Krazier,  Sears,  ()\ven.s,  and  Sum- 
ner. See  also  McKai/'n  Iticolkftiou-i,  MS.,  W.  'I'lie  party  arrived  witiiout 
accident  at  Sutter  Fort  July  I'Jtli.  ''lyman  returned  to  the  United  States  in 
184(5,  in  company  witli  .1.  M.  Hudspeth,  Owen  Sunnier  and  family,  \,.  W. 
lliistings,  an(l  JaiMes  W.  Marshall,  (lyman  afterward  enugrated  to  (.'alif*i-- 
nia,  and  sotthtd  in  Najia  Valley. 

'"The  following  incomplete  list  contains  besides  those  who  went  to  Oregon 
many  who  turned  ot}'  for  ('aliforni:i:  T.  M.  Adams,  Isaac  W .  Alderman, 
Ashill,  Franklin  Ashill,  Pierce  As))ill,  Blakely,  J.  L.  Barlow,  William  ]iow- 
man,  sen.,  William  Bowman,  jun.,  Ira  Bowman,  Barnette,  Francis  Bonlran, 
James  Burton,  Jo.'seph  Bartrough,  William  liurris,  William  Bray,  E<1.  Bei- 
trand,  Klijali  Bunton,  Josepii  Bunton,  William  Buntoii,  Henry  Bogus,  Peter 
Bonnin,  diaries  Buich,  Nathan  Bayaril,  A.  II.  Beers,  Adam  Bro«n,  'riionuw 
Urown,  (reorge  W.  Bush,  Solomon  Boiuers,  (.'harles  U.  Burch,  William  R. 
Barshain,  Charles  B(Minett,  J.  M.  Bennet,  Thomas  Boggs,  Lewis  Crawford, 
Dennis  Clark,  Joseph  Caplcs,  Charles  Caplis,  Hezekiah  Caples,  David  Craw- 
ford, Danii'l  Clark,  Joel  Crisman,  (Jabriel  Crisinan,  A  'illiam  Crisman, 
Aaroi.  Chand)erlain,  William  Clemens,  James  Clyman,  Patrick  Conner, 
Samuel  jj.  Cioekett,  Clemens,  James  Cave,  William  M.  Case,  N.  R.  Dough- 
erty, Daniel  Durbin,  V.  W.  Dawson,  Edward  Dupuis,  Jan^es  I)av(!nport, 
L.  Kverhart,  Moses  Fades,  E.  Emery,  J.  Emery,  C.  Emery,  Niniwou 
Kvcrman,  (,'.  Everman,  John  Eailes,  Ai)raham  Eailes,  Henry  Fades,  Clark 
Kades,  Solomon  Fades,  Richard  Eough,  Robert  F<ldy,  Hiram  English,  .lolm 
EUiek,  .John  Fleming,  Charles  Forrest,  Jesse  Ferguson,  J.  Fuller,  B.  Frost, 
.folin  Fielden,  M.  C.  Fielden,  M.  (r.  ^^1isy,  James  Fruit,  'Doe'  Fruit,  Na- 
thaniel Fonl,  Mark  Ford,  I.  N.  (Jilbert,  David  (Irant,  .Mitchell  (iil'iam, 
Cornelius  (Silliam,  Smith  (lilliam,  William  (iilliam,  I'orter  (iilliam,  .lo.jeph 
(iagc,  William  (lage,  Jes.so  tiagu,  David  (lofl',  W.  H.  (roodwin,  (Jille.spie, 
James  Oavisli,  John  (Javish,  N.  (Jilnmre,  Charles  (lilmore,  (Jibbon,  .Samuel 
(loodhue,  J.  (rraves,  S.  C.  Graves,  Samuel  Goff,  Marion  GoC,  Martin  Oilla- 
han,  William  Gillihan,  .loh.i  Greenwood,  Britain  Gr'jenMood,  (Jreenwood, 
(lolding,  J.  Hillhouse,  Alanson  Hinman,  M.  M.  Harris,  John  Harris,  Adam 
Howett,  Hutchison,  Hamilton,  Hitchock,  George  Hanna,  D.  B.  Hainia,  T.  S. 
Hedges,  Jacob  Hntton,  T.  Holt,  James  Harper,  Herman  Higgins,  William 
Higgins,  Fleming  R.  Hill,  J.  (".  Hawley,  ,1.  H.  Hawly,  George  Hibler,  Jacob 
Hampton,  William  Herring,  Hamilton,  Joseph  Hulmaji,  Jacol)  Hoover,  James 
Hist.  Ou.,  Vol.  I.    30 


^'""■"■■— " 


166 


THE  IMMI(;RATI0N  of   1844. 


if    :  i 


ti 


Vaoso  came  hi  tlie  brig  Chevamus,  Captain  Couch,  from 
Newburyport,  to  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  and  thence  to 


Hunt,  Norris  Humphrey,  Jacob  Hammer,  John  Inyard,  Abraham  Inyanl, 
Peter  Inyard,  William  R.  .lolinson,  Jame»  Jolnison,  Thomas  Jeffries,  Daniel 
Johnson,  James  Jolnison,  David  Johnson,  John  K.  Jackson,  (Jabriel  J(mt;.s, 
John  H.  V.  Jackson,  David  Jenkins,  Willis  Jenkins,  Henry  C.  Jenkins,  William 
Jenkins,  David  Kindred,  Charles  Kerbs,  Bartholomew  Kindred,  John  Kiii- 
dre<l,  Alexander  Kirk,  Daniel  D.  Kinsey,  Barton  B.  Lee,  James  Loomis,  John 
Lousenaute,  Charles  Lewis,  Wdliam  Morgan,  Tlieopliilus  Magruder,  Ed.  B. 
Magruder,  John  Minto,  Robert  Miller,  Wisha  McDaniel,  Joshua  McDaniel, 
Jamt's  W.  Marshall,  Lafayette  Morelan<l,  Elisha  McDaniel,  Neliemiah  Martin, 
Samuel  McSwain,  Westly  Mulkey,  J.  Mulkey,  Luke  Mulkey,  P.  P.  Mulkey, 
Murray,  Mudgett,  Murphy  (father  and  four  sons),  John  Martin,  Dennis 
Martin,  J.  McKiuley,  McMahan,  James  McAllister,  R.  W.  Morrison,  Micluul 
iloor,  James  Montgomery,  John  Nichols,  Frank  Nichols,  Benjamin  Nichols, 
(leorge  Neal,  Attey  Neal,  Calvin  Neal,  Robert  Neal,  Alexander  Neal,  Peter 
Neal,  (George  Nelson,  Cyrus  S.  Nelson,  Richard  Owe,  Ruel  Owlcss,  John 
Owens,  Henry  Owens,  James  Owens,  R.  Olds,  John  Owens,  Patrick  O'Coii- 
ner,  I'riest,  Joseph  Parrott,  William  Prater,  Theodore  Prater,  Joel  Perkins, 
sen.,  Joel  Perkins,  jun.,  John  Perkins,  E.  E.  Parrish,  (Jabriel  Parrish,  Sannul 
Packwood,  William  Packwood,  R.  K.  Payne,  Eben  Pettie,  Amab  Pettie, 
David  Parker,  Jeremiah  Rowlainl,  Levi  L.  Rowland,  Benj.  M.  Robinson, 
'Mountain'  Robinson,  Roberts,  Mac  Rice,  Parton  Rice,  'Fatty'  Robinson, 
Ramsey,  Willard  H.  Rees,  Rice,  Robbin  (col<ired),Ram8dell,  Jackson  Nhelton, 
William  Sebring,  Sj)ringer,  Henry  Sail'ron,  William  8mith,  Vincent  .Snelling, 
Benjamin  Snelling,  James  Stewart,  Williana  Saunders,  James  B.  Stephens,  J. 
S.  Smith,  (.'harles  Snnth,  P<'ter  Smith,  William  Shaw,  Joshua  Shaw,  A.  R.  C, 
Shaw,  Washington  Shaw,  Thomas  C.  Shaw,  B.  F.  Sluiw,  Texas  Smith,  Sager, 
Charles  Saxton,  Scott  (colored),  Snooks,  Noyes  Smith,  Levi  Scott,  Joiin  Scott, 
Joseph  W.  Scott,  William  Scott,  John  A.  Stonghton,  Franklin  Sears,  Stephens, 
.lolin  Sullivan,  Sullivan,  Micluu'l  T.  Simmons,  Scyburii  P.  Thornton,  John 
Travers,  John  Tliorp,  Alviu  E.  Tliorp,  Theodore  Tliorp,  Long  Tucker,  Cooper 
Y.  Trues,  0.  S.  Thomas,  Mortimer  Thorj),  Milton  Thorp,  Benjamin  Tucker,  Dr 
Tovvnsend,  Thom:is  M.  Vance,  (teorge  \Vaunch,  Williams,  Harrison  Wright, 
Richard  Woodcock,  James  Walker,  sen.,  James  Walker,  jun.,  Robert  Walker, 
Poe  Williams,  Tliomas  Werner,  James  \\  elch,  Henry  Williamson,  Joseph 
Watt,  M.  iL  Warnsbough,  Sanniel  Walker,  William  Wilson, 

Samuel  Packwood  and  William  Packwood,  brothers,  emigrated  frtfi 
!Miss(mri  in  1844.  They  were  two  of  a  family  of  fifteen  children,  eight  of 
whom  were  sons  of  Elisha  Packwood  of  J'atrick  County,  Virginia.  In  ISI'.t 
the  father  removed  to  Indiana,  and  in  \yM  to  Missouri.  Seven  of  the  eiglit. 
sons  and  two  of  their  seven  sisters  emigrated  to  the  Pacific  coast,  but  not  all 
in  the  same  year.  Of  Sanniel  I  know  nothing  except  that  he  came  to  Ore- 
gon. William  was  born  in  Patrick  County,  Virginia,  in  1813,  and  removed 
with  the  family  to  Missouri.  After  reaching  Oregon  he  remained  in  the 
Willamette  Valley  until  1847,  when  he  removed  to  Puget  Sound,  and  settled 
on  the  Niscpially  River,  being  the  first  botin  jhli'  American  settler  north  of 
Olympia.  Others  of  the  Packwood  fanniy  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  1845,  and 
will  be  noticed  hereafter.  A  few  names  of  women  have  been  added  to  the 
roll:  Mrs  W.  M.  Case,  Miss  Aman<la  Thorp,  Mrs  Benj.  Tucker,  Miss  P^liza 
Snelling,  Miss  Henrietta  (Jilliam,  Mrs  Vincent  Snelling,  Mrs  Herman  Hig- 
gin.s,  Mrs  Jacob  Hannner,  Mrs  Joshua  Shaw,  Mrs  D.  Johnson,  all  of  ■whom 
were  in  Major  Thorp's  company.  Mrs  McDaniel,  Jenny  Fuller,  and  the 
fa.nilies  before  referred  to,  namely,  Morrison,  Jackson,  Simmons,  McAllister, 
Kindred,  Jones,  Shaw,  are  all  who  have  been  mentioned.  There  are  the 
names  of  two  negro  women,  Eliza  aiul  Hannah,  put  down  on  the  roll,  in 
Or.  Pioiu;er  AuMoc,  Tnnm.,  187fi,  40-2. 


!!( 


i5| 


ARRIVALS   BY   8EA. 


467 


the  Columbia  River.*'  They  were  Wilhani  Cushin*!;, 
son  of  Caleb  Gushing,  and  Henry  Johnson,  clerk  in 
the  establishment  of  Gushing  and  Company  at  Ore- 
gon City.  .\.  small  fishery  was  established  by  this 
firm,  between  Astoria  and  Tongue  Point,  on  the  lower 
Columbia,  from  which  the  Chcvamiis  took  a  cargo  the 
followhig  year,  having  ujade  one  or  more  voyages  to 
the  Islands  in  the  mean  time.  The  CJievanius  was 
the  only  American  vessel  bringing  a  cargo  to  Oregon 
in  1844.  On  her  return  to  Newburyport  she  took 
Gushing  and  Johnson  home,  and  was  commanded  by 
Captain  Sylvester,  formerly  of  the  PaJla>i,  Captain 
Couch  remaining  in  Oregon  in  chary;e  of  tlie  com- 
pany's  business.  Neither  tlie  vessel,  Iier  ca})tain,  nor 
Johnson  was  ever  again  on  th<i  Pacific  coast. *^ 


i 


*'  Horace  llolilen  and  May  Holdcn,  his  wife,  came  from  the  Hawaiian 
Inlands  ill  tlie  Clicmiinv-i,  Captain  Coiiuh,  with  hal)cock  and  HineH,  wliun  tliey 
roturncd  to  Oregon  after  hearing  of  the  appointment  of  a  new  superintend- 
ent of  the  Mission.  Holden  was  a  native  of  Hillshorougli,  New  Jlanipshire, 
liorn  in  ISIO.  He  took  to  seafaring,  and  while  roaming  ahoiit  the  ocean  was 
east  away  on  one  of  the  I'elew  Islands,  ami  enslaved  hy  the  natives  for  three 
years.  On  being  rescued  and  ret\iniing  to  Ni'w  England,  he  published  an 
account  of  his  adventures,  called  y/o/(/r//'.i  Xinrtitire  oj"  S/iljiirifh  anil  Ca-p- 
firifi/  iiiiionij  t/ic  Siiroj/f.-i.  In  ISIiT  he  went  to  the  Islands  with  the  design  of 
introducing  silk  culture  and  manufacture,  hut  the  scheme  failed.  He  then 
engaged  in  sugar-planting  o»<  the  island  of  Kauai,  the  plantation  of  KaUoa, 
in  wiiich  ho  wis  niterested,  being  the  first  sugar-making  plantation  on  the 
Islands.  By  the  representations  of  I)r  Babcock  ho  was  induced  to  remove  to 
Oregon,  which  he  professes  never  to  liave  liked  on  account  of  the  rainy 
winters.  Holden  settled  near  Salem  on  a  farm,  and  engageil  in  cattle-raising 
and  grain  and  fruitgrowing.  Jfoldcii'n  Ornjoii  Pkiiiccriiiii,  MS.,  from  which 
llio  aW)ve  is  taken,  contains  little  mere  i\  lu  his  personal  experience,  and 
while  it  affords  a  plan  on  which  a  bo'^k  miglio  be  writi'  i  eipial  to  many  of  the 
most  interesting  narrations  of  adveiiLarc,  c  icfibutes  little  that  is  of  valui;  to 
this  history.     See  ///hcv'  Or.  Ilh.t.,  VX<. 

■"•It  is  said  that  Sylvester  and  John  on  nailed  for  the  Columbia  River  '  in 
a  small  vessel,  deeply  laden,  which  was  never  heard  from;'  but  whether  the 
< ','ii'wniiii.i  was  the  vessel  I  have  no  iiiforma*ion.  Her  name  appears  no  more 
0:1  the  shipping-list;  but  in  lier  place  next  I'iiinc  tlu,' brig  /Iciiri/.  Aglimp.se 
here  and  there  of  the  after  lives  of  the  iiionecrs  of  1844 — for  all  were  pioneirs 
before  ISoO — will  give  us  a  necessary  clew  1.0  tlie  manner  of  life  of  those  who 
go  f<irth  to  clear  tlie  way  for  their  more  favored  brethren  to  follow,  as  well  as 
the  time  and  manner  of  their  <lcath. 

M.  (r.  Foisy  '  •>  came  to  Oregon  in  1844,  was  the  first  printer  in  the  terri- 
tory after  llai  ,  .1  visited  Lapwai  from  tlio  Islands  in  KS4I.  Mr  Foisy  set 
up  the  bof)k  of  Matthew  as  translated  into  tlie  Nez  Terci''  language  by  the 
Presbyterian  missionaries,  and  printed  on  the  little  press  presented  to  this 
mi.ssiou  by  the  native  church  of  Honolulu,  wlii„'li  press  is  now  pre  .fiveiL  in 
the  state  archives  at  Salem,  He  afterwanl  went  to  California,  wtieiv  lie 
worked  at  Monterey  in  the  <ifiice  of  T/ie  Calif oniian  in  the  Eiigltth  aud  Span- 
ish languages,  mcrge<l  later  into  the  Alta  VaVforuia. 


»«';? 


f,> 


SiilUli 


4G8 


THE  IMMKiRATION  OF   1844. 


A 


Pierce  Asliill  Wiis  bom  in  Howard  County,  Missouri,  in  October  1835, 
whence  he  emigrated,  with  his  parents,  in  1844.  In  184"  *;he  family  removt;il 
to  California,  finally  settling  in  Sonoma  County,  since  wiiich  time  they  havo 
been  engaged  in  various  vocations,  but  principally  in  stock-raising.  In  tlu^ir 
expeditions  through  the  country  Frank  M.  Asbill,  in  18r)4,  discovered  Round 
Valley  in  California. 

Daniel  Clark,  a  native  of  King  Ccmnty,  Ireland,  was  born  Feb.  14,  18'24. 
His  father  emigrated  to  Quebec  in  1828,  and  went  from  Canada  to  Missouri 
in  188(5.  At  13  Daniel  was  impelled  to  begin  life  for  himself,  and  engaged 
with  a  neighI)or  for  8  dollars  a  montli  to  c\>t  cord-wood.  At  18  he  was  em- 
ployed as  overseer  on  a  plantation;  but  hearing  of  the  prfispective  <lonation  of 
land  in  Oregon  to  actual  settlers,  determined  to  go  to  tlie  new  country,  ami 
try  his  fortunes  there.  He  joined  the  independent  colony  under  (iilliam,  and 
arriving  late  and  destitute,  went  to  making  rai's.  Two  years  afterward  he 
married  Miss  Bertha  B.  Herren.  In  1848  he  went  to  tlie  California  mines, 
returning  to  Oregon  for  his  wife  and  infant  child  the  same  winter.  In  IS.'iO 
lie  left  the  mines  and  returned  to  his  home  5  miles  south  of  Salem.  His 
wife  flying  in  18G1,  he  married  again  in  18()5  Miss  Harri't  Scheoffer.  Wlien 
tlie  Oregon  state  grange  Wius  organized  in  1873  he  wa.s  elected  ma-fter  for  his 
services  in  the  movement,  in  which  he  has  ever  been  heartily  interested.  Mr 
Clark  lived  long  in  firm  health  and  vigor,  enjoying  the  reward  of  a  temperate 
and  jiLst  life.  S.  F.  Pnr'jir,  liuriil  Press,  in.  Or.  Cidtifulor,  June  1"),  1870. 

Willis  Jenkins  of  the  immigration  of  1844  settled  on  the  Luckiamute  in 
I'olk  County,  then  Yamhill  district.  When  the  town  of  Dalla-s  was  laid  off 
in  ISrri  he  built  the  iirst  dwelling,  first  store,  aii<l  *irst  hotel,  and  remained 
in  business  there  for  some  time;  but  when  eastern  Oregon  was  opened  np  by 
the  gold  discoveries,  he  removed  to  that  section  and  aided  in  its  development. 
His  wife,  who  came  with  him  to  Oregon,  died  in  1872.  His  son,  Henry 
.Icnkins,  became  a  Methodist  preaclier,  and  his  other  children  were  scattereil 
over  Oregon.    Dalian  Re'puhlirdn,  in  Por/laiiil  (hr(/oiiiiin,  <hdn.  17,  1874. 

Dr  J.  L.  Biirlow,  'an  hoiioraide  gentleman  and  ex'cellcnt  citizen,'  died 
at  his  home  in  Oregon  City,  March  7,  1879,  where  he  had  lived  since  1844. 
Salem  S'afrsiiniii,  Alarch  14,  1879. 

James  Welch,  who  arrived  in  Oregon  in  November  1844,  removed  from 
the  Willamette  Valley  in  184(5  to  Astoria,  and  took  the  land  claim  adjoining' 
.Fohn  McClure's,  on  the  east,  wliich  became  a  part  of  the  town  of  Astoria. 
Welch  continued  to  reside  at  A.storia,  where  he  held  several  ofliccs  of  trust, 
and  engaged  actively  in  the  business  of  milling,  salmon  fishing  iind  canninji, 
and  town  improvements.  In  187(5,  wliile  on  a  visit  to  his  son,  .lames  W. 
Welch,  internal  revenue  collector  at  \\'alla  Walla,  he  ptiascd  suddenly  away 
while  asleep,  on  the  night  of  the  2'.)tli  of  Septcml)er,  at  the  a^e  of  (iU  years. 
His  family  ecmtinued  to  reside  at  Astoria.  Walla  Walla  i'liion,  in  ''Salem 
Statesman,  Oct.  12,  1870. 

Bartholomew  White  wius  a  cripple  who  came  to  Oregon  and  took  a  claim 
in  1844  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Columbia,  where  St  Helen  now  stands,  and 
which  he  afterward  sold  or  abandoni'd  to  Knighton  in  1847. 

Joseph  Watt  was  born  in  Oliio,  but  (anigrated  from  M  issouri.  He  remained 
at  Oregon  City  over  t«(i  years,  when  he  returned  to  the  States  to  bring  out 
sheep  and  a  carding-maehine.  Tlii.s  attempt  to  drive  sheep  overland  from 
the  east  was  suggested  by  the  fact  that  one  of  tlie  Shaws  in  1844  drove  10 
shec'p  to  Oregon,  which  he  intended  to  kill  for  mutton  by  the  way;  tinding 
that  they  travelled  as  well  as  the  otlier  .stock,  and  butlalo  being  plenty,  he 
spared  them.  This  Sliaw  removed  to  Benicia,  California.  Watt  had  no 
sooner  returned  to  Oregon  with  his  cardiMg-mai'liine  and  sheep  than  the  g<dil 
discovery  in  California  drew  everybody  who  could  go  to  the  mincf',  and  he 
realized  nothing  from  his  scheme  of  introducing  a  usciful  manufacture.  But 
his  shoep  increased,  and  money  came  into  the  country,  until  finally  he  '.'on- 
eeived  the  idea  of  a  woollen  factory,  which  was  lliially  eutablisbed  at  Salem 
in  18r)7,  this  being  the  pioneer  woollen-mill  on  the  Pacific  coast  of  the  United 
States.     Mr  Watt  still  resides  at  Salem. 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


Natiianiel  Ford,  of  wliose  settlement  in  Polk  Connty  I  have  spoken,  after 
a  useful  and  honorable  life,  died  at  Dixie,  in  that  county,  January  9,  1870,  at 
the  age  of  75  years.  liUcinda  Ford,  his  wife,  died  January  4,  1874,  aged  74 
years.  Dallnn  TimeH,  Jan.  15,  1870;  Sitlon  Stnteninnn,  Jan.  Hi,  1874.  Samuel 
Walker,  who  had  served  2.'i  years  in  t'le  army  of  the  United  .Stiites,  and  emi- 
^'rated  in  1844,  settled  near  Salem,  where  Ik  lived  '26  years,  and  accunndated 
a  comfortable  property.  Ho  died  July  20,  1870,  at  St  Joseph's  hospital,  Van- 
couver. I'liiiroitier  J{('i/ister,  Jnly  '23,  1870.  Joel  t'risman,  anative  of  Virginia, 
died  in  Vandiill  County,  Aug.  lO,  1875,  aged  80  years.  E.  E.  Parrish,  born 
in  West  Virginia,  Nov.  20,  died  in  T^inn  County,  Oct.  24,  1874. 

E.  B.  Magruder,  a  native  of  Maryland,  for  a  long  time  a  resident  ot 
Jackson  County,  died  July  1875,  at  Jacksonville,  aged  74  years.  He  wa.s 
identified  with  early  enterprises  ia  southern  Oregon.  \Vith  him  emigrated  to 
Oregon  Theopliilus  R.  Magnuler,  also  a  resident  of  southern  Oregon,  au<l  a 
merchant.  He  died  Oct.  5,  1871,  aged  39  years.  Theopliilus  Magnider  re- 
sided for  several  years  at  Cresent  City,  California. 

Jas  B.  Stephens  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  180G. 
At  the  age  of  8  years  he  removed  with  his  father  to  Indiana,  where  he 
i<  ,  lained  until  he  was  20,  when  he  made  another  westward  movement,  and 
'  >i  -ted  on  thi,  Mississipjn  River,  opposite  Fort  Madison,  where  he  supplied 
(■amboats  with  wood  and  continued  to  reside  for  1 1  'years.  Emigrating 
■^4  to  Oregon  with  his  family,  in  the  autumn  of  1845  he  bought  a 
J'lnr.  claim  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Willa.nette,  opposite  Portland,  which  in 
now  the  site  of  East  Portland,  and  where  he  still  resides.  Overton,  who  had 
claimed  ou  the  other  siilc,  but  wished  to  leave  the  country,  offered  Stephens 
his  laihl  for  .^200,  but  the  latter  having  no  money,  and  nothing  to  depend  on 
except  his  trade,  which  was  coopering,  declined.  It  -.vas  after  this  offer  that 
he  purchased  East  Portland  at  an  administrator's  sale,  Lovejoy  being  the 
seller.  Nesi.iith  was  present  for  the  purpose  of  bidding,  but  learning  that 
Stephens  desired  the  place  for  his  business,  an<l  to  make  a  home,  the  former 
gave  way.  This  was  during  his  term  as  judge  of  probate,  the  sale  being 
under  his  order.  The  incident  illustrates  the  generous  spirit  of  the  men  of 
1843.  Mhifoxhu-h/Dn;/",  MS.,  32. 

Franklin  Scars  was  born  in  Orange  County,  New  Jersey,  June  23,  1817. 
At  the  age  of  10  years  he  removed  with  his  ])arents  to  Saline  County,  where 
he  left  tlicm  to  join  the  emigration  to  Oregon  in  1844.  Tlie  following  year 
lie  went  to  California,  and  settled  in  Sonoma  County,  where  he  held  a  large 
farm. 

Isaac  N. 
1818.     He 
•'migrated  t 
tool-  a  i-.ii  I 
Man-^tt.  bi 
uert  A -a;,  tii 


Gill'iert,  a  native  of  New  York,  was  born  at  Ru.shville,  June  27, 

•  iiM    'o  Illinois  when  still  a  very  young  man,  and  from  then? 

I  Or"  ton  tit  the  ago  of  27,  in  company  with  3  others.  Ho 
il;ii  .  2  miles  north-east  of  Salem,  and  in  1850  married  Miss 
i('oi~    il  lughtcr  of  Alfred  Stanton,  an  immigrant  of  1847.     Oil- 

1    I'v-.    coviu'y  clerk  of  Marion  county,  holdnig  the  office  for  3 


years,  a».  '  wa.  or  li  ri;»ui  survc  ')r  of  the  county.  He  made  tlie  first  plat  of 
the  town  ot  !^'''  n.  ;  U>  laiil  out  the  road  from  Salem  to  Philip  Foster's,  at 
the  foot  of  the  vVa,<(  ide  Mountains,  iii  184(i.  He  was  one  of  the  four  original 
founders  of  the  Congregational  ehiirch  in  S.ilem  in  1852;  and  during  his  life 
one  of  its  principal  supporters.  He  died  March  20,  1879,  at  his  homo  in 
Salem.   Or.  I'iniurr  Assor.,  Trans.,  1878,  82  3. 

Mrs  Henrietta  (iilliam  Coad,  daughter  of  Cornelius  (rilliam,  and  wife  of 
Samuel  Coad,  died  at  Salem,  .March  30,  1873,  ag('d  about  32  years.  Mrs 
Pauline  Ford  Boyle,  third  (laughter  of  Nathaniel  Ford,  die<l  in  November 
1874  of  consumption.  H.  C.  Jenkins,  in  alluding  to  her  death,  renuirked 
that  of  "le  Fi  ril  family  of  13  who  cro.ssed  the  plains  in  1844  with  him,  cmly 


dur'  '  '  '    ■■ 

Wat-oi  >r. 
Jane  Ri;'  • 
years,   /'o/' 


len  left.     Elijah  Bunton  died  in  18(11,  on  tlie  Walla  Walla  River, 
■  ■  fold  excitement.     His  widow  married  a  Mr  Watson.      Mrs  Ki'ziah 


■d  Ma-ch  19,  1874,  at  Weston,  in  Umatilla  County.      Mrs  Mary 
Ajj  HoiL't's,    wife  of  Clark   Rogers,  died    March  4,    1875,   aged  43 


i:n 


MS 

'.'ii! 


i>!ii(  i'.  (.'.  Ai/ro'v/f,  March  25,  1875. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 


AMENDMENT  OP    THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 

1845. 

The  FresT  Three  Leoisi     •\  e  Bopies — Opposino  Parties — The  Several 

LEOISLATlJKES-MEMOh     .  ONORESS — WhAT    BeNTON    ThOUCHT   OP 

It — Elijah  White's  Exv  -Proceedincjs  of  the  Legislature- 

Fusion  OE  THE  Americans,  a.,  .j  British— English  Spies  in  Oregon — 
British  Vessels — Conduct  of  McLoughlin  Discussed — Unjust  Cen- 
sure— Consequence  to  McLoughlin. 

From  the  adjourn lueiit  of  the  legislative  committee 
December  24th  to  the  election  of  1845,  the  political 
situation  of  the  country  in  reference  to  boundary  was 
earnestly  discussed  by  the  leading  men  t)f  both  na- 
tionalities in  Oregon,  with  a  candor,  courtesy,  and 
tlignity  born  of  the  greatness  of  the  question,  and  with 
the  desire  to  avoid  the  collisions  threatened  by  the 
turbulent  few.  This  mutual  endeavor  to  understand 
each  other  could  not  but  tend  to  produce  salutary 
results,  removing  prejudices  due  to  birth  and  educa- 
tion, and  replacing  them  by  personal  esteem  and  pri- 
vate friendships,^ 

Among  themselves,  the  Americans  had  other  issues 
to  consider.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  the  first 
three  legislative  bodies  of  Oregon  made  and  adopted 
three  different  forms  of  rtjpublican  government,  with- 
out any  disturbances  that  affected  the  public  peace. 
The  first  framed  a  set  of  organic  laws,  intended  to 
bind  the  ])eo[)le  together,  and  to  secure  benefits  to 
themselves  by  giving  them  a  quasi  title  to  selected 
tracts  of  land.     This  organization  may  be  styled  the 


'  Appkijdti-'K  Vicwn,  MS.,  42. 


(■«70> 


ii 


THE  MISSIONARY   REPUBLIC. 


471 


missionary  republ'c.  Before  its  laws,  which  were 
voted  upon  by  the  organizers,  who  called  themselves 
the  people,  although  they  represented  no  more  than  a 
majority  of  two  over  those  who  did  not  desire  a  code, 
could  have  a  trial,  there  appeared  in  the  country  an 
overwhelming  number  of  bold,  free,  independent  men, 
who  acknowledged  no  authority,  either  commercial  or 
religious,  who  found  the  missionary  republic  too  con- 
tracted to  suit  their  views,  and  who  proposed,  if  they 
were  to  live  under  its  laws,  to  modify  them  according 
to  their  requirements.  Hence  a  legislative  connnittee 
without  a  missionary  'n  it,  and  only  two  of  the  old 
colonists.  I  have  she  v.-v  how  they,  while  greatly 
improving  upon  the  legislation  of  their  predecessors, 
leaned  toward  an  'ndependent  republic,  by  neglecting 
to  submit  their  code  to  the  vote  of  the  people,  and  by 
attempting  to  secure  a  call  for  a  constitutional  conven- 
tion. Against  such  a  tendency  the  patriotism  of  the 
western  men  rebelled. 

Meietings  were  held  in  the  most  populous  districts, 
from  which  delegates  were  chosen  to  a  convention 
appointed  to  meet  at  Champoeg  April  8,  1845,  for  the 
choice  of  candidates  for  governor,  supreme  judge,  and 
other  officers.  One  good  effect  of  the  code  of  1844 
was,  that  it  had  driven  the  Canadians  to  unite  with 
the  Americans  ir  the  government  organization,  as 
unless  they  did  so  their  lands  could  not  be  protected. 
It  was  therefore  at  the  house  of  a  French  settler  that 
the  convention  of  delegates  met.'^ 

Although  there  were  but  two  prominent  parties, 
the  American  and  the  independent,  the  latter  includ- 
ing the  Canadians  and  those  who  desired  a  constitu- 
tion,^ there  were  four  candidates,  A.  L.  Loveyoy, 
George  Abernethy,  Osborne  Russell,  and  W.  J. 
Bailey.  Lovejoy  and  Russell  represented  the  two 
parties  before  mentioned,  and  Abernethy  the  Mission. 

''Cli/man'fi  Diarij,  MS.,  98;  McLoioj/iUnn  /'rirdlc  /'uperx,  MS.,  2<l  ser.,  14. 

"White  says:  'Many  are  favorable  to  the  adoption  of  a  constitution .. . 
This  being  the  most  enlightene<l  view,  an<l  meeting  with  little  oppusitioii,  I 
am  of  oiiinioii  it  will  prevail. '  Concise  Vktc,  55 


v^. 


472 


amendmi:nt  of  the  organic  laws. 


li  i  1: 


Bailey,  who  was  known  to  lean  toward  independence, 
yet  was  also  of  the  old  missionary  fraternity,  belonged 
to  no  particular  i)arty.  In  convention  Lovcjoy  re- 
ceived the  greater  number  of  votes,  the  Americans 
being  in  the  majority.  But  before  the  election,  the 
independents,  having  no  liope  of  securing  their  choice, 
and  not  liking  to  see  Lovejoy  elected,  went  over  to 
Abernethy,*  who  thus  became  governor,  although  at 
the  time  he  was  on  a  visit  to  the  Sandwich  Islands.'' 

One  of  the  principles  of  the  American  party  was 
that  the  organic  law  of  1843  was  the  law  of  the  coun- 
try until  the  people  had  voted  UDon  the  amendments 
of  1844;  because,  as  they  contended,  the  people  had 
not  yet  resigned  the  law-making  power.  This  oppo- 
siticm  strengthenc'J  the  independents  somewhat,  who 
could  And  many  wIkj  favored  the  new  code.  But 
when  it  came  to  the  election  of  the  legislature,  it 
was  found  that  no  kno\\n  independents  were  invested 
with  legislative  power.  That  there  were  many  who 
favored  the  call  for  a  convention  was  proven  by  the 
fact  that  the  majority  against  it  was  only  ninety-three, 
or  about  two  to  one,  according  to  the  voting  census 
of  1844." 

The  legistators  elect  fr'Mu  Champoeg  County"  were 
Robert  Newell,  J.  M.  Garrison,  M.  (x.  Foisy,  Barton 
Lee  ;  from  Clackamas  County,  H.  A.  G.  Lee,  William 
H.  Gray,  Hiram  Straight;  from  Tualatin  County,  M. 


IFW^ 


*  From  the  fact  that  tlierc  were  no  newspapers  in  Oregon  at  this  time,  it  i.s 
flithi'ult  to  get  a  clear  return  of  the  election,  but  I  learn  from  other  sources 
that  .1.  W.  Nesniitli  was  elected  judge,  and  Frank  Krniatiuger  treasurer. 
Krniatinger'.s  election  was  the  welcoming  hand  to  the  Hudson's  B;iy  Company. 

•'  Mr  Applegate  says  tliat  Alhernethy  headed  the  American  ticket  called  l>y 
its  adversaries  'missionary.'  I'icirx  of  llkt.,  MS.,  44.  But  I  have  followed 
(!ray,  who,  in  tliis  instance,  clearly  shows  the  cause  which  defeated  the  can- 
didate of  the  convention.  IJoth  Russell  and  Bailey  would  prefer  Abernethy 
to  one  of  the  new  and  aggressive  men  of  the  immigrations,  and  their  inllu- 
ence,  combined  with  that  of  the  Mission  which  also  announced  its  candidates 
as  American,  elected  him. 

«0c.  Archire>^,  MS.,  .'Jl. 

"  It  will  ])e  observed  that  the  word  '  county  '  had  been  substituted  for  dis- 
trict. This  usage  was  introduced  by  the  committee  of  1844;  but  the  legis- 
lature of  184.")  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  change.  Or.  Lnwx,  lS4'^-0,  3.'), 
In  thorfsamo  nrinner  the  phrase  '  legislative  committee  was  altered  to  '  legis- 
lature,' thougli  there  were  those  who  objected  to  both  changes. 


THE  LEiJISLATURE. 


473 


McCarver,  Isaac  W.  Smitl],  David  Hill;  from  Yam- 
hill County,  Jesse  Applegate,  Abijah  Hendricks;  from 
Clatsop  County,  John  McClure.  They  met  at  Oregon 
City  June  24th,  and  organized  at  the  house  of  John 
E.  Long;  but  were  offered  the  use  of  the  room  of 
the  Multnomah  circulating  library  for  the  session, 
which  they  accepted.  The  oath  which  was  adminis- 
tered to  the  members  was  framed  by  Jesse  Applegate 
as  follows :  "  I  do  solenndy  swear  that  I  will  support 
the  organic  laws  of  the  provisional  government  (jf 
Oregon,  so  far  as  they  are  consistent  with  my  duties 
as  a  citizen  of  the  United  States  or  a  subject  of  Great 
Britain,  and  faithfully  demean  myself  in  office ;  so  help 
me  God;"  the  clause  "or  a  subject  of  Great  Britain" 
being  introduced  to  enable  the  Canadians  and  others 
to  join  in  sujjporting  the  laws.^  This  clause  gave 
offence  to  some  Americans,  who,  now  that  their  coun- 
trymen outnumbered  the  British  so  greatly  in  Oregon, 
would  have  preferred  excluding  the  latter ;  but  there 
were  wiser  heads  thai\  theirs  among  the  more  recent 
colonists.'' 

McCarver  being  elected  speaker,  the  message  of 
P.  G.  Stewart  of  the  executive  connnittee  was  read, 
Abernethy  being  still  absent.  It  contained  little 
besides  assui-ances  of  the  favorable  condition  of  agri- 
cidture,  the  peaceful  condition  of  the  country,  the 
inadequacy  of  the  revemie,  the  need  of  a  i-evision  of 
the  organic  and  land  law  in  favor  of  mechanics,  and 
an  expression  of  "regret  that  sectional  and  national 
prejudices  should  exist  to  such  an  extent  as  to  en- 
<langer  our  unanimity;"  with  the  hope  that  there  was 
sufficient  virtue  and  intiHligence  in  the  colony  to  secure 

"This  form  of  oatli,  (iray  says,  shows  tliat  Newell,  Foisy,  McCarver,  Gar- 
rison, Smith,  and  Hendricks,  who  supported  it,  were  '  favorahle  to  a  union 
witli  tl;e  company,  or  the  English  party  in  the  country; '  though  he  must  have 
known  i*;  was  intended  to  :)pen  the  door  to  the  fusion  of  tlie  Britisli  subjects 
with  the  Ameil"!>iis,  and  to  avert  the  troubles  that  throateneil.  See  Grai/'a 
NiHt.  Or.,  422. 

*McLot.'ghliu  remarks:  '  The  originator  of  the  clause  is  the  very  man  who, 
as  I  am  infr.Tmed,  proposed  to  the  immigrants,  on  their  way  liere  in  184.%  to 
take  Vancouver;  which  is  a  proof  how  much  his  prejudices  had  died  away.' 
PniKiie  I'lijieri;,  MS.,  3:1  ser. 


_J 


474 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGA.NIC  LAWS. 


the  administration  of  the  laws  of  the  provisional  gov- 
ernment,'" 

The  legislature  of  1845  held  that  they  were  not  a 
constitutional  body,  because  the  law  under  which  they 
were  elected  lacked  the  expressed  approbation  of  the 
people,  and  that  their  first  duty  was  to  appeal  to  the 
people  as  to  the  only  power  with  authority  to  change 
the  fundamental  law.  That  part  of  the  executive 
message  relating  to  a  revision  of  the  organic  and 
other  Taws,  having  been  referred  to  a  committee  com- 
posed of  H.  A.  G.  Lee,  Newell,  Applegate,  Smith, 
and  McClure,  their  revision  was  immediately  begun. 
On  the  5th  of  July  the  committee  made  their  final 
report.  The  leading  spirit  in  the  legislature  of  1845 
was  undoubtedly  Mr  Applegate.  The  Spartan  sim- 
plicity and  fidelity  to  trust  which  distinguished  him 
among  his  fellow-colonists  is  stamped  upon  their  pro- 
ceedings. His  literary  style,  unequalled  by  that  of 
any  of  his  contemporaries,  is  easily  recognized  in  the 
revised  code.  Concerning  the  work  of  the  committee, 
he  says  that  it  was  their  object  to  introduce  as  few 
changes  as  possible  in  the  original  organic  laws,  except 
the  oath  of  office,  and  an  amendment  to  the  land  law 
allowing  two  or  more  otherwise  legal  claimants  to 
hold  a  section  each  without  making  improvements 
upon  each  claim." 

While  it  is  evident  that  Applegate  endeavored  to 
leave  untouched  the  work  of  his  friend  Shortess  as 
far  as  was  consistent  with  expediency  and  propriety, 
and  while  avoiding  any  perversion  of  the  intention 
of  the  organic  laws,  the  amendments  made  to  that 
instrument  fulfilled  practically  all  the  purposes  of 
the  more  elaborate  legislation  of  1844.  Nor  could 
this  be  accomplished  without  excluding  from   them 

'"Or.  Airhiren,  MS.,  51.  Wliile  at  Salem  in  1878  I  fouad  in  the  state- 
house  a  mass  of  loose  unprinted  dociuueiits,  many  of  them  of  great  value  to 
history.  I  engaged  Mr  J.  Henry  Brown  to  make  a  thorough  examination  of 
them,  comparing  them  with  the  printed  archives,  and  to  copy  at  his  discre- 
tion. Tliis  he  did  with  a  faithfulness  and  discrimination  worthy  of  the 
highest  praise.     The  volume  is  quoted  as  above, 

"  ViewH  of  History,  MS.,  45. 


THE  SEVERAL  ARTICXES. 


476 


those  mere  statutory  sections  which  had  given  the 
instrument  so  heterogeneous  an  appearance  to  the 
critical  eyes  of  Burnett  and  Lovejoy.  To  the  first 
article  of  the  original  organic  laws  was  added  a  section 
concerning  rights/^  and  another  section  concerning 
the  powers  of  three  distinct  branches  of  the  govern- 
ment." 

The  second  article  defined,  in  eleven  sections,  the 
powers  and  duties  of  the  ><eparate  branches  of  govern- 
ment. The  legislative  power  was  to  be  vested  m  a 
house  of  representatives,  which  should  consist  of  not 
less  than  thirteen  nor  more  than  sixty-one  members, 
whose  numbers  should  not  be  increased  more  than  five 
at  any  one  session,  to  be  elected  at  the  annual  election, 
giving  to  each  district  a  representation  in  the  ratio  of 
its  population,  excluding  natives.  The  members  should 
reside  in  their  district,  and  in  case  of  vacancy  the  ex- 
ecutive should  cause  a  new  election  to  be  held,  giving 
at  least  ten  days'  notice.  The  house  of  representatives 
should  have  power  to  fix  the  salaries  of  the  different 
officers  elected  under  the  organization,  or,  as  it  is  styled 
in  these  articles,  "this  compact"  provided  that  no 
change  was  made  in  salaries  during  the  term  of  service. 
The  house  of  representatives  should  have  the  sole 
power  of  impeaching,  three  fourths  of  the  members 
concurring ;  and  the  governor  and  all  the  civil  officers 
should  be  liable  to  impeachment  for  treason,  bribing,  or 
any  high  crime  or  misdemeanor  in  office;  judgment  in 
such  cases  extendintj  no  further  than  removal  from 
office,  and  disqualification  to  hold  any  office  of  honor, 
trust,  or  j)rofit  under  the  compact,  but  the  offender 
miijht  be  dealt  with  according'  to  law.     The  house  of 

'■^  '  fir,  person  shall  be  deprived  of  the  right  of  hearing  iirins  in  his^wn 
defence;  no  unreasonable  searches  or  seizures  shall  be  granted;  the  ireedoni 
of  the  press  shall  not  be  restrained;  no  person  shall  be  tried  twice  for  the 
same  offence;  nor  the  people  be  deprived  of  the  right  of  peaceably  assendding 
and  discussing  any  matter  they  may  think  proper,  nor  shall  the  right  of 
petition  ever  be  denied.'  Or.  Spectator,  Feb.  5,  184(i. 

"  '  Tlie  powers  ot  the  government  shall  be  divided  into  three  distinct 
departments,  the  legislative,  executive,  and  judicial;  and  no  person  or  persona 
iHjlonging  to  one  of  these  <lepartment8  shall  exercise  any  of  the  powers  Iwlong- 
ing  to  either  of  the  others,  except  in  cases  herein  directed  or  permitted.'  Jfl, 


476 


AxMKNDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIU  LAW«. 


representatives  should  have  power  to  divide  the  ter- 
ritory into  suitaVjle  districts,  and  ajjportion  the  rep- 
resentation in  their  ownhody;  to  pass  laws  for  raising- 
a  revenue  by  levying  and  collecting  taxes,  or  imposing 
license  on  merchandise,  ferries,  or  other  objects;  to 
open  roads  or  canals,  either  by  imposing  a  tax  or  grant- 
ing charters;  to  regulate  the  intercourse  of  the  people 
with  the  natives;  to  establish  post-offices  and  post- 
roads;  to  declare  war  or  repel  invasion;  to  ])rovide 
for  organizing,  arming,  and  disciplining  the  militia 
and  calling  it  forth ;  to  pass  laws  to  regulate  the  in- 
troduction, manufacture,  and  sale  of  ardent  sj)ii'its;  to 
regulate  the  currency  and  internal  police;  to  create 
inferior  tribunals  and  inferior  offices  nt)t  provided  for 
by  tlie  articles  of  compact ;  and  to  pass  such  laws  to 
promote  the  general  welfare  of  the  people  of  Oregon 
as  were  not  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  this  instrument; 
all  powers  not  expressly  delegated  to  remain  with  the 
people.'* 

The  executive  power  was  vested  in  one  person  elected 
by  the  qualified  voters;  tlie  qualifications  being  the 
same  as  in  the  original  organic  laws;  every  white  man 
over  twenty-one  year's  of  age  who  had  been  in  the 
territory  at  its  organization,  or  every  immigrant  after* 
that  time  who  had  been  in  it  six  months,  being  privi- 
leged to  vote  at  the  election  of  officers,  civil  or  military. 
Time  was  thus  allowed  for  tlie  immigration  of  one 
year,  arriving  in  the  autumr>,  to  become  informed  on 
tlie  questions  at  issue  and  to  vote  at  the  election  in 
June  of  the  following  year. 

The  powers  of  tlie  executive  were  to  fill  vacancies, 
remit  finos>  and  forfeitures,  grant  pardons  and  reprieves, 
call  out  the  military  to  repel  invasion  or  suppress  in- 


'*  It  was  Applogate's  idea  that  no  power  to  make  laws  existed,  only  as  tlie 
people  delegated  it;  and  that  by  the  articles  of  conipaet  which  were  agreed  to 
by  the  people,  only  so  much  power  as  was  descrilied  in  the  compact  could  he 
exercised.  Tliis  was  intended  as  a  check  on  the  missionary  as  well  as  the 
Hudson's  Bay  influence.  No  sb<;tional  ambition  could  l)e  gratified  so  long 
as  no  authority  for  it  was  contained  in  the  organic  laws,  which  defined  the 
extent  of  the  legislative  power.  For  this  reason  the  laud  law  was  made  or- 
ganic, as  well  as  the  oath  of  office. 


TrIK    LAND    LAW. 


477 


mrrection,  to  look  to  the  execution  of  the  lavs,  and 
reconnnend  others  which  he  might  deem  essential,  and 
to  si(>n  or  veto  the  hills  passed  by  the  legislature;  the 
house  having  the  power  by  a  two-thirds  vote  to  pass 
a  vetoed  bill,  the  governor's  ol)jeotions  to  which  were 
to  be  entered  on  its  journal.  The  goveri  or  might 
(•(mvene  the  legislature  on  extraordinary  occasions. 
His  term  of  oftice  should  be  for  two  years,  or  until 
the  election  and  qualification  of  his  successor;  and  in 
case  of  death  or  resignation,  the  secretary  should  fill 
his  place.  His  salary  was  left  for  the  legislature  to 
fix.^''  The  article  on  the  judiciary  difi'ered  from  the 
'  original,  and  also  from  the  laws  of  1844.  Like  the 
first,  it  vested  the  judicial  })ower  in  the  supreme  court, 
and  such  inferior  courts  of  law,  equity,  and  arbitration 
as  might  from  time  to  time  be  established.  Unlike 
the  second,  the  supreme  judge  was  to  be  elected  by 
the  house  of  representatives  for  a  term  of  four  years, 
or  until  his  successor  was  elected  and  qualified.  Un- 
like the  first,  he  should  have  appellate  jurisdiction 
only ;  but  should  have  a  general  su})erintending  control 
over  all  inferior  courts  of  law,  with  power  to  issue  writs 
of  habeas  corpus  and  other  original  or  remedial  writs, 
and  hear  and  determine  the  same.  The  supreme  court 
was  to  have  power  to  decide  upon  and  annul  any  laws 
contrary  to  the  provisions  of  the  articles  of  compact, 
and  should  give  an  opinion  when  called  upon  by  the 
house  of  representatives,  concerning  tlie  validity  of 
any  pending  measure.  Also,  the  house  might  ])rovide 
by  law  for  the  supreme  court  having  original  juris- 
diction in  criminal  cases. 

The  land  law,  the  chief  object  of  solicitude  to  all, 
was  incorporated  in  the  organic  laws,  and  was  changed 
from  the  original  in  letter,  if  not  in  spirit.  No  dis- 
tinction of  color,  nationality,  age,  or  sex  was  made; 
but  every  person  was  allowed  to  hold  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  upon  complying  with  certain  conditions. 
The  claim  must  be  designated  by  natural  boundaries 

**  Governor  Abernethy  drew  no  salary  under  the  provisional  government. 


slit' 


478 


AMKND.MKNT  OF  THE  ()U(;ANIC   LAWS. 


or  by  marks  at  the  cornerH  and  upon  tliu  linos,  and  bo 
recordod  within  twolvo  niontlis  in  tlio  offioo  of  the 
territorial  rocordor,  with  the  nanios  of  adjoiniiiL^  claim- 
ants in  tho  cases  of  those  already  in  ])oss(!ssi()n,  and 
within  twenty  days  in  the  cases  o\'  new-comeis.  l\'r- 
manent  improvements  were  rocjuired  to  be  made  within 
six  months  by  building  or  enclosing,  and  residence 
begun  within  a  year;  or  in  cases  where  not  occupied, 
the  claimant  might  hold  by  paying  into  the  treasury 
fiv)  dollars  annually.  Xon-rt^sidents  should  not  have 
the  benefit  of  the  law,  nor  men  who  were  obliged  to 
absent  themselves  from  tlu  territory  on  private  busi- 
ness beyond  the  period  of  two  years. 

No  individual  was  allowed  to  hold  more  than  one 
square  mile,  in  a  s(juare  or  oblong  form,  nor  to  hold 
more  than  one  claim  at  the  same  time ;  but  partner- 
ships not  exceeding  the  amount  of  one  claim  to  each 
partiuir  might  be  formed  by  improvements  made 
upon  one,  jmivided  none  of  the  partners  held  se})arate 
claims.'"  Any  person  compl3nng  with  the  provisions 
of  these  ordinances  became  entitled  to  the  same  re- 
course against  trespassers  as  in  other  cases  provided 
by  law.  By  the  amended  oruanic  laws,  the  officers 
chosen  at  Vne  general  election  on  the  first  Tuesday  in 
June  l84o  were  declared  entitled  to  act  under  these 
laws,  and  their  oflScial  acts,  in  accordance  with  them, 
were  valid  and  legal.  The  house  of  representatives 
could,  by  a  two-thirds  vote,  amend  the  organic  laws, 
l)ut  the  amendments  must  be  made  public  by  being 
read  at  the  polls  at  the  next  general  election,  and  two 
thirds  of  the  members  elected  at  that  time  must  ap- 
prove of  them." 

All  the  merely  statutory  laws  were  expunged  froni 
the  instrument  called  by  the  connnittee  of  revision  a 
compact  instead  of  a  constitution,  a  distinction  with- 

'*  After  this  law  waa  approved  by  the  people,  it  was  anientled  so  aa  to 
'  permit  claiiuauts  to  hold  GOO  acres  in  tlie  prairie,  and  40  acres  in  the  timber, 
though  said  tracts  do  not  join,'  in  an  act  similar  to  the  amendatory  act  of 
1844. 

"Or.  Sitectalor,  Feb.  5,  1846;  Gen.  Lam  Or.,  58-65. 


APPRO VKI>  BY  THE  TKOPLK. 


47!> 


out  a  (liffcrciK'o.  Yrt  it  was  a  wisi^  doterencc  to  the 
original  ioimders  ot"  thu  govt'nmu'iit.  The  j)eo[)le 
were  encouraged  in  thi;  maintenaneo  of  re[)uhrK'an 
])rinciple8,  and  hrihid  t(»  remain  firm  in  tlieir  alle- 
giance to  the  United  States,  which  alone  of  all  great 
governments  allowed  such  entire  freedom  of  political 
sentiments.'"* 

As  the  Ic'tjislature  had  decided  that  tlu^v  W(a'o 
without  authority  to  act  until  the  people  had  apj)roved 
of  their  })roceedings  in  am(;nding  the  organic  laws, 
they  prepared  to  adjourn  until  an  election  could  he 
held,  at  which  the  people  were  to  be  made  acijuainted 
with,  1st,  the  orighial  laws  as  enacted  July  5,  184:1; 
2d,  the  amended  laws;  and  3d,  a  schedule  declaring 
the  ijovernor  and  legislature  elected  in  June  the  ofh- 
cers  to  carry  the  amended  or<jfanic  laws  into  it  feet. 
If  the  })eople  sliould  adopt  the  last  two  in  plact  .,['  the 
first,  the  legislature  could  then  proceed  to  the  forma- 
tion of  a  code  of  statutory  laws  suited  to  tlie  wants 
of  the  colony.  As  there  was  no  printing-press  in 
Oregon,  manuscript  copies  of  each  were  made  for 
every  precinct  or  polling-place,  to  be  read  three  times 
to  the  voters. 

The  legislature  adjourned  July  5th  to  meet  again 
on  the  5th  of  August.  According  to  Gray,  many 
voted  against  the  compact  because  it  allowed  the  legis- 
lature to  regulate  the  introduction,  manufacture,  and 
sale  of  intoxicating  drink;  and  many  because  the 
English  and  French  servants  of  the  fur  company  were 
admitted  to  equal  privileges  with  themselves.  Not- 
withstanding these  objections,  at  the  special  election 
held  on  the  2Gtli  of  July  the  majority  in  favor  of 
adopting  the  organic  laws  as  amended,  and  the  sched- 
ule of  oiHcers  as  elected  the  previous  June,  amounted 
to  over  two  hundred.'"  By  this  decisive  act,  says  Mr 
Applegate,  "both    the    Methodist    Mission    and   the 


'"Says  Applegate:  'I  was  a  citizen  of  the  United  States,  and  I  intended 
to  remain  one. ' 

^"Gravers  Or.  Archives,  90;  //««»'  Or.  ^w/., 432-4. 


480 


AMENDiMENT  'JK  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


^^-  -4^i|i 


|ij-^lii| 


Hudson's  Bay  Company  ceased  to  be  political  powers 
either  to  be  courted  or  feared  in  the  color. v,  and  to 
the  close  of  its  existence  the  provisional  government 
of  Oregon  attained  all  the  ends  of  ^'•ood  government.""'* 

Before  following  the  legislative  body  of  Oregon 
through  its  law-making  achievements,  let  us  return 
to  its  first  session  long  enough  to  observe  the  straws 
indicative  of  the  political  current.  Harvey  Clark  had 
been  chosen  chaplain,  but  on  motion  of  Gray  the  vote 
was  reconsid(;red,  and  Father  Demers  and  jVIr  Hill 
were  chosen  to  offi'^iate  alternately.  The  action  of 
Gray  sisems  to  have  been  an  ill-judged  attempt  to  con- 
ciliate the  Catholics,  for  Demers  declined,  and  Clark 
resi*inetl  after  officiating  f<»r  a  short  time. 

Then  came  a  petition  from  Philip  Foster,  who  had 
been  treasurer,  reciting  his  grievances  at  being  sup- 
planted by  Ermatinger,  a  British  subject;  but  tlie 
legislature  sustained  Ermatinger.^'  Two  days  before 
adjournmeiit  (4ray  ottered  a  resolution  that  a  cor.i- 
niittee  of  one  from  each  county  be  appointed  to  report 
a  bill  for  the  protection  of  the  colony,  the  erection  of 
block-houses  and  iUagazines,  the  revision  of  the  mili- 
tary law,  and  to  riiake  such  suggestions  to  the  house 
as  they  might  deem  necessary  for  the  peace  and  safety 
of  the  colony.  The  committee  was  appointed,  but  tlie 
proceeding  fell  to  the  ground,  there  being  no  necessity 
for  such  a  measure. 

A  resolution  of  Applegate's  seems  to  be  aimed  at 
the  disposition  exhibited  by  some  j)ers(ms  to  consider 
the  affairs  of  the  Hudson's  I3ay  Company  as  without 
the  pale  of  law  and  justice,"-  and  to  prevent  abuses 
of  the  legislative  power  generally. 

»  Vkimi  o/Jfrntori/,  MS.,  4G. 

^^Orotrr'<  Or.  Archives,  T^-1. 

•' '  /fcxolivil,  thtat  the  iroveriinunt  h<'w  no  power  to  annul  a  contract  entered 
into  either  in  the  United  States  or  (Jreat  Britain.'  (rrnirr'n  Or.  Arr/iiivs,  7S. 
That  tlie  legislature  did  not  act  up  to  the  Hpirit  of  this  resolution  is  shown  hy 
the  fact  that  notwithstandinc  they  disclaimed  any  authority  to  legislate 
before  the  people  had  givvn  tneni  the  power  by  voting  on  tlie  laws,  three 
divorces  were  granted;  two  of  the  applieauta  having  been  married  in  the 


StJ 
hoi 
'til 


MEMORIAL  TO  CONGRESS. 


481 


Early  in  the  session  Gray  made  a  motion  that  a 
connuittee  he  a|)pointed  to  drauglit  a  memorial  and  peti- 
tion to  congress,  setting  forth  the  condition  and  wants 
of  the  c<.)untry;  and  accordingly  Gray,  Applegate, 
H.  A.  G.  Lee,  McClure,  and  Hill  were  appointed, 
and  a  memorial  prepared  and  adopted.'^     There  was 

States.  A  third  iipplicant  who  gave  as  a  reason  for  desiring  a  divorce  that 
he  was  not  ahlo  to  retnrn  to  tlie  States  for  his  wife,  was  de.iied;  it  being  hehl 
'that  a  good  wife  would  pay  for  a  long  journey.' 

''■^'To  the  lio„orilili'.  the  Scitate  <ihil  J/oiixc  of  Rcpreseutalinfs  of  the  United 
St.atct  of  Amerka  in  Coiu/rexn  a-snenilikd:  Your  memorialists  and  petitioners, 
the  representatives  of  the  ])eople  of  Oregon,  for  themselves,  and  in  behalf  of 
the  citizens  of  tlie  United  States  residing  in  tliis  territory,  would  respectfully 
submit  for  the  considerrition  of  your  honoral)le  body  some  of  the  grievances 
under  which  wo  ialior,  and  pray  your  favorable  consideration  of  our  petition 
for  their  roniedies.  Without  dilating  upon  the  great  importance  of  this 
territory  as  an  ajipcndage  to  the  federal  union,  or  consuming  your  valuable 
ti!!ie  in  lepeating  to  you  the  oft-repeated  account  of  our  agricultural  and  coni- 
inercia!  advantages,  we  would,  witli  <lue  deference,  submit  to  your  serious 
consideration  our  peculiar  difficulties  as  occupants  of  this  territory.  A»  by 
treaty  stipulations  between  the  governments  of  the  United  States  ami  (ireat 
Britain  this  territory  has  become  a  kind  of  neutral  grouml,  in  tlie  occui)ancy 
of  which  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  and  tiie  subjects  of  (ireat  Britain 
have  equal  rights,  and,  as  your  memorialists  humbly  conceive,  ought  to  have 
e(jual  protection:  such  being  the  facts,  the  popiilatinn  of  the  territory,  though 
promiscuously  interspersed,  is  composed  of  tl'd  subjects  of  a  crown  and  the 
citizens  of  a  repulilic,  between  whom  no  co'union  bonil  of  union  e.xists.  It 
may  naturally  l)e  supposed  that  in  the  absence  of  any  provision  having  been 
made  by  the  two  governments,  to  prevent  or  settle  any  such  occurrence,  that 
conflictmg  interests,  aided  by  ancient  preju<lices,  would  speedily  lead  to 
results  the  most  disastrous;  particularly  wh"'.!  it  is  considered  that  this  mixeil 
jiopulation  exists  in  the  midst  of  numerous  and  warlike  tribes  of  Indians,  to 
wliom  the  smallest  dissensions  among  the  white  iidiabitants  would  be  the 
signal  to  let  loose  upon  their  defenceless  nunilies  all  tlie  horrors  of  savage 
warfare.  To  prevent  a  calamity  so  niucV.  to  be  dreaded,  the  well-disposed 
iiiliabitants  of  tiiis  territory  have  found  it  absolutely  necessary  to  estalilish  a 
provisional  and  temporary  government,  embracing  ;ill  free  male  citizens,  ami 
wiioso  executive,  legislative,  and  judicial  powers  should  bo  equal  to  all  the 
exigencies  that  may  arise  among  themselves,  not  provided  for  by  the  govern- 
ments to  wiiich  they  owe  allegiance;  and  we  are  most  happy  to  inform  your 
honorable  body,  that  with  liut  few  individual  exceptions,  the  utmost  harmony 
and  good-will  has  been  tlie  result  of  this,  as  we  conceive,  wise  and  judicious 
mea.siire;  and  the  British  subjects  anil  An  erican  citizens  vie  witii  each  other 
in  tlieir  obedience  and  respect  to  the  laws,  and  in  promoting  tlie  common 
good  ami  general  welfare  of  Oregon. 

'Although  such  has  been  the  result,  thus  far,  of  our  temporary  union  of 
interests,  though  we,  the  citizens  of  the  United  Statiis,  have  nad  no  cause  to 
complain  eithtir  of  exaction  or  oppression  at  tlie  hands  of  the  subjects  of  lireat 
Britain,  but  on  tiie  contrary  it  is  but  just  to  say  that  their  conduct  t'jward  us 
luis  been  most  friendly,  liberal,  and  piiilantiiropic,  yet  wo  fear  a  longer  con- 
tinuance of  tiie  present  state  of  things  is  not  to  bo  cxpeiac") — our  temiiorary 
government  being  limited  iu  its  eliiciency,  and  crippled  ir.  its  p-iwcrs  by  tlio 
paramount  duty  we  owe  to  our  respective  governments — our  revenue  being 
inade(iuate  to  its  support— and  tlie  almost  total  absence,  apart  from  the  Hud- 
son's liay  Company,  of  the  means  of  defence  against  the  Indians,  which  recent 
occurrences  led  us  to  fear  outertaiu  hostile  focliugs  towards  the  citizens  of  the 
Hist.  Ob.,  Vol.  I.    31 


^\ 


^ 


«.[- 


i 


482 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


considerable  talent  in  this  committee,  and  it  was  to 
be  expected  that  this  paper  would  be  better  in  many 
respects  than  those  usually  issuing  from  backwoods 
legislation.  And  such  was  the  case.  The  docu- 
ment, so  different  in  matter,  tone,  and  expression 
even  from  those  which  had  preceded  it  during  the 
reign  of  missionary  influence,  though  crude,  was  the 


I 


I  I 


iM.il 


United  States.  Your  memorialists  would  further  inform  your  houoi  ible  hody 
that  while  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain,  through  the  agency  of  the  Hudson  s 
Bay  Company,  are  amply  provided  with  all  the  munitions  of  war,  and  can 
afiford  by  means  of  their  numerous  fortifications  ample  protection  for  tliem- 
selves  and  tlieir  property,  the  citizens  of  the  United  States  are  scattered  over 
a  wide  extent  of  territory,  without  a  single  place  of  refuge,  and  within  theni- 
Bclves  almost  entirely  destitute  of  every  means  of  defence.  Your  memorialists 
would  further  crave  your  indulgence  to  remark  that  Great  Britain  has,  by  ex- 
tending her  criminal  code  to  this  country,  guaranteed  every  British  subject, 
claiming  his  birthright,  a  legitimate  trial  by  the  laws  of  his  country.  We,  as 
citizens  of  the  United  States,  having  neither  the  military  protection  of  our 
government,  nor  the  extension  to  us  of  the  civil  laws  of  our  country,  are  forced 
to  the  enactment  and  execution  of  laws  not  authorized,  and,  for  what  we 
know,  never  will  be  sanctioned,  by  our  government.  Your  memorialists  would 
further  call  the  attention  of  your  honorable  body  to  the  fact  that,  as  citizens 
of  the  United  States,  we  labor  under  the  greatest  commercial  disadvantages. 
We  have  neither  ships  of  vcar  nor  of  commerce,  nor  any  navigation  of  the 
rivers  of  the  interior,  and  for  want  of  adequate  protection,  no  private  cap- 
italist among  us  can  establish  a  successful  competition  with  a  wealthy  and 
powerful  monopoly,  jiossessing  jiU  the  appliances  of  commerce,  and  all  the 
inHueiice  over  the  natives  by  an  early  establishment  among  them.  We  are, 
therefore,  dependent  for  a  market  for  a  large  and  increasing  surplus,  and  for 
nearly  all  our  supplies,  upon  a  single  con.pany,  which  holds  the  market  under 
its  control. 

'  Your  memorialists,  with  a  view  to  remedy  the  grievances  under  wliich 
they  labor,  pray  the  national  congress  to  establish  a  distinct  territorial  govern- 
ment, to  embrace  Oregon  and  its  adjacent  sea-coasts.  W'e  pray  for  a(lequati> 
means  of  protection  from  the  numerous  Iii.lian  tribes  whicli  surround  us;  for 
the  purcliase  of  territories  which  they  are  willing  to  sell;  and  for  agents  with 
autliority  to  regulate  intercourse  between  wiiitcs  and  Indians,  and  between 
Indian  tribes.  That  donations  of  lands  may  be  made  according  to  the  in- 
ducements held  out  to  u.a  by  the  passage  of  a  bill  through  the  United  States 
senate,  at  the  second  session  of  the  27th  congress,  entitled  "A  bill  to  autiiorize 
tl\e  adoption  of  measures  for  the  occupation  and  scctlement  of  the  territory 
of  Oregon,  for  extending  certain  portions  of  the  laws  of  the  Unitetl  States 
over  the  sami:,  and  for  other  purposes."  Tiiat  navy-yards  .ind  marine  depots 
may  be  establiMhod  on  the  Iliver  Columbia  and  upon  Puget's  Sound,  and  a 
naval  force  adeipiate  to  our  protection  be  kept  periiianently  in  the  adjacent 
seas.  We  ^ray  for  the  estiibli.slimeiit  of  such  conimerci.d  regulation.s  as  may 
enable  us  to  trade  in  our  own  territory,  at  least  on  an  e(juality  with  non- 
resiilent  foreigners.  We  ]iray  that  adeqiuite  nnlitary  protection  l)e  j^iven  to 
emigrants  coming  to  ua,  eithiT  by  the  establishniint  of  jio-its  upon  tlio  route 
or  liy  udlitai'y  escort.  Aiul  wo  pray  tiiat  in  the  event  you  deem  it  inexpedient 
as  a  mcasiTO,  or  contrary  to  the  spirit  of  existing  treaties,  to  establisli  a  ter- 
ritorial government  in  Oregon,  that  you  extend  to  us  adequate  military  and 
naval  protection,  so  a.«i  to  place  us  at  least  upon  a  par  with  other  occupants 
of  the  country.  That  a  public  mail  be  established  to  arrive  aiiil  depart 
monthly  from  Oregon  City  and  Independence  (Mo.),  aiul  such  other  local 


THE  MESSENGER. 


488 


most  dignified  communication  yet  emanating  from 
any  Oregon  public  body.^*  The  memorial  to  congress 
was  given  to  White  to  be  carried  to  Washington, 
immediately  upon  its  being  signed  by  all  the  officials 
in  the  colony,  together  with  a  copy  of  the  amended 
organic  law.  The  turn  which  affairs  had  taken  in 
Oregon,  as  well  as  in  Washington  where  there  was 
a  new  administration,  had  seriously  damaged  White's 
hopes  of  office ;  and  no  funds  had  been  placed  at  his 
disposal  with  which  to  reimburse  himself,  or  his  cred- 
itors at  Vancouver,  for  expenditures  in  the  Indian 
service ;  and  he  determined  to  proceed  to  the  national 
capital  for  an  adjustment  of  his  accounts,  if  not  to  ask 
to  be  returned  to  Oregon  as  governor  when  congress 
should  be  ready  to  erect  a  territory  in  that  ({uarter.^^ 
White's  path  was  by  no  means  smooth.  "Influence 
here  is  most  important,"  he  sighed.     And  in  order  to 

routeb  be  established  as  are  essential  to  the  Willamette  country  and  other 
settlements. 

'  For  the  granting  of  which  your  memorialists  will  ever  pray, 

'OSliOii.M'.  ivUSMKLL, 

'  Pkter  G.  Stewakt, 

'  Executive  Committee. 
'  J.  W.  NESMiTir,  Judge  of  Circuit  Court. 
'M.  M.^IoCarvkr,  Speaker. 

'Jess?;  Ai'I-lehate,  H.  A.  G.  Lee, 

'Mei)Ard(!.  Fowy,  Barton  Lee, 

'W.  H.  (iRAv,  John  McCi.ure, 

'J.  M.  Garrison,  Robert  Newell, 

'AiujAH  Hendricks,  Hikam  Strakjht, 

'UavidHill,  'Members  of  Legislative  Conuiiittoe. 

'Done  at  Oregon  City,  28th  June,  1845. 
fh:  Arc/lives,  Ua.,  lass.  'Attest:         J.  E.  LoNU,  Clerk.' 

Tliis  memorial,  rui  '.i  njwears  on  page  *i4  of  the  Coiigirnxional  (ilohr,  184.^-6, 
dilTors  from  the  .mxjvc  in  liaving  tlie  paragraph  concerning  mails  inserted 
between  those  on  the  navy  and  cominerce;  and  in  having  the  name  of  .1.  W. 
Smith,  which  is  lacking  in  the  above  copy,  inserted  between  those  of  Newell 
and  Straiglit;  and  also  in  tlie  spelling  of  the  speaker's  name,  which  is  incor- 
rect in  the  (llohc. 

'•''Tliomas  H.  Benton  remarked  upon  it  that  it  was  drawn  up  in  a  manner 
creditable  to  tlie  body  by  vtiiicli  it  was  j)resentcd,  to  tlie  talents  by  wliieh  it 
vus  dictated,  and  the  patriotic  sentiments  which  pervailed  it;  and  the  appli- 
cation wtis  worthy  of  a  favor.ible  consideratiim  for  its  moilcration,  reasonable- 
ness, and  justice.  As  the  best  moans  of  spreailing  the  contents  of  this  ixitition 
before  the  country,  and  doing  honor  to  the  ability  and  enterprise  of  those  who 
presented  it,  he  moved  that  it  be  read  at  tlu^  bar  of  the  senate.  Cimj.  (llohc, 
184.J-(),  24.  It  was  read,  and  ordered  i)rinted.  Entnn'  J/iit.  Or.,  MS.',  '2.S;<-4. 
'•'Clyman  says  in  hia  D'nunj,  ^bS.,  101:  'Spent  tlie  day  in  writing  an 
answer  to  some  (pKTies  jiroiiounded  by  I>r  White,  who  leaves  for  the  States  in 
the  liope  of  obtiining  i\w  gubernatorial  chair.' 


J 


484 


amendjVient  of  the  organic  laws. 


%:  ■ '; 


secure  that  useful  commodity,  as  well  as  the  more 
tangible  one  of  ^2,000  subscribed  by  citizens  on  con- 
dition of  finding  a  good  pass  for  the  coming  immigra- 
tion, he  formed  the  })lan  of  exploring  for  a  road  leading 
from  the  Willamette  Valley  through  the  Cascade 
Mountains  to  the  plains  of  eastern  Oregon,  wliich 
should  avoid  the  hardships  of  the  trail  round  Mount 
Hood  and  the  passage  down  the  Columl)ia  River.  On 
the  12th  of  July,  accompanied  by  Joseph  Gale,  Bap- 
tiste  Du  Guerre,  John  Edmonds,  Orris  Brown,  Moses 
Harris,  Joseph  Charles  Saxton  of  the  last  immigra- 
tion, and  two  others,  he  set  out  on  an  expedition  along 
the  foothills  of  the  Cascade  Range  to  the  southern 
end  of  the  Willamette  Valley,  finding  no  pass  through 
the  mountains  to  the  east.  While  at  the  head  of  the 
valley  he  ascended,  with  Du  Guerre,  a  prominent 
peak  or  butte  in  the  foothills,  which  he  nunKid  after 
the  secretary  of  war.  Mount  Spencer. 

Returning  to  the  north  along  the  west  side  of  tlie 
valley,  he  sought  to  comjiensate  himself  for  the  dis- 
appointment by  discovering  a  path  througl  the  Coast 
Range  to  the  sea,  at  Yaquina  Bay,  after  which  he 
hastened  back  to  Oregon  City,  and  reported  truthfully 
enough  to  tlie  legislature,  then  hi  session,  his  failure 
and  his  partial  success  in  "  bringing  ship  navigation  with 
all  the  products  of  the  ocean  within  two  days'  drive 
with  ox-teams  of  the  centre  of  the  valle}',"  "•*  for  which 
he  received  the  thanks  of  that  body,"'  together  with  a 
resolution  reconuuending  to  the  favorable  considera- 
tion of  congress  his  just  clahns  for  a  remuneration  f^r 
the  expense  incurred  in  the  expedition.  The  Oregon 
Spectator,  the  first  newspaper  published  in  Oregon, 
and  owned  and  controlled  principally  by  the  former 
members  of  the  Methodist  Mission,  mentions  White's 
exploit  with  much  favor,^'^  and  says  he  meant  to  find  a 
road  into  the  Willamette  by  a  route  foimerly  travelled 

«« White's  Report,  in  Or.  Archuwx,  MS.,  87-94. 
^OrofverH  Or.  Archivex,  103. 
»Soe  Spectator,  J;m.  '21,  1847. 


j   *' 


i    I 


RECONSIDERATION. 


485 


by  the  fur  company's  trappers,  leading  from  the  Mal- 
heur or  Powder  River  across  the  mountains,  by  Mount 
Jefferson.  Had  no  revelations  been  made  subsequent 
to  the  legislative  indorsement  of  what  was  supposed  to 
be  a  sincere  endeavor  to  benefit  the  colony,  the  cham- 
pionship of  the  Spectator  would  not  be  out  of  pla(;e. 

But  among  the  letters  White  carried  was  one  by 
Lovejoy  to  the  secretary  of  war  anticipating  White's 
success,  and  speaking  of  the  discovery  of  a  pass  which 
was  to  save  two  or  three  hundred  miles  in  distance  of 
the  worst  portion  of  the  emigrant  road,  besides  avoid- 
ing the  dangers  of  the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers,  as 
a  fact  already  accomplished,  though  the  letter  was 
written  four  days  before  the  expedition  started,  and 
probably  in  the  expectation  that  White  would  avail 
himself  of  the  pass  he  meant  to  discover  to  shorten 
his  own  road  to  Washington.  Instead  of  this,  how- 
ever, h«  was  obliged  to  return  and  take  the  Columl)ia 
River  route ;  but  lie  did  not  feel  himself  bound  to  sur- 
render the  recommendations  to  the  United  States 
government  founded  on  his  anticipated  services  to 
the  coming  innnigration,  and  all  subsequent  ones.  It 
began  to  be  whispered  that  the  expedition  hud  been 
a  fraudulent  pretence,  intended  only  to  create  a  claim 
on  the  government,'^  and  the  report  was  rife  that  all 
the  testimonials  secured,  either  from  the  legislature  or 
other  persons  in  high  positions,  would  be  used  to  for- 
ward his  designs  upon  the  first  office  hi  the  colony. 

During  the  month  occupied  in  the  tour  of  the 
Willamette  V^alley,  the  memorial  and  organic  law,  as 
first  prepared  and  signed,  had  been  in  the  possession 
of  White,  the  name  of  Speaker  McCarver  not  having 
yet  been  attached  to  the  latter,  because  he  was 
opposed  to  the  adoption  of  the  amended  organic 
law,  which  supplanted  the  laws  of  the  legislature  of 
1844,  of  which  he  was  a  prominent  member  as  well 
as  speaker.     On  White's  return,  Applegate,  wishing 

••*  White  riiceivt'd  from  congress  ^80.52i  for  his  expenses  on  this  explor- 
ing tour.  Concue  Vinv,  Go. 


r' 

in 

1 

•^^ 

i 

ii 


486 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


.J    i     '     Ff 


l*i!  il 


to  have  some  resolutions  attached,  reclaimed  the 
documents  from  hini,^"  during  which  time  McCarver 
clandestinely  added  his  name  as  speaker  of  the  house 
to  the  objectionable  organic  law. 

White  had  no  sooner  started  on  his  long-deferred 
journey  than  Barton  Lee  offered  a  resolution  expos- 
ing the  secret  acti(jn  of  McCarver,  disapproving  it, 
and  declaring  that  the  house  were  under  the  humili- 
ating necessity  of  signifying  their  displeasure  to  the 
United  States  government  by  causing  the  resolution 
to  accompany  the  other  documents.  The  discussion 
occasioned  by  this  discovery  and  the  explanation  of 
McCarver  ended  in  the  house  passing  another  resolu- 
tion to  despatch  a  messenger  to  Vancouver  to  bring 
back  the  documents  in  order  to  have  McCarver's  siy- 
nature  properly  attested,  and  a  second  one  that  the 
speaker,  having  signed  certain  documents  from  a  mis- 
taken sense  of  duty,  and  not  from  contumacy  or  con- 
tempt, should  be  required  to  follow  White  to  Van- 
couver and  erase  his  name  from  the  organic  lav/  and 
from  two  resolutions  in  favor  of  White.  From  this 
requirement  he  was,  however,  excused.  While  reso- 
lutions were  in  order,  Applegate  offered  one  declaring 
that  it  was  not  the  intention  of  the  house,  in  passing 
the  above-named  resolves,  to  recommend  White  to 
the  United  States  government  as  a  suitable  person  to 
fill  any  office  in  Oregon ;  with  another  that  an  attested 
copy  should  be  forwarded  to  Washington.  Mean- 
while, the  messenger  who  had  been  despatched  to 
bring  back  the  memorial  and  organic  law  had  over- 
taken White's  party  and  presented  the  order  of  the 
house.     But   unwilling   to    risk    any    changes   being 

^  The  resolutions  wore  to  the  effect  that  tlie  adoption  of  the  organic  law 
by  tlie  people  of  Oregon  was  an  act  of  necessity  ratlier  than  choice,  intended 
to  give  them  the  protection  which  their  eovernnient  should  have  extended 
to  them,  and  not  an  act  of  doliance  or  disregard  of  the  laws  of  the  United 
States;  and  that  in  establishing  a  territorial  government,  congrc.<s  shonld 
legalize  their  acts  so  far  as  they  were  in  accordance  with  the  constitution  of 
the  United  States.  Also  that  White  be  recjuested  to  furnish  a  copy  of  the 
organic  law  to  congress,  said  copy  being  indorsed  witli  the  above  resolutions. 
dh-over's  Or.  Arc/iiiw,  IOC. 


litl 


EXIT  WHITE. 


487 


made  in  the  resolutions,  White  dechned  to  relinquish 
them,  returning  instead  the  following  epistle : 

"To  the  HoTiorable,  etc. — Gentlemen:  Being  on 
my  way,  and  having  but  a  moment  to  reflect,  I  have 
been  at  much  of  a  loss  which  of  your  two  resolutions 
most  to  respect,  or  which  to  obey ;  but  at  length  have 
become  satisfied  that  the  first  was  taken  most  soberly, 
and,  as  it  answers  my  purpose  best,  I  pledge  myself  to 
adhere  strictly  to  that.  Sincerely  wishing  you  good 
luck  in  legislating,  I  am,  dear  sirs,  very  respectfully 
yours,  E.  White." 

This  saucy  defiance  of  the  legislative  body  of  Ore- 
gon marked  the  disappearance  of  White  from  colonial 
politics.  The  resolutions  last  passed,  declaring  him 
not  a  proper  person  to  fill  any  office  in  the  country, 
together  with  the  changes  which  had  occurred  in 
Washington,  utterly  defeated  all  aspirations  in-  that 
direction,^^  altliough  he  had  the  temporary  distinc- 
tion of  being  treated  like  a  delegate  from  the  provis- 
ional government,  while  the  duplicate  copies  of  the 
legislative  documents,  with  their  appended  injurious 

''  White's  adventures  in  crossing  the  plains  with  his  small  party  consisting 
of  Harris,  Edmonds,  Brown,  Saxton,  l)u  Guerre,  Chapman,  and  another  un- 
known man,  are  brieHy  given  in  his  Ten  Yearn  in  Orei/on.  See  also  Niks'  Re;/., 
Ixix.  224.  Slight  as  is  the  narrative,  I  think  it  may  safely  be  inferred  that 
the  unfortunate  attempt  of  a  portion  of  the  immigration  of  this  year  to  make 
a  road  up  the  Malheur  River,  and  into  the  upper  part  of  the  Willamette  Val- 
ley, was  the  result  of  his  advice.  Certain  it  is  that  he  met  all  the  different 
companies,  and  talked  with  them,  and  had  he  advised  them  not  to  attempt  a 
new  route,  they  would  have  obeyed  him.  Had  they  succeeded  in  finding  one, 
he  would  have  taken  to  himself  the  credit  of  giving  the  information. 

White  returned  to  the  Pacafic  coast  in  18(51,  as  aspecial  Indian  agent  under 
Lincoln's  administration,  a  position  obtained  by  representing  himself  as  better 
acquainted  with  Indian  affairs  than  any  man  in  the  department  of  the  west. 
He  did  not  long  hold  the  unnecessary  office,  and  failing  at  Baker  Bay, 
where  he  endeavored  to  build  a  town  called  Pacific  City,  finally  settled 
in  San  Francisco,  where  he  <licd  in  March  1879,  as  before  stated.  He  was 
thoroughly  disliked  by  the  western  men  who  assumed  tlie  direction  of  Oregon 
affairs,  for  what  they  termed  his  smooth-tongued  duplicity.  That  ho  was  a 
sycopliant  to  a  certain  extent  is  true.  His  character  is  revealed  ui  a  single 
sentence  of  his  own  concerning  his  reception  in  Washingvon  by  the  Missouri 
delegation,  to  whom  ho  was  instructed  to  report.  '  He  retiirne<l  to  his  lodg- 
ings, scarcely  repressing  a  smile  at  tlie  seeming  importance  a  four  years' 
residence  in  the  Oregon  woods  had  given  him.'  Ten  Years  in  Or.,  310.  Not- 
withstanding his  lanlts,  it  cannot  be  said  that  he  was  ever  an  enemy  to  good 
order  or  good  government.     See  p.  291,  note  34,  this  volume. 


488 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


resolutions,  were  taken  the  longer  passage  by  sea  to 
Washington. 

Upon  the  reassembling  of  the  legislative  body, 
Governor  Abernethy,  who  had  but  recently  returned 
from  the  Hawaiian  Islands,  sent  in  his  first  message. 
It  referred  to  the  adoption  of  the  amended  organic 
law,  and  the  duty  of  the  members  to  make  their  legis- 
lation conform  to  it;  adverted  to  the  insufficiency  of 
the  revenue,  recommended  taxing  farms  as  well  as 
cattle  and  merchandise,  and  made  some  suggestions 
with  regard  to  regulating  the  time  of  holding  courts.''^ 

Owing  to  the  refusal  of  McCarver  to  sign  the  docu- 
ment to  be  sent  to  Washington,  there  was  a  disposi- 
tion to  ignore  his  rights  as  speaker,  and  a  ballot  was 
taken,  which  resulted  in  eight  votes  for  Gray  and 
only  one  for  McCarver.  The  protest  of  the  speaker 
was  met  by  a  resolution  by  Applegate  asking  him  to 
resign.  Both  proceedings  were  reconsidered  the  same 
day,  and  on  the  third  McCarver,  by  a  motion  of  Gar- 
rison, was  restored  to  his  office,''^  but  tendered  his  res- 
ignation. Gray,  wlio  desired  the  speakership,  voted 
that  he  be  allowed  to  resign,  but  the  motion  being 


'-The  most  peculiar  suggestion  containetl  in  the  executive  message  was 
one  concerning  indebtedness.  'I'o  prevent  litigation  arising  from  the  facility 
of  obtaining  credit  in  the  colony,  he  reeomniemled  the  piissage  of  a  law 
which  would  prevent  the  collection  of  all  debts  or  notes  taken  f(,T  debts  con- 
tracted after  its  passage,  ))y  judicial  jirocess.  This,  he  argiiod,  would  save 
the  time  and  labor  of  the  courts,  and  make  all  persons  more  carefui  as  to  the 
disposal  of  tlioir  property,  and  more  punctual  in  the  payment  of  debts,  since 
if  they  failed  once,  they  could  expect  no  further  favors.  Allowances  woidd 
be  made  for  a,  man  who  was  in  misfortune,  but  the  debtor  who  could  pay  and 
would  not  would  soon  find  liiinsclf  shunned.  Some  further  recommenda- 
tions concerning  the  best  means  of  securing  an  efifective  militia,  and  the 
mec.ns  of  establishing  common  schools  and  building  school-houses,  concluded 
the  message.  Or.  Arr/iiiK'x,  MS.,  31-6. 

^•"Applegate  remarks  that  McCarver  was  found  of  talking,  and  to  prevent 
liim  from  taking  up  too  much  time,  they  mfide  him  speaker.  (Jray  says  lie 
obtained  the  sobriquet  of  'Old  Brass  (iun.'  Jflil.  Or.,  370.  Roberts  men- 
tions the  same  thing.  There  are  several  anecdotes  of  McCarver.  One  is  that 
when  the  first  California  con.  conv.,  of  which  he  was  member,  was  in  session, 
iv  proposition  was  made  to  establish  the  northern  boundary  ho  as  to  take  in 
the  Rogue  River  Valley;  whrn  McCarver  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  exclaimed, 
*  Mr  President,  as  a  citizen  of  Oregon,  I  protest  against  the  segregation  of 
that  territory; '  whereupon  the  Californiaus  named  him  '  the  member  from 
Oregon. ' 


THE   'PEACOCK'S'  LAUNCH 


489 


withdrawn,  at  the  request  of  Applegate,  McCarver 
withdrew  his  resignation,  and  matters  went  on  more 
smootlily. 

A  resolution  of  Applegate's,  that  the  people  of 
Oregon  were  not,  in  the  opinion  of  tlie  house,  morally 
or  legally  bound  by  any  acts  of  their  officers  or  agents 
not  expressly  sanctioned  by  the  instrument  by  virtue 
of  which  they  had  their  official  existence ;  and  fur- 
ther, that  the  house  could  not  assume  in  behalf  of 
the  people  the  payment  of  any  debt,  or  the  refunding 
of  any  funds  borrowed,  or  otherwise  unlawfully  con- 
tracted or  obtained,  without  first  obtaining  the  con- 
sent of  the  people^* — was  adopted  in  a  committee  of 
the  whole,  three  members,  Gray,  Foisy,  and  Straight, 
protesting  formally  on  the  ground  that  such  expres- 
sions by  the  legislature  tended  to  destroy  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  in  their  agents.^*  Applegate, 
who  was  determined  that  the  temporary  government 
should  not  be  made  a  burden,  but  a  blessing  to  the 
colonists,  cared  little  for  so  flimsy  a  protest,  well 
knowiiig  that  the  people  could  discern  who  were 
guarding  their  interests. 

Ever  since  the  departure  of  the  United  States  ex- 
ploring expedition,  there  had  been  a  feeling  of  dissatis- 
faction in  the  minds  of  the  American  colonists  on  ac- 
count of  the  disposition  made  of  the  Peacock's  launch 
by  Wilkes,  which  became  stronger  as  the  i)olitical  hori- 
zon grew  darker,  and  as  the  needs  of  the  colonists 
for  all  the  means  of  the  transportation  were  more 
pressing. 

McClure  of  Astoria  ofi'ered  a  resolution  that  a  com- 
mittee of  three  should  be  appointed  to  wait  on  Mc- 

^*  (rvoiKr's  Oi:  Arclihvs,  !)3.  This  resolution  appears  to  have  been  aimed 
at  tlie  disposition  made  of  tlie  estate  of  Ewiiig  Young  by  the  legislature  of 
1844.  It  wtuj,  liowever,  in  consonance  with  the  spirit  of  a  resolution  by  (Jar- 
rison  at  the  previous  session,  tiiat  the  legislature  had  no  riglit  to  tax  the  peo- 
ple without  previously  having  obtained  their  consent,  an<l  which  was  adopted. 
Perhaps  the  suggestion  of  the  governor  that  farms  should  I)e  taxed  .is  well  as 
merchandise  and  live-stock  was  also  r3ferre<l  to,  the  opposition  to  taxing  !and 
being  very  strong  among  the  settlers. 

*■> O rover's  Or.  Archivcx,  98-0    Grwi'a  Hist.  Or.,  429, 


II 


490 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


Longhlin,  to  ascertain  whether  the  launch  could  be 
given  up  to  the  provisional  governmernt,  provided  said 
government  became  responsible  for  its  safe  keeping 
and  delivery  to  the  United  States  authorities  when 
demanded ;  to  which  inquiry  McLoughlin  returned  a 
refusal  to  deliver  the  boat  without  an  order  from  Wilkes 
or  from  the  government  of  the  United  States.  Gray 
pretends  that  the  effect  of  Applegate's  resolution  was 
such  as  to  produce  this  refusal,  by  destroying  the  credit 
of  the  provisional  government  with  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company ;  as  if  the  company  were  retaining  the 
launch  for  security !  Gray  was  not  unaware  when  he 
penned  this  absurd  statement  that  McLoughlin  pub- 
lished in  the  fourth  number  of  the  Oregon  Spectator 
the  letter  of  Lieutenant  Wilkes  to  him,  enjoining 
upon  him  to  have  the  launch  kept  at  Fort  George, 
under  the  special  care  of  the  company,  to  be  used  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  affording  relief  or  aid  to  all  ves- 
sels requiring  assistance  of  any  kind  or  pilots  for 
bringing  in  vessels,  until  called  for  by  some  person 
authorized  by  him  or  by  the  government  of  the  United 
States  to  receive  it. 

As  a  member  of  the  body  carrying  on  the  corre- 
spondence, Gray  nmst  have  known  that  the  answer 
actually  returned  was,  that  it  would  afford  him,  Mc- 
Loughlin, great  pleasure  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the 
Oregon  government,  and  to  give  up  the  boat  on  the 
conditions  proposed,  provided  the  government  would 
take  the  necessary  measures  to  cause  the  launch  to  be 
employed  only  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  was  left 
with  him,  namely,  to  visit  vessels  and  afford  them  as- 
sistance when  in  distress ;  that  he  could  not,  consist- 
ently with  his  respect  for  the  flag  that  covered  her, 
consent  to  her  being  employed  in  any  other  service.^ 
But  it  appeal's  from  the  correspondence  that  no  such 
pledge  as  the  doctor  required  was  given,  and  he  de- 
clined to  relinquish  his  trust.^' 

^Or.  ArchiiK'x,  MS.,  68-9. 

^'From   a   mutilated  letter  in  the  Or.   Arcldirs,   MS.,    the  foUowing  is 
taken:  '  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  resolution  left  at 


IOWA   CODE. 


491 


At  the  third  session  of  the  legislature,  in  Decem- 
ber, an  act  was  passed  authorizing  the  governor  "to 
take  charge  of,  refit,  and  employ  the  launch  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  conditions  of  Lieutenant  Wilkes." 
In  compliance  with  these  legislative  proceedings,  Gov- 
ernor Abernethy  addressed  a  letter  to  McLoughlin, 
enclosing  a  copy  of  the  act  which  authorized  him  to 
take  possession  of  the  launch,  and  to  request  Mc- 
Loughlin to  deliver  to  him  the  anchor,  cables,  oars,  sails, 
and  all  other  parts  of  her  rigging  left  with  him.  In 
case  of  refusal  to  deliver  up  these  articles,  the  governor 
was  to  proceed  to  purchase  materials,  and  have  the 
boat  immediately  put  in  repair  "for  any  service  the 
territory  may  require."^ 

McLoughlin 's  answer  to  the  governor  was  still  the 
same,  that  he  "could  only  deliver  the  articles  belong- 
ing to  the  Peacock's  launch  on  receipt  of  an  order 
from  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or  from 
Captain  Wilkes."^"  The  subject  of  the  possession  of 
the  PeacocFs  boat  threatened  to  become  a  serious 
one.*"  The  Oregon  legislature  acted  upon  the  prin- 
ciple that  they,  for  the  people  of  the  colony,  had  a 
right  to  any  United  States  property,  on  the  ground 
of  their  citizenship,  and  jealously  demanded  that  such 
property  should  be  wrested  from  the  hands  in  which 
it  had  been  placed ;  though  by  doing  so,  not  having 
the  means  to  put  it  in  repair,  and  employ  a  proper 
officer  and  seamen,  it  would  be  rendered  useless  in  the 
capacity  for  which  it  was  intended.  The  matter  was 
finally  settled  by  McLoughlin  placing  the  boat  in  the 
hands  of  Lieutenant  Howison  of  the  United  States 


i  ill 


my  office  with  Mr  Campbell.  .  .  .  liut  after  again  giving  tlic  subject  my  fullest 
conaitleratiou,  I  am  sorry  it  is  not  i:?  my  power,  consistent  with  my  trust,  to 
give  any  other  answer  tlian  that  in  mine  of  the  I'Jth  inst.     I  have,  etc. 

'Oregon  City,  Aug.  20,  1845.  John  AIcLouohlin.' 

'«  Or.  Lawn,  1S43-9.  32. 

89  0)-.  Archives,  MS.,  69-70. 

**  Applegate  had  resigneil  before  the  legislature  passed  this  unjustifiable 
act.  In  his  marginal  notes  to  Graij'a  Jlistory,  430,  he  says:  '  Dr  McLoughlin 
was  bound  to  the  government  of  the  United  States  for  the  safe-keeping  and 
(lelivery  of  the  launcli  of  the  Peacock,  and  not  to  any  of  its  dependencies. ' 
See  If  ties'  Jiey.,  Ixx.  340. 


492 


amp:ni)Mp:nt  of  thk  okciank"  laws. 


M 


■I] 


\-     ;;i-H'l 


navy,  a  f«-'W  months  after  the  passaf^e  of  tho  act,  who 
Bold  it  to  a  Mr  Shelly,  for  the  avowed  purpose  of 
using  it  as  a  pilot-boat.'** 

The  first  bill  })a8i;:ed  by  the  duly  authorized  lej^isla- 
ture  was  to  j)revent  duiilling;  the  iinniediute  cause  for 
it  being  a  (juarrcl  ')etwcen  S.  M.  Holderness  and  J. 
(t.  Campbell,  botli  estimable  citizens,  who  could  think 
of  no  other  honorabk;  way  out  of  their  difficulties  than 
mortal  combat.  On  hearing  of  this,  Applegate  at 
once  introduced  a  bill  on  the  subject,  asked  for  a  suspen- 
sion of  the  rules,  secured  its  passage,  and  sent  it  to  tlu^ 
governor  to  be  signed,  when  it  becauie  a  law  within 
thirty  minutes  of  its  inception.  Under  its  provisions 
the  would-be  duellists  were  arrested  and  i)laced  under 
l)onds  to  kee})  tlie  peace.  Early  in  the  session  a  bill 
was  })assed  adopting  the  statutes  of  Iowa,  so  far  as 
they  were  applicable  to  the  (;ircumstaiu'es  of  the  coun- 
try. This  tendency  in  each  legislative  body  t(  have  its 
enactments  based  upon  the  code  of  Iowa  was  greatly 
a  matter  of  necessity,  owing  t«>  a  scarcity  of  law-books 
in  the  territory,  as  I  have  explained;  but  with  the 
legislature  of  1 845  it  was  someti\iiig  more.  Iowa  was 
a  new  state  and  nearest  to  Oregon.  It  was  a  free 
state,  which  the  leading  men  in  the  colony  had  deter- 
mined Oregon  should  be,  and  had  passed  its  minority 
as  Oregon  was  doing,  under  the  ordinance  of  1787, 
under  conditions  also  similar  to  those  of  Oregon :  and 
its  laws  moreover  were  less  conservative  and  more 
progressive  than  those  of  the  older  states. 

Having  adopted  a  code  and  set  the  committees  at 
work  adapting  it  to  the  country's  needs,  which  they 
did  in  a  measure  by  adopting  the  laws  of  1844,  the 
next  movement  was  to  restore  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  provisional  government  to  the  countrj'  north 
of  the  Columbia  River.     This  was  done  by  setting  oft* 

*^  Ifowinonx  CooKt  and  Country,  4;  Or.  SyecUUor,  Sept.  .%  184(5.  <iray  say.s 
because  the  doctor  refused  to  deliver  the  boat  to  the  Oregon  legislature,  it 
was  'allowed  to  rot  on  the  beach  at  Astoria. '  Hint.  Or.,  430.  If  it  did  so 
rot,  it  was  as  the  private  property  of  a  citizen  of  Oregon. 


NOUTH  OF  THK  COLUMBIA. 


4u:< 


the  district  itt'  Vancouver/'^  wliich  (Miibract'd  all  that 
part  of  Oregon  north  and  wt;st  y>i  tho  Cohunhia 
Kivcr/'*  But  now  an^aio  the  <jut'stion  of  apportion- 
ineiit  and  other  matters  connected  there^^•ith ;  a  |)oint 
in  lejjfislation  U|)on  which  A])[)legate  and  u  few  others 
regarded  as  most  important,  to  wit:  Would  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  hecome  parties 
to  the  articles  of  com})act  hy  the  payment  of  taxes, 
and  com[)lying  with  the  laws  of  the  ])r()visional  gov- 
cnnnent,  which  only  [jromised  protection  to  its  adhe- 
re *;-J  V^  Should  they  refuse  their  support,  they  would 
hecome  outlawed,  and  the  ohjective  })oint  if  not  the  prey 
of  any  turhulent  spirits  of  the  next  immigration,  who 
like  Alderman  might  choose  to  settle  on  their  lands, 
or  like  Chapman,  threaten  to  burn  Fort  Vancouver/' 
The  conunittce  on  apportionment  was  composed  of 
I.  W.  Smith,  H.  A.  (x.  Lee,  B.  Lee,  Applegate,  and 
McClure.  Applegate  j)roposed  in  a  private  session 
of  tiic  oonimittee  to  get  the  sentiments  of  the  Hud- 
soiiV,  I«ay  Company  on  the  (piestion  of  the  compact, 
and  was  deputized  by  them  to  hold  a  private  inter- 


h 
)fi' 


*-  It  seema  from  the  archives  that  McClure  from  the  committee  on  distrieta 
rcjKirteil  a  hill  in  n^lation  to  two  counties  north  of  the  Colnnihia;  Imt  tliat 
AiiplcL'ate,  who  had  a  prejudice  in  favor  of  the  word  '  district,'  was  alloweil  to 
control  tlie  choice.  It  was  his  wish,  a.h<>,  to  name  the  two  counties  Ijowis 
and  Clarke;  hut  upon  reconsidering  the  matter,  gave  up  ( "larke  for  Vancouver. 
Only  one  district  waa  defined  at  tins  time;  and  at  the  next  session  Lewis 
(\imity  was  created,  an<l  the  word  '  county  '  was  suhstituted  for  district  in  all 
tlie  laws  where  it  occurred. 

"Or.  Lnii's,  IH4,}-'.). 

■**  Applegate  says:  'To  organize  a  civil  or  military  power  that  did  not  in- 
clude all  parties  was  simply  organizing  internecine  war.  To  prevent  such  a 
Btate  of  things,  I  took  a  seat  in  the  legislature.'  Marginal  notes  oi\.Orai/'n 
JfiM.  (jr.,  42'2. 

*'This  man  is  several  times  referred  to  in  McLoughlin's  Private  PnpevH, 
where  lie  says  Chapman  hoasted  that  he  came  all  tl>e  way  from  the  Statics  for 
the  purpose  of  hurning  Fort  Vancouver.  Wldte  relieved  tlie  country  of  tliis 
dread  hy  inducing  Chapman  to  return  with  him  to  the  United  States.  IJut 
there  were  several  dangerous  men  who  came  with  the  immigrations  in  tho 
territory,  of  whom  McLoughlin  stood  in  fear,  one  of  whom  confessed  in  a 
Methodist  camp-meeting  that  he  hail  hclonged  to  the  fanu)ua  Murrill  I)and 
of  rohhcrs  which  gave  the  authorities  trouhlo  for  a  numl)er  of  years  in  tho 
Mississippi  Valley.  Burnett  speaks  of  several  '  idle,  wortldess  young  men, 
too  lazy  to  work  at  home,  and  too  genteel  to  steal;  while  some  others  were 
gamhlers,  and  others  reputed  thieves; '  hut  says  that  in  Oregon  they  were  com- 
pelli.'d  to  work  or  starve,  and  that  this  necessity  made  them  good  citizans. 
Itecolkcliom  of  a  Pioneer,  180-1. 


fl 


'  ,i 


494 


AMENDMEN'I   OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


lii.:.    |.;.tfr::i! 


V'-'-l 


view  with  McLoughlin  before  making  a  formal  propo- 
sition. To  most  of  the  people  of  Oregon  the  bring- 
ing the  officers  of  the  British  fur  company  into  the 
organization  was  a  surprise,  and  tlie  maimer  of  it  a 
secret.  Gray,  who  as  a  member  of  the  legislature 
must  have  known  nmch  of  the  inside  history,  dis- 
misses the  subject  by  attrilmting  the  concession  to 
what  he  calls  McLoughlin's  ampliibiousness/"  But 
this  curt  ignoring  of  a  matter  of  the  highest  inipor 
tance  to  the  colony  does  not  answer  the  purpose  of 
liistory.  McLoughlin  has  himself  left  on  record  u 
narrative  of  the  circumstances,  in  wliich  he  savs  tlmt 
Applegate  approached  him,  privately,  with  the  propo- 
sition to  unite  with  the  Americans  in  the  oovm'iimciit 
compact,  and  that  at  first  lie  objected ;  but  tliat  A})plo- 
gato  pointed  out  to  liini  the  security  it  would  ofl'er 
tlie  property  of  the  company,  and  how  nmch  it  would 
conduce  to  the  maintenance  of  peace  and  order  to 
have  it  known  to  the  American  people  that  the  two 
nationalities  were  united  in  Oregon.  "There  will  be 
a  large  immigrntion  tliis  year,"  said  A]»])legate;  "you 
may  depend  there  will  be  many  who  will  follow  Wil- 
liamson's example."  *' 

Remembering  the  feelings  which  tlie  person  urging 
him  to  the  measure  had  once  entertain<H.l,  iuid  reflect- 
ing that  he  had  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  sen- 
timents of  his  countrymen,  McTjoughlin  deemed  it 
prudent  to  yi(dd ;  especially  as  in  June  he  had  received 
in  answer  to  his  call  on  the  directors  of  the  company 
in  London  a  connnunication  informing  him  that  in 
the  pnisent  state  of  affairs  the  conipan}  could  not 
obtain  protection  from  the  gov<'rmnent,  but  it  nmst 
protect  itself  the  best  way  it  could.''^  In  the  judgment 
of  jVlcLougldin,  the  best  way  to  protect  the  cempany  s 
})r<)perty  was  to  accept  the  invitation  ti^ndered  l)y  the 
Americans  to  join  in  their  government  organization,?"* 

♦•rvm/A  JIM-  Or.,  422. 

"  I'riiiite  Ptiper.'i,  MS.,  3(1  ser.,  1 3. 

*<*  Priiyife  P<i}Hi:%  MS.,  '2il  ner.,  13.  14. 

''Toliuie,  in  liia  JJLit.  i'lujd  Hu'iikI,  MS.,  22,  says  mi1>8f«ntially  that  Mc" 


Tl*lll41; 


THE  FUR-TRADIiRS  BROU(iHT  IN, 


495 


and  he,  with  Douglas,  signified  his  consent  to  receive 
a  formal  proposition.  A  letter-  was  then  addressed  to 
McLoughlin,  and  conveyed  to  liini  by  Applegate.'^ 

In  the  consideration  of  the  proposition  made  to 
them,  there  were  other  subjects  besides  that  of  alle- 
giance to  be  duly  weiglied.  an  important  one  of  which 
was  the  matter  of  taxes,  the  company's  }>r()perty  being 
all  taxable  according  to  the  laws  of  the  organ izati<^n, 
and  being  groav^r  in  value  than  that  of  all  the  colonists 
together.  To  avoid  beiig  made  to  support  the  Oregon 
govermnent  in.  foto,  an  agreement  was  ei  tered  into 
tliat  the  company  should  p'ly  taxes  only  on  the  goods 
sold  to  the  white  inhabitants  of  the  count  y;  and  on 
this  understanding  a  letter  of  acceptance  a'  their  invi- 
tation was  returned  to  the  committee,'''  arid  the  officers 
of  tlie  Hudson's  Bay  Company  became,  with  all  the 
Jiritish  i-es*  dents,  parties  to  the  por.jical  compact  of 
Oregon.'-     In  the  election  of  officers,  James  Douglas 

Lnu^hlin  anil  Applegate  arranged  l)etwgea  thcni  the  method  1)y  which  the 
Tiriti.sh  and  Americans  coull  unite  witho\it  prejudice  to  tlieir  duties  as  Inyal 
citizens  and  subjects  oi  Iheir  respective  countries. 

■'"'  '  Oregon  City,  Aug.  14,  1845.  To  I)r  John  McLoughlin,  Chief  Factor  of 
H.  B.  Co.  Sir:  As  a  question  hii.t  arisen  in  the  house  of  representatives  on 
tlie  sul)ject  of  apportionment  upon  which  we  feci  peculiarly  situated,  we  heg 
leave  to  ask  of  you  a  (picstion,  the  answer  in  which  will  enahlc  us  to  come  to 
a  dclinito  conclusion  upon  tliat  subject.  Tlie  question  to  which  wc  woidd  he 
happy  to  receive  an  an.iwer  i  i  thi.;:  Do  you  tliink  the  gentlemen  belonging  to 
tlie  coiiip:uiy  over  which  you  preside  will  become  parties  to  the  articles  of 
compact,  by  the  payment  of  taxe.i  and  in  other  respects  complying  with  the 
laws  of  the  provi.donal  government'/  Your  answer  to  this  query  is  most 
rsspectfuUy  solicited.  Yours,  with  the  liighcst  respect.  I.  W.  Smith,  II.  A. 
(}.  Lee,  J.  ISl.  (iarrison.  Barton  Lee.'  Or.  Airliiri'.t,  M8.,  71. 

"''Oregon  City,  Aug.  IT),  184,").  L  W.  Smith  and  others.  (Jer.tlemcn: 
Wo  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your  favor  of  the  14th  inst.,  an  I  beg  in 
reply  to  i.;ay,  that,  viewing  the  organization  as  a  coiiqiact  of  certain  parties, 
Ihiti  ill  and  American  subject*  residing  in  Oregon,  to  afford  c^ach  other  protec- 
tion in  person  and  property,  to  maintain  the  peace  of  the  community,  and 
prevent  the  commission  of  crinn' — ;i  protection  whidi  all  parties  in  this  (coun- 
try foci  they  particularly  stand  in  need  of,  as  neither  the  British  nor  .American 
government  appear  at  liberty  to  c^'tend  tlie  jurisdictimi  of  their  lav.  s  to  this 
p;irt  of  America;  and  moreover  i;eeing  that  thii  compact  docs  not  intcr/cre  with 
our  duties  and  allegiance  to  our  rcipective  govt^rnmeiits,  nor  with  r.ny  rights 
<pf  traile  now  enjoyed  by  the  llitdoon's  Bay  Company  we,  the  otHcers  of  the 
Hiid.Kin's  Bay  Company,  consent  to  become  parties  to  tiie  articles  of  compact, 
provided  wo  are  called  upon  to  pay  taxes  only  on  our  sales  to  settlers,  Wo 
have  the  honor  to  be,  etc.  John  McLoughlin,  James  Douglas.'  Or.  Arc'ihv.^ 
Ms.,  72. 

•'^  At  the  very  time  these  negotiation'^  were  going  on,  a  resolution  wiis 
offered  in  the  house  by  David  Hill,  '  that  no  person  belonging  to  the  Hudson's 


496 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


!.   ir 


i!i! 


was  chosen  district  judge  for  three  years,  and  Charles 
Forrest,  superintendent  of  the  Cowlitz  farm  for  one 
year;  while  M.  T.  Simmons  of  Newmarket  on  the 
Sound  was  elected  to  the  two  years'  term;  and  John 
R.  Jackson  was  made  slieriff  of  Vancouver  district. 
So  soon  after  war  had  seemed  imminent  on  Oregon 
soil  were  the  extremes  of  both  parties  united  in  a 
connnon  service  by  the  sagacity  of  a  few  men  ot  good 
judgment  on  both  sides. 

Having  acccmiplished  so  much,  the  house  proceeded 
to  elect  officers  for  tiie  several  districts  south  of  the 
Colund)ia.  The  first  choico  for  supreme  judge  was  Na- 
thaniel Ford,  who  declined,  and  Peter  H.  Burnett  was 
elected.  For  Chain])oeg  County,  E.  E.  Parrish,  F.  X. 
Mattl lieu,  and  Daniel  Waldo  were  chosen  in  the  order 
named  to  fill  the  three,  two,  and  one  year  terms  of 
distric;t  judges ;  William  Morrison,  sheriff.  For  Tua- 
latin County,  B.  Q.  Tuckei-,  H.  Higgins,  and  Willianx 
Purris  were  choscMi  judges;  T.  Smith,  sheiift'.  For 
Yandiill  County,  James  O'Neil,  J,  Hend)re,  and  Joel 
P.  Walker,'"'  judges;  and  A.  Henibre,  slierifF.  For 
(vlackamas  County,  P.  G.  Stewart,  E'rederick  Prigg, 
and  F.  W.  Pettygrove,  judges;  William  Holmes, 
sherifi:  For  Clats()p  Coui'ity,'  W,  T.  Perry,  Ilobert 
Shortess,  and  Calvin  Tibbits,  judges;  Thomas  Owens, 
sherifi".  Some  changes  were  made  at  the  T)ecend>er 
session,  Prigg  Ix-ing  chosen  in  place  of  Stewart,  re- 
signed; C.  E.  Pickett  in  place  of  Prigg,  and  S.  Whites 
in  [)l:ice  of  Pettygrove.  For  Champoeg  County,  W. 
IL.  Willson  was  chose)  president  of  the  bench;  and  a 
Mr  (lolding  was  elected  a  judg(^  for  Clatsop  County. 
The  governor  was  elected  superintendent  of  Indian 
afi'airs;  John  E.  Long,  secrtitary  of  th.e  territory;  F. 
Er-matinger,  treasurer:  W.  G.  T' Vault,  postmaster- 
Bay  Company,  or  in  their  service,  shall  ever  he  considered  as  citizens  of  tlio 
govtrument  <if  Or<)gi)ii,  nor  havr  Iho  right  of  suli'rage  ot  cleotivf  franchise;' 
Imt  wan  rojected  hy  the  lu.ijority. 

'■•' Joi^l  i\  WiilkiM-  liiul  returned  from  Califoniia,  whitlior  ho  wont  in  1S41, 
au<'  lirouKht  with  liini  a  large  licrd  of  cattle  fcr  saW.  Hi!  remained  aeveral 
yoara  in  Oregon,  but  finally  settled  iiermanoiitly  in  California. 


fills 


VESSELS  OF  WAR. 


497 


ij^eneral;  and  Joseph  L,  Meek,  marshal.  Thus  was 
the  machinery  of  a  popular  and  efficient  form  of  gov- 
ernment set  in  motion,  which  joined  th  ^'on  and  the 
eagle  not  one  moment  too  soon.  For  a  icvv  days  after 
McLoughlin  and  Douglas  had  given  their  consent  to 
the  union,  there  arrived  from  Puget  Sound,  in  com- 
pany with  Chief  Factor  Ogden,  Lieutenant  William 
Peel,  tun'd  son  of  Sir  Robert  Peel,  and  Captain 
Park,  of  the  royal  marines,  with  a  letter  from  Cap- 
tain John  Gordon,  brother  of  the  earl  of  Aberdeen, 
and  comraander  of  the  British  fifty-gun  ship  of  war 
America,  of  the  British  squadron  in  the  Pacific,  at 
tliat  time  amounting  to  fifteen  vessels,  carrying  over 
four  hundred  guns.^* 

Captain  Park  brought  also  a  letter  from  Admiral 
Seymour,  mforming  McLoughlin  that  firm  protection 
would  be  given  British  subjects  in  Oregon,  and  not 
long  after,  another  letter  from  Captain  Baillie  of  the 
Modeste,  which  had  been  in  tlie  Columbia  tlie  previous 
sunnner,  informing  him  that  he  was  sent  by  the 
admiral  to  afford  protection  to  her  Majesty's  subjects 
in  Oregon,  if  they  required  it. 

Had  these  proffers  of  protection,  which  really  meant 
war,  come  in  the  month  of  June  instead  of  August, 
the  Oregon  Question  would    have   taken  a  dift'crent 


SMi 

I  1 1;  i 


•''*  Tlu!  Engli^li  fleet  of  war  in  the  Pacific,  besides  the  A  merien,  consisted  of 
the  following  vessels: 

Colliiiijsirooi/,  ship  of  tlio  line,  80  guns.  Sir  (I.  F.  Seynionr,  eoinniandur. 
Krigatos:  (Iratiipm,  50  guns,  L".  B.  Jrl::i'tin,  counuiinder;  FUi/unl,  4'2  guns, 
•I.  A.  Duntz,  couniiandcr;  Juno,  '2G  gins,  i\  J.  Blake,  coniuianilur;  TiiUmt, 
26  guns,  Sir  T.  Tlioinp.soii,  oouunandcr;  Curi/n/orf,  '_'()  guns,  Soyinour,  coni- 
uiandor:  Ilcrnlil,  '20  guns,  Henry  KcUct,  coniniander.  Sloops:  Mmlixte,  18 
guns,  Thomas  Baillio,  coinniandet-;  Dap/iiic,  18  guns,  Onslow,  eouiuiamU'r. 
Steamers:  Sdiiiutoii,  0  guns,  Heuilorson,  commander;  (^onnornnf,  0  guns, 
(reorgu  T.  (Jorilon,  connnandor;  Saliinniniler,  (>  guns,  A.  S.  Hammond,  com- 
mauiler.  Brigs:  Frolir,  6  guns,  ('.  B.  Hamilton,  inmander;  Paw/nni,  0 
gnus,  S.  Wood,  commander.  S}"/.  Krigantiiie,  'A  gni.3,  O.  Woodbridge,  eom- 
uiander.     Total  niunber  of  guns,  'Xm. 

United  States  \esse)s  of  war  in  the  Pacific:  Columhim,  ship  of  tiie  line, 
8()  guns,  Biddlu,  commander.  Frigates:  (.')iijrefin,  00  guns,  Stockton,  com- 
mander; Smynuiii/i,  00  giins,  J.  1>.  Sloat,  conimantler.  Sloops:  I'nrtKuioiithy 
*24  guns,  Moutgoniery,  commander;  Lirnnt,  '24  guns,  Page,  commander;  W'nr- 
ri'ii,  '24  guns.  Hall,  commander;  t'l/niic,  '24  guns,  Mervine,  commander.  S/iark, 
schooner,  1'2  guns,  Howison,  commander.  Kric,  store-ship,  8  guns.  Turner, 
commander.  Total  number  of  guns,  'S'22.  Oreijou  SiKcUUor.  Dec.  10,  1840. 
Hist.  Or.,  Vol.  I.     32 


I 


i   f 


498 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


turn.  McLoughlin  could  not  then  have  refused  to 
have  the  company's  property  protected,  especially 
afte.>'  having  expressed  his  fears,  as  he  did  in  1843. 
Nor  did  he  refuse  it  now;  althougli,  as  he  says,  he 
was  at  first  inclined  to  do  so,  thinking  himself  safe 
through  the  organization;  but  Douglas  suggested 
that  it  would  be  well  to  have  the  Modeste  in  the  river, 
in  view  t)f  the  threatening  aspect  of  the  political 
horizon,  and  the  large  immigration  expected  in  the 
autunm,'''' 

The  discussions  at  Vancouver  during  the  visit  of 
the  British  naval  officers  were  often  warm,  Captain 
Park  anxiously  inquiring  into  the  practicability  of 
bringing  troops  overland  from  Canada,  and  saying 
that  if  it  came  to  blows,  "we  will  hit  them  a  good 
deal  harder  tlian  we  would  other  people,"  to  the  dis- 
tress of  McLoughlin,  who  could  onl}'^  answer  in  aston- 
ishment and  disapproval,  "O  Captain  Park!  Captain 
ParkI"-'« 

Before  returning  to  the  sound,  where  the  America 
was  lying,  near  the  lower  end  of  Whidbey  Island, 
Park  and  Peel  made  a  brief  tour  of  the  Willamette 
Valle}',  visiting  some  of  the  principal  men  among  the 
settlers,  perliaps  at  the  suggestion  of  the  wise  Mc- 
Loughlin, who  could  foresee  the  c^ffect  of  such  con- 
tact. A_t  the  house  of  Applogate,  who  gave  him  an 
account  of  the  en^.igration  of  1843,  Peel  declared  that 
sucJi  men  as  composed  ic  n\ust  make  "the  best  soldiers 
in  the  w«)rld,"  witli  a  new  comprehension  of  what  it 
would  be  to  fight  them.  ''1  told  him,"  says  Apple- 
gate,  "that  they  were  probably  brave  enough,  but 
would  never  submit  to  discipline  as  soldiers.  If  the 
president  himself  had  started  across  the  plains  to 
conunand  a  compaiiy,  tlie  first  time  he  should  ciioose 
a  bad  camp,  or  in  any  other  way  oflcnd  them,  they 
would  turn  him  out,  and  elect  some  one  among  them- 
selves who  should  suit  tliem  better."" 

''^Primtr  Papers,  MS.,  2(1  scr  ,  1(). 
^* lioherf^'  liecollertmiK,  MS.,  fi. 
"  VicwHo/ U'utM-ij,  M>j.,  14,  15. 


TWO    I'AIRS   OF  SPIES. 


499 


I  have  no  doubt,  from  the  evidence,  that  the  visit 
of  Park  and  Peel,  together  with  the  act  of  McLoughlin 
in  joining  the  compact  of  the  provisional  government, 
saved  the  country  a  war,  and  influenced  the  final  set- 
tlement of  the  boundary  question.  When  they  came 
to  Vancouver  they  expected  to  maintain  England's 
hold  of  the  north  side  of  the  Columbia  River;  but 
they  found  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  bound  in  an 
agreement  of  nmtual  protection  with  the  Americans ; 
they  learned  the  fearless  and  resolute  character  of  the 
colonists,  and  their  rapidly  increasing  numbers,  and 
were  constantly  checked  in  their  expressions  of  hos- 
tility by  McLoughlin,  who  assured  them,  and  even 
wrote  to  England,  that  the  country  "was  not  worth 


a  war 


"  M 


After  a  few  weeks  Park  and  Peel  returned  to  join 
the  America,  which  sailed  for  Honolulu  and  Valpa- 
raiso in  September;  the  Fisfjard,  Captain  Duntz, 
taking  her  place  on  the  sound,  and  remaining  some 
months  at  Nisqually;  and  the  Modeste  anchoring  in 
front  of  Vancouver,  about  the  1st  of  October.  Caj)- 
tain  Gordon,  after  arriving  on  the  South  American 
coast,  received  such  advices  from  England  as  to  cause 
i,un  to  gather  up  in  haste  the  money  of  the  British 
residents,  and  sail  away  to  England  without  waiting 
foi-  orders  from  the  admiral.''"  In  the  mean  time. 
Lieutenant  Peel  was  beforehand  with  him,  taking  the 
shorter  route  by  Vera  Cruz  and  Habana  *" '  to  London, 
where  he  arrived  in  January  1846,  as  bearer  of  de- 


1       !- 


.  m 


'*.'iays  Roburts:  'The  doctor  cou.isoUod  those  jibout  him  to  peace,  Haying 
that  ail  that  could  be  done  in  Oregon  in  the  event  of  a  war  between  the  United 
States  and  (ireat  Britain  could  "ot  affect  the  final  issue,  and  it  was  better  to 
reni.iin  friends.'  licrollfrtjomy  M>i  ,  (il. 

■''■'It  is  said  tliiit  (lonhin,  when  (luestioned,  agreed  with  McLoughlin,  tliat 
'  the  country  was  not  worth  a  wai  '  l)ut  on  entirely  different  grounds.  He 
was  speaking  literally,  Ixicause  he  fo  nul  tlie  Nisqually  plains  a  l>ud  of  gravel; 
and  because,  being  fond  of  angling,  tin.'  salmon  would  not  rise  to  t'.ie  fly.  A 
country  whore  the  iisli  were  not  lively  enougli  for  his  sport  wiis  in  his  esti- 
mation worthless.  But  the  salnion  ■were  not  the  ily  tish  in  Oregon  that 
refu.sed  to  rise  to  the  fly  of  the  Briti.sh  angler. 

'"'This  inf.')rniation  was  couinninicjated  by  letter  to  the  N.  Y.  Journal  of 
Comiiiircc,  and  copied  in  the  .S'.  /.  Pubimtinn  of  April  25th,  whence  it  found 
its  way  into  tlie  Or.  Sixrlntor,  .July  4,  1S4G. 


mm 


600 


AMENDMENT   OF  THE   OIUJANIC  LAWS. 


\'.hi\ 


J 


if 


spatcliea  from  Admiral  Seymour.  It  was  rumored  in 
Habana  that  the  whole  English  squadron  was  makirifr 
sail  for  the  Columbia  River;  but  the  rumor  did  not, 
ap})arently,  originato  with  Lieutenant  Peel."' 

Before  one  pair  of  spies  quitted  Vancouver  another 
arrived.  On  the  28th  of  August  appeared,  unan- 
nounced, at  the  headquarters  of  the  fur  company, 
Lieutenant'Henry  Warre  of  the  54th,  and  Lieutenant 
Vavasour  of  the  royal  engineers,  who  had  left  Eng- 
land April  5th,  and  crossed  the  continent  by  way  of 
Red  River,  Fort  Pitt,  and  Fort  Colville.  They  spent 
their  time  in  ai)parent  half  idleness  at  Vancouver, 
surveying  a  little  about  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
but  in  reality  gathering  information  relative  to  the 
position  of  affairs  between  the  British  subjects  and 
American  citizens  in  Oregon.  That  which  they 
learned  was  not  at  all  satisfactory,  as  it  afterward 
appeared ;  and  their  report,  though  doubtless  tending, 
like  that  of  Peel,  to  influence  the  English  government 
in  resigning  its  pretensions  to  the  territory  south  of 
the  49th  parallel,  was  damaging  in  its  accusations 
against  McLoughlin,  as  a  British  subject,  if  not  as  tlie 
head  of  the  corporation  he  represented  in  Oregon. 

It  was  charged,  mainly,  that  the  policy  pursued  by 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Comi)any  at  the  different  posts  in 
the  Oregon  Territory  had  tended  to  the  introduction 
of  American  settlers  into  the  country  until  they  out- 
numbered the  British."'  And  to  prove  this  position, 
they  instanced  the  assistance  rendered  the  difl'crent 
immigfrations,  one  of  which  was  arriving  while  they 
were   at  Vancouver.     They    had,    it  was    said,    sold 

**  Roberta  describes  Peel  as  a  '  tine  young  fellow,  well  bronzed,  rather 
taller,  but  reminding  nie  of  young  Dana,  geologist  of  the  U.  S.  exploring 
expedition.  Peel  died  in  India,  in  command  of  tbe  S/inntioit.'  Park,  he  says, 
was  a  '  well-knit  man,  capable  of  unlimited  service,  who  probably  had  charge 
of  Peel.'    Neither  was  an  officer  of  the  Atiierht.   Jfcrollcrtions,  MS.,  5. 

*^  McLoughlin,  in  answer  to  this  particular  charge,  says  that  ever  since 
1826,  vhen  Smith,  Sublette,  and  Jackson  led  their  trapping  parties  west  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  tlie  Americans  had  outnundiered  the  British  in  Oregon. 
This  would  have  been  a  point  on  the  side  of  the  American  plenipotentiary 
had  he  known  it. 


McLOUGHLINS   ANsJVVEIl8   TO   CHARCJES. 


501 


goods  to  the  American  settlers  at  cheaper  rates  tlian 
lo  Britisli  subjects.  They  had  suffered  tlieniselves  to 
johi  the  provisional  organization,  "  without  any  reserve 
except  the  mere  form  of  the  oath."  Their  lands  had 
been  invaded,  and  themselves  insulted,  until  they  re- 
quired  the  protectiori  of  government  "against  the 
very  peo})le  to  the  introduction  of  whom  they  have 
been  more  than  accessory,"  and  more  of  a  like  import. 
The  answer  made  by  McLoughlin,  while  it  was 
intended  only  for  the  eyes  of  the  London  directors, 
or  the  ministry,  contams  matter  of  much  interest  to 
the  student  of  Oregon  history.  Concerning  the  friend- 
ship shown  the  missionaries,  he  said:  "What  would 
you  have  ?  Would  you  have  me  turn  the  cold  shoulder 
to  the  man  (A  God  who  came  to  do  that  for  the  Indians 
which  the  company  had  neglected  to  do?"  As  to  the 
first  settlers,  n)en  from  the  mountains  and  the  sea,  he 
had  tried  to  ])revent  their  remaining  idle  and  becoming 
destitute,  and  therefoi-e  dangerous  to  the  good  order 
and  safety  of  the  company's  servants.  Drive  them 
away  he  could  not,  having  neither  the  right  nor  the 
power.  To  the  allegation  that  the  trading  posts  of 
the  company  had  been  used  to  save  American  im- 
migrants from  starvation  and  the  Indians,^^  he  replied 
that  it  had  long  been  safe  for  two  men  to  travel  from 
Fort  Hall  to  Vancouver,  or  twenty  men  from  Fort 
Hall  eastward,  and  therefore  that  the  immigrants  owed 
it  not  to  tlu!  trading  posts  that  they  wt;re  spared  by 
the  savages,  and  as  to  other  assistance  rendered  in 
furnishing  boats,  and  in  some  instances  goods,  tlic  im- 
migrants liud  not  come  to  Oregon  expecting  a  cordial 
reception  from  him,  but  quite  the  contniry;  and  tliut 
while  he  had  done  some  tilings  for  humanity's  .sake,"' 


''^  By  the  wording  of  the  report  f>t'  Warro  and  Vavasnnr,  it  might  ho  inferred 
that  tliey  preferred  the  iiiiinigraiitd  to  be  cut  off,  and  lilaiiied  the  doctor  that 
they  were  not. 

"*  I  have  before  me  a  letter  written  by  Courtney  M.  Walker,  who  was  for 
some  time  a  clerk  of  the  company  at  Fort  llall,  i:i  which  he  rays:  '  ^^'elI  imleed 
was  it  tliat  this  noble  man  was  at  the  head  of  alfairs  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany when  the  American  pioneers  came  to  tlieso  shores  seeking  homos;  for 
without  tlie  aid  they  met  at  the  huud^  of  the  doctor,  they  could  not  have 


5(W 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


^f 


ilb 


he  had  intended  to  and  had  averted  evil  from  the 
company  by  using  courtesy  and  kindness  toward  the 
American  immigrants. 

As  to  joining  the  organization,  he  showed  that  in 
1843  lie  hud  written  to  England  of  the  threats  against 
Vancouver,  and  asked  for  protection,  but  had  not 
received  it,  while  the  dogs  of  war  were  snarling  and 
threatening,  and  the  Americans  outnumbered  the 
British  subjects  ten  to  one  in  the  settled  portions  of 
Oregon ;  and  failing  in  this,  had  done  the  best  thing 
he  knew  how  to  do  for  the  company  and  humanity. 
He  admitted  that  the  lands  of  British  subjects  had 
been  invaded,  but  proportionally  in  a  less  degree  than 
those  of  the  colonists  by  each  other. ^^  "  And,  after 
all,"  he  says,  '*  I  have  found  British  subjects  just  as 
keen  at  catching  at  an  opportunity  to  benefit  them- 
selves, and  that  in  instances  to  my  cost,  as  these 
American  backwoodsmen.""^ 

To  the  accusation  that  the  company  had  submitted 
to  insult  from  the  Americans,  he  replied  :  "  They  were 
not  to  consider  themselves  insulted  because  an  igno- 
rant man  thought  he  had  a  better  right  to  a  piece  of 
land  than  they  had,  and  attempted  to  establish  his 
right  in  the  only  way  the  law  admitted."  And  to  the 
taunt  that  having  brought  this  state  of  aifairs  on  him- 
self, he  then  wanted  protection,  he  answered  that 
protection  had  been  asked  for  British  property,  but 
more  particularly  for  British  rights,  from  the  aggres- 
sions of  a  people  who  had  been  publicly  encouraged 
by  the  promises  of  congress  of  donations  of  land — a 
circumstance  which  the  British  government  had  taken 

remained  or  lived.  When  it  was  known  at  Vancouver  that  immigrants  were 
fomiiig  across  tlie  plains,  orders  were  sent  along  the  line,  to  Walla  Walla, 
Boist5,  and  Fort  Hall,  not  to  let  the  poor  people  suflfer,  but  to  help  them  along, 
and  teach  the  Indiana  to  do  so  also. 

"^  Four  cases  are  mentioned;  tlie  claim  of  McTaviah,  the  intruder,  being  put 
oflF  by  the  organization;  tlie  claim  of  his  son,  his  own,  and  the  company's 
lands  at  Vancouver. 

**  Reference  is  hero  made  to  the  fact  that  some  of  the  company's  servants 
■were  allowed  to  made  claims  on  the  land  about  Vancouver,  under  the  land 
law,  to  keep  off  Americans,  with  the  understanding  that  they  held  for  the 
company,  but  who  refused  afterwariF  to  relinquish  their  possession.  Robert>C 
Recollections,  MS,,  CI. 


CHRIST-UKE  DEEDS. 


SOS 


no  notice  of,  further  than  it  had  of  the  apphcation  of 
the  company  for  protection  of  its  property.  As  for 
the  officers  of  the  company,  they  required  no  protec- 
tion, being  personally  as  much  esteemed  and  respected 
as  any  individuals  in  the  country. 

Having  answered  these  several  charges  specifically, 
he  summed  up  on  the  main  one  of  being  "more  than 
accessory"  to  the  introduction  of  American  settlers, 
by  saying  that  the  company  had  defeated  every 
American  trader  in  fair  opposition,  while  so  conduct- 
ing themselves  that  neither  they  nor  their  friends  had 
any  occasion  to  be  ashamed  of  their  conduct.  The 
great  influx  of  missionaries,  whom  they  had  no  right 
or  power  to  prevent  coming,  and  the  statements  they 
circulated  through  the  public  prints,  was,  he  said,  the 
remote  cause  of  Linn's  bill  oflering  donations  of  land, 
concerning  which  the  British  government  had  seen 
fit  to  be  silent,  thereby  itself  becoming  "more  than 
accessory"  to  the  American  settlement  of  Oregon. 
He  repelled  the  assumption  that  it  was  the  duty  of 
the  company  to  defend  England's  right  to  territory. 
The  obligation  of  the  company's  officers,  he  asserted, 
was  to  do  their  duty  to  the  company,  whatever  their 
feelings  might  be,  and,  minding  their  proper  business, 
let  the  government  take  care  of  its  own  affairs. 

He  admitted  helping  the  immigrants  of  1843,  1844, 
and  1845,  with  boats  to  transport  their  families  and 
property  to  the  Willamette  before  the  Columbia 
should  be  closed  with  ice,  in  which  case  those  left 
behind  nmst  2)erish  of  starvuliun ;  taking  the  sick  into 
the  hospital  at  Vancouver  for  treatment,  thereby  sav- 
ing several  lives,,  And  he  also  admitted  assisting  the 
immigrants  of  1843  to  put  a  crop  in  the  ground,  both 
as  a  means  for  providing  for  their  support  and  of  sav- 
ing the  company  from  the  necessity  of  feeding  the 
next  immigration.  "If  we  had  not  done  this,"  he 
declaretl,  "Vancouver  would  have  been  destroyed, 
and  the  world  would  have  judged  us  treated  as  our 
inhuman  conduct  deserved;  every  officer  of  the  com- 


504 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  ORGANIC  LAWS. 


II 


pany,  from  the  governor  down,  would  have  been  cov- 
ered with  obloquy,  the  company's  business  in  this 
department  would  have  been  ruined,  and  the  trouble 
which  would  have  arisen  in  consequence  would  have 
probably  involved  the  British  and  American  nations 
in  war.  If  I  have  been  the  means,"  he  added,  "by 
my  measures,  of  arresting  any  of  these  evils,  I  shall 
be  amply  repaid  by  the  approbation  of  my  conscience, 
and  of  all  good  men.  It  is  true,"  he  said,  in  conclu- 
sion, "that  I  have  heard  some  say  they  would  have 
done  differently ;  and  if  my  memory  does  not  deceive 
me,  I  think  I  have  heard  Mr  Vavasour  say  this;  but 
as  explanation  might  give  publicity  to  my  apprehen- 
sions and  object,  and  lestroy  my  measures,  I  was 
silent,  in  the  full  reliance  that  some  day  justice  would 
be  done  me ;  and  as  these  gentlemen  were  not  respon- 
sible, and  I  was,  I  took  the  liberty  of  judging  for 
myself,  communicating  them  only  to  Mr  Douglas 
under  the  injunction  of  secrecy.""' 

The  conduct  of  McLoughlin  was  discussed  in  the 
house  of  commons,  where  it  was  said  that  by  some 
people  he  was  called  the  '  father  of  the  country,'  and 
said  to  have  settled  it  greatly  at  his  own  expense, 
while  by  others  it  was  declared  that  he  had  discour- 
aged settlement.**  In  his  own  statement  of  his  acts 
and  motives  the  remarkable  passages  are  those  in 
which  he  confesses  himself  guilty  of  the  main  charge, 
that  of  sympathizing  with  the  Americans,  or  with 
equal  rights,  which  is  the  same  thing.  Aristocrat  as 
he  was  considered  by  the  colonists,''^  and  autocrat  as 
he  really  was,  for  twenty  years  througliout  the  coun- 
try west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  lie  still  bravely 
returned  the  assaults  of  his  enemies  in  tlie  language 
of  a  republican.     He  defended  the  American  charac- 

*'  I  have  taken  this  abstract  of  McLonghlin's  defence  from  liis  remarks  on 
the  report  of  Warro  and  Vavasour,  wliicli  was  sent  by  Sir  George  Simpson  to 
Mr  Douglas,  and  by  him  lianded  to  McLouglilin  after  lie  had  resigned  and 
settled  at  Oregon  City  in  1 84().     It  constitutes  series  3,  Private  Papern. 

'"'^  Jfoii/ic  of  t'wnmons  /iV;i/.,  294. 

^Onui't  flint.  Or.,  153;  Parriah's  Or.  Anecdotes,  MS.,  98;  Simpson's  Or. 
Ter.  Vlaiiius,  32-5. 


WRONU  AND  INJUSTICE 


605 


ter  from  the  slurs  of  government  spies,  saying  "they 
have  the  same  right  to  come  that  I  liave  to  be  here," 
touching  Hghtly  upon  the  ingratitude  of  those  who 
forgot  to  pay  liim  tlieir  just  del)ts,  and  the  rudeness 
of  those  whom  White  mentions  as  making  him  blush 
for  American  honor. 

But  whether  he  favored  the  company's  interests 
against  the  Britisli,  or  Britisli  interests  against  the 
company's,  or  maintained  both  against  the  American 
interest,  or  favored  the  American  interest  against 
either,  or  labored  to  preserve  harmony  between  all, 
the  suspicions  of  both  conflicting  ])arties  fell  upon 
him,  and  being  forced  to  maintain  silence,  he  had  the 
bad  fortune  to  be  pulled  to  pieces  between  them. 
Foreseeing  something  of  this,  feeling  himself  spied 
upon  by  the  British  government,  as  well  as  by  Sir 
George  Simpson,  having  a  large  property  interest 
south  of  the  Columbia,  and  being  perhaps  weary  of  a 
responsibility  that  with  increasing  years  became  in- 
creasingly burdensome,  he  tendered  his  resignation  as 
head  of  the  company  in  Oregon,  in  the  autunm  of 
1845,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Oregon  City  in  the 
following  spring,'*^  with  the  intention  of  becoming  au 
American  citizen  when  the  boundary  question  was 
settled,  or  his  resignation  was  accepted.  With  the 
next  spring  came  the  news  of  the  election  of  Presi- 
dent Polk  and  the  threat  of  war  with  England,  caus- 
ing him  the  greatest  perplexity.  Change  his  allegiance 
in  time  t)f  war  he  could  not,  without  forfeiting  his 
estates  in  Canada,  and  perhaps  his  life  as  a  traitor. 
Neither  could  he,  in  the  event  of  war,  retain  his 
dearly  held  claim  at  Oregon  City.  Then  came  Warre 
and  Vavasour,  as  he  well  knew  witli  no  good  intent 
toward  him,  while  the  political  horizon  grew  no 
brighter.  In  his  perplexity  he  took  advice  of  Bur- 
nett, then  chief  justice  of  Oregon,  and  Applegate, 
the  man  through  whom  the  recent  fusion  of  British 

'"  Tolmifi'x  Piiget  Sound,  MS.,   47;  Holdens  Pioneering,   MS.,  2,  3;  Mo8s' 
Pioneer  Times,  MS.,  30. 


1  ^,1 

J: 


AMENDMENT  OF  THE  OKOANIC  LAWS. 


1,'  ■' 


and  Aiiierican  interests  in  Oregon  had  been  consum- 
mated. Ajjplegate  urged  him  to  take  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  United  States/'  his  resignation  hav- 
ing been  accepted;  but  Burnett  objected  that  he  had 
no  authority  from  tiie  government  to  administer  the 
oath;  "and  to  Mr  Burnett's  timidity,"  says  Appk;- 
gate,  "  was  owing  the  doctor's  subsecjuent  troubles  with 
individuals  and  the  United  States  government."  This 
opinion  is  not  mine,  however.  The  missionary  party 
would  have  found  that  the  oath  was  without  author 
ity,  and  the  result  would  have  been  tlie  same.  They 
made  war  on  him  after  he  came  to  Oregon  City  In 
addition,  he  lost  heavily  through  the  debts  of  the  set- 
tlers, which  the  comj)any  put  upon  him,  if  not  wholly, 
at  least  to  a  great  amount,' '  and  was  severely  attacked 
by  English  writers,  notably  in  Fitzgerald^ s  Hiulm7is 
Bay  Company. 

It  was  fortunate  that  neither  the  dissatisfaction  of 
the  English  ministry,  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 
nor  the  defiant  tone  of  the  American  press  and  con- 


*! 


"  '  Every  British  subject  soutli  of  the  Columbia  wouhl  have  followed  liis 
example, '  says  Applegatu;  'tlieu  in  case  of  war  we  would  have  had  friends 
instead  of  enemies  in  our  miilst;  and  it  would  not  have  left  tlie  shadow  of 
truth  to  the  falsehood  used  by  his  enemies  that  he  was  a  British  propagan- 
dist, and  had  ref'used  to  become  an  American  citizen. ' 

''■•  Tliese  debts  aggregated  a  sum  variously  stated  by  diflferent  authorities, 
but  usually  at  about  $(30,000.  Applegate  says  this  charge  was  revoked  on 
tho  motion  of  his  associates  in  office,  who  protested  in  a  bo<ly  against  the 
injustice  to  a  man  who  liad  been  of  such  service  to  the  company;  but  that 
notwithstanding  tliis  lie  preferred  to  be  responsible  for  a  large  amount.  The 
personal  pride  and  dignified  reticence  of  McLoughlin  prevented  a  Icnowlodge 
of  his  private  affairs  becoming  public;  and  even  his  family  and  heir^  were  in 
ignorance  concerning  his  losses.  Sir  James  Douglas  teatiticd  bcfo-c  tho  joint 
commission  wliich  settled  tlie  affairs  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  and  I'liget  Soiinil 
companies,  that  the  doctor  was  not  lield  responsible  for  the  debts  of  the 
American  settlers.  1[.  B.  Co.  Ev.,  If.  B.  Co.  Clnini.t,  (51.  J.  Q.  Thornton, 
who  at  one  time  was  his  attorney,  stated  before  the  same  comiiii...::inn,  and 
has  frequently  asserted  in  pulilic,  that  the  company  lield  McLoughlin  respon- 
sible. Tlie  same  statement  is  made  in  Thonitonx  Hiit.  Or.,  MS.,  7-lH;  Orai/'n 
lliHt.  Or.,  .321  2;  Blioicliet's  Cath.  Ch.  in  Or.,  71;  Waldo's  CrUii/ite.^,  M.S., 
14,  anil  in  many  authorities  not  here  quoteil,  because  most  of  them  are 
simply  copyists  of  the  otliers.  And  while  I  think  it  quite  probable  tliat  his 
fellow-otlicers  ma<le  an  offer  to  bear  their  portion  of  the  loss,  from  the  best 
infi»rin(itioii  I  can  gather,  I  am  persuaded  that  the  principal  burden  came 
upon  him  liy  his  own  choice,  and  through  liis  Scotch  jiride.  His  daughter 
states  that  slie  overhearil.  after  his  removal  to  Oregon  City,  some  gentlemen 
conversing  about  his  affairs,  who  said  that  he  '  Iiad  trusted  the  immigrants 
more  than  he  could  himself  paj'.'  Harwys  Li/c  of  McLoidj/ilhi,  MS.,  33. 


PERSONNEL  OF  THE  (lOVKIlNMENT. 


807 


grcHis,  could  aftbcf  the  status  of  tlie  Oregon  govern- 
ment, coinposcd  of  individuals  of  both  nationalities 
outside  <)f  the  jurisdiction  of  either;  to  which  fact 
was  due  the  continued  jieace  and  prosperity  of  tlie 
colony  in  1845. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1843. 


■'  J  '-iM 


A  Notable  Migration — Various  .Startini! -points — Divisions  and  Com- 
panies— Joel  Palmer — Samuel  K.  Barlow — Presley  Welch— Samuel 
Hancock — Bacon  and  Buck — W.  (1.  T'Vault— .Iohn  Waymire — Solo- 
mon Tetherow — California  Extolled  at  Fort  Hall — Meetino  with 
WiinE — His  Fatal  Fkiendshiv — A  Long  Cut-okk  -Hardships  on  the 
Malheuh — Disease  and  Death  at  the  Dalles — Heartlessne.ss  ok 
Waller  and  Brewer — Emmkt's  Wanderings — Tiii:  Incomino  by  Sea — 
Names  oi  the  Immigrants — Third  Session  of  the  Legislature — 
^.xPLOKvrioNs  for  Immkjrant  Pass — Wagon-road — l^uBLic  Building."?, 
Capital,  and  Liquou  Questions — New  Counties — Revenue. 


Thk  immigration  of  1845  was  larger  than  any  that 
liad  preceded  it,  three  thousand  persons  arriving  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  year,  and  doubhng  the  wliite  pop- 
ulation of  Oregon.^  There  were  present  at  the  east 
the  same  underlying  motives  in  this  exodus  which 
drove  west  the  bajids  of  former  years — restlessness  of 
spirit,  dissatisfaction  with  home,  want  of  a  market, 
and  distance  from  tlie  sea." 


■  Hines'  Or.  mitl  /«.<.,  200;  Martihnll'i  Statement,  MS.,  1;  McLoughUns 
Private  Papvrx,  MS.,  2il  sir.,  '2:i;  Siuctoii.'.'i  Or.  Ter.,  20;  Grays  Ninf'.  Or., 
45,3. 

^Then  were  some  origiuul  vii'wa  advaiioed  by  Caarles  Saxton,  wlio,  while 
returning  to  tiie  United  .States  with  White,  met  t'lia  army  of  adventure  -s  in 
tlie  .Snake  River  eountry;  as  tlie.su  views  are  nou  '.vithont  interest,  I  will 
quote  them  hrietly.  'Causes  have  heen  operating  for  the  hist  twenty- ive 
years  in  the  north  Atlantic  states  tf  ])roduee  this  unparalleled  nughty  in  )V('- 
ment  across  the  .\meriean  eontinont.  A  .system  of  aristoeraey  has  oppressed 
the  laboring  chusses,  and  roused  the  peitde  to  lly  to  the  western  states  to 
avoid  tiie  soup  and  parish  relief  societies,  <'s  witnessed  in  Europe;  and  in  the 
west  the  pioneers  were  compelled  to  seek  n  ^w  homes  for  their  large  fainilicH, 
and  to  find,  if  possible,  a  suitalde  market  ft>r  their  produce,  and  a  range  for 
their  herds.  Congress,  by  an  unwise  act  of  logislation,  not  regarding  the  iu- 
(h)niitable  spirit  of  enterprise  in  the  deseendaiits  oi  the  Jamestown  colony 
by  land,  and  tlie  Plymouth  colony  by  sea,  nearly  blockaded  tlie  great  thor- 
oi'ghfare  of  western  emigration  on  land  by  congregating  the  various  tribes  of 

( -m ) 


tiATHElllNG  OF  THE  COMPANIES. 


600 


Th'jro-  were  two  or  more  points  of  departure  from  the 
Missouri  frontier  tliis  year;  and  there  were  many 
eompanies.  Two  divisions  rendezvoused  at  Iude})en- 
dence;  one  with  twenty-five  wagons,  under  Presley 
Welch,  with  Joel  Palmer  nvd  Sanmel  K.  Barlow  as 
aids,  and  one  eommandec  hy  Samuel  Hancock,  con- 
sisting of  forty  wagons.  liancock,  with  Bacon  and 
others  of  tliis  innnigrati«)n,  have  contributed  liberally 
to  my  historical  archives.^ 

A  third  company,  with  fifty-two  wai.r.is,  left  St 
Joseph  under  the  command  of  Hackleman,  to  which 
belonged  W.  W.  Buck  of  Oregon  City,*  well  knf)wn  in 
his  adopted  country.  A  fourth  comi)any  of  sixty- 
one  wagons  and  three  hundred  ]>ersons,  starting  from 
St  Joseph  also,  was  commanded  b}'  W.  G.  T'^'^ault, 
v/ith  John  Waymire  as  lieutenaiit,  and  James  Allc;n  as 
sergeant.  There  was  another  company  of  sixty-six 
wagons,  and  about  the  same  numbei"  of  persons,  under 
Solomon  Tetlierow.      Here,   as  elsewhere   in    human 

Indians  on  the  western  slit  in;  of  tlie  Missouri  Kiver.  ami  inappropriately  call- 
iug  it  our  western  frontier.  But  the  pioneer.-i  of  184.'!  and  1S44  hroke  over  the 
barrier,  pii8.sed  the  red  men  of  the  forest,  ainl  estahlished  themselves  in 
their  new  lionies  in  Oregon  ami  California.  In  this  iniglity  movement  we  seo 
human  nature  waking  in  her  might  from  the  .sluniher  of  centuries,  girding 
herself  for  the  conflict,  and  overcoming  every  ohstacle,  going  forth  to  assert 
her  inalienable  rights,  and  the  ecjuality  of  men  throughout  the  Ainerieau 
continent.'  Or.  Tir  ,  'I'A-A.  Nikx'  h't;/.,  Ixviii.  !?;{!)  40,  has  some  remarks  on 
the  thoughtless  and  aimless  rush  of  well-conditioned  people  to  seek  poverty 
and  hardships.  Pobiuexinny  .Tan.  '(■,  1X40;  MeKinlay,  in  //.  It.  Co.  L'r., 
H.  R.  Co.  Cl'tli'in,  100.  Saxton'.s  j  niphlet  on  Omfon  Trrrifon/  appi'ars 
to  liave  been  first  publislied  "n  V'ashington,  and  afterward  reproduced  in 
Oregon  City  by  fJeorge  A'"Tnethy.  It  contains  the  laws  of  Oregon,  witii  an 
account  of  the  political  coiditton  of  the  country,  its  resources,  soil,  climate, 
productions,  and  progress  in  education,  with  facts  and  figures  concerning  poji- 
dation,  and  other  matters,  enlivened  liy  some  elocpient  p;utsages,  original  and 
q'loted,  of  a  patriotic  nature. 

•*  Haneoc!.  settled  on  Whidbey  Inland  in  Puget  Sound.  He  luis  written  a 
larg^  inanusc.  ipt  vo'.ume,  eniitled  'JliirUfii  Yvnrs'  /{csidiiirr  on  the  i^'ort/iircsf. 
Con.''',  narrating  the  incidents  of  the  immigration  and  many  of  his  adventiire.s 
on  t  "J  Pacific  eoa.st.  J.  M.  lliicon,  of  Barlow's  division,  has  also  written  on 
the  .ubject.  Bacon  was  a  native  of  Bufl'alo.  Love  of  adventure  induced  iiini 
to  'o  lo  Oregon.  Engaging  in  various  mercantile  pursuits,  he  eventually 
se'  led  [.ermanently  in  Oregon  City.  His  Mrmnitili'  IJ/f  <il  Oiri/oii  Ci///,  MS., 
is  i  running  commentary  on  tlie  business  and  business  men  of  the  country. 

*W.  \Y.  Buck  Wiw  born  in  New  York  in  1804,  Imt  emigrated  from  Oliio. 
Ho  was  a  saddle  and  harness  n;aker,  a  man  of  intelligence  and  enterprise, 
and  his  manuscript  gives  the  history  of  several  of  the  tirst  manufactories  of 
the  country,  in  which  lie  was  interested,  under  the  name  of  Eidtriir'tenat  Oregon 
Cili/,  MS. 


510 


THP:   immigration   of   1846. 


t!i. 


If  ^'" 

i 

1^* 

i' 

gatherings,  the  men  of  might  came  naturally  tu  the 
fW)nt.  In  every  migration  the  men  selected  as  caj)- 
tains  at  the  start  continued  to  maintain,  either  hy 
talent  or  habit,  the  leadership  of  their  fellows  after 
reaching  their  destination. 

Nothing  unusual  befell  the  travellers  betwetiii  the 
Missouri  and  Snake  rivers.  At  Fort  Hall,  according 
to  the  t(!stimony  of  several,  an  effort  was  made  to  turn 
the  immigration  toward  California;  and  whatever  iin- 
fiivorable  information  they  received  concerning  the 
<listance,  the  road,  or  the  natives,  was  imputed  to  the 
desire  of  the  British  fur  comjmny  to  prevent  tliis 
great  influx  of  Americans  into  Oregon."  There  were, 
however,  other  influences  used  at  Fort  Hall  to  turn 
American  emigration  to  California,  and  from  Ameri- 
cans themselves.  The  presence  of  the  British  and 
French  scjuadrons  in  the  Pacific,  with  the  condition 
of  Mexico,  made  it  evident  that  California  would  soon 
fall  into  the  hands  of  one  of  these  two  nations  unless 
tlie  United  States  sustained  the  popular  Monroe  doc- 
trine, which  was  to  leave  no  room  for  monarchies  on 
North    American  soil.     The  cabinet  at  Washini>ton 

^11  understood  that  should  Great  Britain  seize  Cali- 


W( 

fornia  slie  would  be  in  a  position  to  hold  Oregon."  To 
prevent  such  a  eonsununation  without  hostility  was 
the  secret  care  of  a  few  statesmen,  of  whom  Benton 
was  one  of  the  movst  adroit  as  well  as  enthusiastic.^ 

''  Palmer  n  Jmir  mil,  4:{;  /hwonK  Mcrr.  Li/nOr.,  MS.,  3. 

''  Itoliertu'  /{erollfc/ioiix,  MS.,  (i. 

"In  October  1844,  iii  a  speech  at  St  Jjiiiiis,  iieiittui  uttered  this  prophecy, 
already  fiiltilUHl; 

'  I  say  tlu!  man  in  alive,  full  grown,  and  is  listening  to  what  1  say  (without 
helieving  it  perhaps),  wiio  will  yet  see  the  Asiatic  connnerco  traversing  the 
North  I'acitic  Oeiian  -(^itia-ing  the  Oregon  River-  cli;ul)ing  the  western  slope 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains — issuuig  from  its  gorges  and  spreading  its  fertiliz- 
ing streams  over  our  M'ide-extended  Union!  The  steaml)oat  antl  the  steam- 
car  have  not  exhausted  all  their  wonders.  They  have  not  yet  even  found 
their  amplest  and  most  appropriate  theatres- -the  traiupiil  surface  of  tlie 
North  IWitic  Ocean,  and  the  vast  inclined  plains  which  spread  east  and  west 
from  the  hase  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Ihe  magic  hoat  and  the  flying  car 
are  not  yet  seen  u[)on  this  ocean  and  this  ])lain,  hut  they  will  he  seen  tliere; 
ami  St  Louis  is  yet  to  find  herself  as  near  to  Canton  as  she  now  is  to  London, 
w'th  a  better  and  safer  route,  by  land  and  sea,  to  ('hina  iind  .Japan,  than  she 
new  has  to  France  and  Great  Britain.'  Orripn  Spectdtoi;  Sept.  17,  1S415. 


MEETING    WITH    WHITE. 


511 


No  significance  was  attaclied  to  the  fact  that  one  of 
the  Greenwoods  of  the  previous  year's  pilgrimage  to 
California  was  at  Fort  Hall  with  a  young  man  named 
McDougal,  from  Indiana,  who  had  been  despatched 
from  California  to  jji'uide  the  travellers  tlirouijh,  and 
who  were,  as  Palmer  says,  well  stocked  with  false- 
liuods  to  induce  them  to  take  the  California  road. 
According  to  Palmer,  fifteen  wagons  had  been  fitted 
out  for  California  at  the  outset,  and  the  owners  of 
thirty-five  more  were  persuaded  by  these  men  to  join 
them.**  He  was  probably  speaking  of  his  wing  of  the 
immiyfration ;  for  Saxton  informs  us  that  there  were 
forty-six  wagons  destined  for  Californi;\  on  leaving 
Iiidepe:idence."  Gray  admits  that  L.  W.  Hastings,  of 
White's  innnigration,  did  all  he  could  to  turn  the  peo- 
[)le  to  California.  The  anxiety  to  })opuiate  that  ter- 
^•itory  became  intelligible  when  in  the  following  spring, 
F.'-;  lont,  acting  on  secret  despatches,  retraced  his 
sieps  to  California,  in  order  tliat  by  land  as  well  as 
by  sea  English  occu[)ancy  should  be  anticipated  by 
Americans.'" 


^r  ri 


The  immigration  progressed  well  after  leaving  Fort 
Hall,  with  tlie  exception  of  the  loss  of  two  men  sup- 
posed to  have  been  killed  by  the  natives,  while  hunt- 
iiiii  at  the  crossinjif  of  Snake  River;"  and  from  there 
to  the  Malheur  River  all  went  well.  But  at  the  Hot 
Springs  near  Fort  Boise  a  portion  of  the  endless  car- 
avan, one  of  the  Independence  companies,  was  met 
by  White,  of  whose  unsuccessful  explorations  of  a  few 
weeks   previous   I    liave   already  given   an   account.'" 

■■  Hu  also  Kays  in  a  note  to  his  Jonrmil,  p.  44,  that  the  iiiiiiiigrant.s  allutlcil 
to,  not  flailing  California  to  ho  a.s  reiiresonteil,  runioved  from  there  to  Oregon; 
hnt  iio  (Iocs  not  give  their  names. 

°  Forty -hIx  wagonH,  320  o.xen,  '.)3  men,  40  women,  and  57  children.  (Iniy'n 
Jfisl.  Or.,  453. 

'"Tlie  CoUi Ill/wood,  says  Ko))ert.s,  was  on  her  way  to  seize  California,  when 
tlioy  fonml  they  were  too  late.  Several  nations  had  an  eye,  ahout  tliat  time, 
to  tins  coast.  The  Irish  were  temporarily  (pueted  hy  the  passage  of  the  May 
nootli  hill.   Rr.collect.innH,  MS.,  (iO. 

^^  Ilinicork'x  T/iirfi'i'ii  Yfdrx,  MS.,  70. 

'■'The  first  companies  Whitt?  nu't  were  Barlow's,  Knighton's,  ;unl  McOon- 
ald's,  numbering  800,  near   (irand  Rond.     The   sceoml  was    Palmer's  neai- 


I       il 


51: 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1845. 


From  the  fact  that  this  company  was  the  one  to  try 
liis  projected  route  to  the  heart  of  the  Willamette 
Valley,  it  appears  that  White  was  responsible  for  the 
disasters  that  followed,  though  the  guide,  Stephen  H. 
L.  Meek,  who  probably  followed  White's  advice,  and 
was  ambitious  to  distinguish  himself  also,  incurred  all 
the  blame.  However  that  maybe,  about  two  hundred 
families  were  persuaded  to  try  a  cut-off,  with  the  assur- 
ance that  they  would  save  two  hundred  miles  of  travel 
by  following  the  Malheur  River  and  traversing  the 
country  to  a  pass  in  the  mountains  at  the  head  of  the 
Willamette  Valley. 

The  route  undertaken  was  an  abandoned  trail  of 
tlie  fur-tra])pers,  which  for  several  days  they  followed 
w  ithout  experiencing  unusual  trouble.  But  in  cross- 
ing the  Malheur  Mountains  the  country  became  so 
stony  that  wagons-tracks  could  scarcely  be  discerned 
on  the  disintegrated  rock.^^  The  feet  of  the  oxen 
became  so  sore  that  the  ])oor  creatures  would  lie  down 
and  could  with  great  difficulty  be  forced  to  move  for- 
waid.  Not  finding  grass,  tlie  loose  cattle  constantly 
turned  back,  and  thus  gave  unceasing  trouble.  Forced 
by  the  nature  of  the  country  out  of  his  proper  course, 
the  pilot  bore  for  to  the  south,  where  was  found  good 
grass,  but  only  nauseous  alkaline  water.  By  day  the 
temperature  was  high,  and  at  night  ice  formed  in  the 

Boisi?;  anil  the  third  thu  St  Joseph's  company,  near  tlio  Salmon  Falls  of  Snake 
Kivor.  W/itlf'n  Ten  Y earn  in  Or.,  '282;  Buck's  Entei-pinnis,  MS.,  1,  2;  Palmer's 
J  oil  rue  I,  50. 

'^Tlio  tirst  golil  discovery  in  Oregon  made  by  any  American,  if  not  by  any 
jierson,  was  near  the  liead  of  tlie  Malheur  lliver,  on  a  small  creek  divided  from 
the  .Malliciir  l)y  a  riilge.  Tiiis  stream  ran  soutli-west,  and  was  supposed  to  be 
a  branch  of  the  Malheur,  an  error  that  caused  much  trouble  an(l  disappoint- 
ment to  prospectors  eight  or  ten  years  later.  Daniel  Herron,  a  cousin  of  W. 
J.  Herron  of  Salem,  was  looking  for  lo.st  cattle  while  the  company  were  in 
camp  here,  and  picked  up  a  piece  of  shining  metal  on  the  rocky  bed  of  the 
creek,  and  carrie<l  it  to  camp  as  a  curiosity.  No  one  could  tell  what  the  metal 
was,  an<l  no  one  thought  of  its  being  gold.  Another  migget  was  found  and 
brought  to  Mr  Martin's  wagon,  who  tested  it  by  hammering  it  out  on  his 
wagon-tire;  l)ut  not  being  able  to  tell  its  nature,  it  was  thrown  into  the  tool- 
chest  and  forgotten,  and  ultimately  lost.  After  the  gold  discovery  in  Califor- 
nia these  incidents  were  remembered,  and  many  parties  went  in  search  of  the 
.'^pot  where  the  emigrant.s  said  this  gold  was  found,  bnt  were  misled  by  being 
told  it  was  on  a  tributary  of  t!ie  Malheur.  S.  A.  Clarke,  in  Portland  J)aily 
lice,  Feb.  li,  181)9;  Overland  Monthly,  iv.  L'Ol-'i. 


LOST  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS. 


613 


water-buckets.  Neither  savages  nor  game  were  found 
in  this  desolate  region.  There  was  no  indication  tliat 
it  had  ever  been  traversed  by  civiUzed  man,  and  it 
slowly  dawned  upon  the  comprehension  of  the  wan- 
derers that  their  pilot  knew  nothing  of  the  country 
to  which  he  had  brought  them,  and  from  which  it  was 
doubtful  if  he  would  be  able  to  extricate  them.  In 
the  mean  time,  extremes  of  temperature,  improper  and 
insufficient  nourishment,  with  mental  agitation,  brought 
t)n  a  sickness  known  as  mountain  fever,  while  the 
children  were  attacked  with  dysentery  from  drinking 
the  alkaline  waters,  resulting  in  several  deaths. 

Refusing  to  go  farther  in  this  direction  and  turning 
north  from  here,  they  were  led  over  a  drj^  ridge  between 
the  John  Day  and  Dbs  Chutes  rivers,  where  again 
the  supply  of  water  was  insufficient,  and  a  hundred 
men  rode  all  day  looking  in  every  direction  for  springs 
or  streams,  while  a  hundred  others  pursued  the  fam- 
ishing stock  which  ran  wildly  in  search  of  water.  A 
c(mipany  which  had  gone  in  advance  of  the  main  body 
here  returned  and  reported  no  better  prospects  so  far 
as  they  had  travelled.  Des})air  settled  upon  the 
people ;  old  men  and  children  we|)t  together,  and  the 
strongest  could  not  speak  ho})efull3^     C)rdy  the  women 


('cmtinued  to  show  firmness  and  couraiie 


some 


The  murmurs  which  had  for  some  time  been 
breathed  against  their  guide  now  became  angiy 
threatenings  ;  the  people  refused  to  listen  to  his  coun- 
sel when  the  trail  became  lost,  and  he  was  Wi^rned  that 
his  life  was  in  danger.  Meek  realized  what  it  was 
to  be  at  the  mercy  of  a  frenziinl  mob  in  the  wilder- 
ness, but  was  unwilling  to  desert  them,  because  he 
knew  from  the  general  contour  of  the  country  and  the 
advice  of  natives  that  tliey  would  reach  the  C(>Iumbva 
River  in  a  few  days  by  continuing  a  certain  course;.'* 


T 


'*S.  A.  Clarke,  in  Portland  Daily  Bee,  Feb.  C>,  1809.  See  Staat's  Address, 
in  Or.  Pioneer  A sxoc.  Tram.,  1877,  50-1. 

'^Tetherow,  writing  in  the  Or.  Sjuctatnr,  March  18,  1847,  says  that  Meek 
procured  an  Indian  giiide  to  conduct  him  to  tlif  Dalles,;  and  another  writer  in 
the  same  paper  of  Fehniary  18,  1847,  says  that  the  ■wanderers  went  a^i  far 
Hist.  Ok.,  Vol.  I.    Si 


^»  >tv»^ 


514 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1845. 


A  hurried  consultation  took  place,  and  by  the  advice  of 
Sauiuc'l  Hancock,  Meek,  who  was  supposed  to  have 
fled,  was  to  secrete  himself,  while  some  of  his  friends 
would,  prepare  to  start  with  him  the  following  morn- 
ing for  the  Dalles/^  This  plan  was  carried  out,  and 
oil  the  afternoon  of  the  second  day  they  reached  a 
tributary  of  Dos  Chutes  Kiver;  the  joy  of  the  suffer- 
ing men,  women,  and  children,  expressing  itself  in 
silent  tears  or  loud  cries,  according  to  age  and  tem- 
perament. 

Continuing  down  the  stream  and  coming  to  the  main 
river,  they  found  it  to  flow  through  a  deep  canon  with 
walls  so  precipitous  that  the  only  way  in  which  water 
could  be  procured  was  by  lowering  a  vessel  at  the  end 
of  two  hundred  feeL  of  rope  in  the  hands  of  a  man, 
himself  held  by  a  stroiig  rope  in  the  grasp  of  his  fel- 
lows. Following  the  river,  they  came  at  last  to  a  place 
where  the  cattle  could  be  driven  down  and  crossed  by 
swinnning;  but  wliicli  was  not  considered  «  safe  ford- 
ing-place  for  the  wagons.  To  overcome  thih  difficulty, 
a  wagon-bed  suspended  from  a  cable  stretched  be- 
tween the  banks  was  drawn  back  and  forth  by  means 
of  rollers  and  ropes;  and  in  this  vehicle  families  and 
goods  were  transported  to  the  other  side. 

While  tliis  aerial  ferry  was  in  ])rocess  of  construc- 
tion the  n)ain  body  began  to  ovortaki'  tlu  ni,  and 
Meek  was  informed  that  the  father  of  two  young 
men  who  had  diod  that  day,  in  consequence,  as  lie 
believed,  of  the  hardships  of  this  route,  had  sworn 
to  take  Meek's  life  before  the  sun  should  set.  Not 
doubting  that  the  vow  would  be  kept,  if  the  incensed 
father  met  him  while  his  wrath  was  hot,  the  unfortu- 
nate guide  fled  with  his  wife  to  the  camp  of  some 

soutii-west  as  Silver  Lake,  or  Klamath  Marsh,  wliich  wniild  have  brought 
them  opiKJsite  DiamoiKi  Peak  puss.  It  is  douhtful  if  they  went  so  fai-,  aa 
there  were  other  iiiarslies  more  central. 

^'^  JJnurork'n  I'hiHirn  Yearn,  MS.,  75.  Elisha  Packwooa  also  says  thftt 
M(!ck  was  not  no  had  a  man  as  he  was  iMstored  by  the  imnugnuits;  and  tbwt  at 
till',  very  time  tiiey  were  so  anxious  x.  nang  him,  if  they  h«d  suliinitted  he 
would  have  brought  them  tc  the  Mittlemeuts.  Morne't)  Vaaii.  Ter.,  MS.. 
i.  59. 


f?UriERiNC;S  AND  DEATH. 


51S 


18 


natives,  and  was  sent  across  the  river  in  a  manner 
similar  to  tliat  described,  except  that  not  oven  a 
basket  was  used  to  support  himself  and  wife  in  mid- 
air, l)eing  uphekl  merely  by  a  slip-noose. 

Procuring  horses  from  the  natives,  Meek  hastened 
to  reach  the  Dalles,  where  he  made  known  to  ^'V^aller 
and  Brewer  the  condition  of  the  lost  companies,*'  and 
l^esought  their  aid ;  but  they  rendered  no  assistance 
He  succeeded,  however,  in  finding  a  guide  in  the 
person  of  Moses  Harris,  who  had  deserted  White's 
])arty  the  first  day  out  from  the  Dalles,  and  hajipened 
to  be  at  this  place.  Harris  gathered  a  few  horse- 
loads  of  food  and  hurried  to  the  relief  of  the  immi- 
grants, whom  he  found  at  the  crossing  of  Des  Cliutes, 
and  which  was  not  more  than  thirty-five  miles  from 
the  Dalles,  near  where  Tyghe  Creek  comes  into  this 


river 


19 


The  passage  of  the  river  detained  them  for  two 
weeks,^"  and  they  arrived  at  the  Dalles  about  the 
middle  of  October,  having  lost  about  twenty  of  their 
company  from  sickness.  As  many  more  died  soon 
after  reaching   the  settlements,   eithec   from  disease 


ot 
ed 
;u- 


an 


IS.. 


I 


^'  Uanrod's  ThirU-cn  Years,  MS.,  78-81 

'*  Elisha  Packwood,  wlio  was  also  among  the  lost  iaimijjrants,  iis  they  have 
always  been  called  to  di.stinguisli  them  from  those  ■<»  ho  kept  to  the  beaten 
path,  relates  that  Meek  made  givat  exertions  to  get  a  guiile  and  .some  persona 
to  go  to  tlieir  assistance  from  the  mission,  but  wahimt  success;  and  •■says,  in 
ilain  terms,  that  it  wiis  throngh  sheer  heartlessness  that  he  was  refused. 
Morse,  who  took  down  I'ackwood's  statement,  says  it  is  tiie  testimony  of  all 
the  olil  pioneers  'that  for  rank  selfishness,  heartlessness,  avarice,  and  a  desire 
to  take  advantage  of  the  necessities  of  the  emigrants  to  the  utmost,  the  mis- 
sion at  the  Dalles  exceedeii  any  ottxr  institution  on  the  K'orthwest  Coast. 
This  is  a  terrible  charge,  ln>t  a  con\  •  rsatiou  with  Hfty  diftcrent  pioneers  who 
crossed  the  plains  in  an  early  day  will  sati,-*!^  any  ouo  ol  the  fact.'  Morse's 
WiLsh.  Tn:,  MS.,  i.  GO-l. 

"*  Moses  Harris,  commonly  known  as  Black  Harris,  or  the  Black  Snuire, 
among  mountain  men,  like  others;  of  his  cbtss,  li.id  the  gift  of  .story -telling, 
and  was  noted  for  a  famous  fiction  about  a  potrilie'  forest  which  lie  had  seen,  on 
which  the  leaves  and  birds  were  preserved  in  all  le  beauty  of  life,  the  moutiis 
of  tne  birds  still  open  in  theacti>t  singing  ;  Biirin'tfs  fiecoUfCtioHK  of  a  Pioneer, 
1.").').  Harris  is  described  as  Ko.  '2,,  on  page  l:2t5  of  (iray's  Hist.  Or.,  and  he 
was,  I  believe,  made  a  charact.  ■  in  Moss'  novel  of  the  'Prairie  Flower,' 
l)cfore  mentior.cd.  Ona  of  Stenhen  Meck's  faniou.s  stories  w;i.s  of  a  Rocky 
Mountain  bt'.in  with  hair  eighteen  feet  long,  which  was  folded  up  every 
moriiiug  in  the  i.>riii  of  a  pack,  and  carried  on  :  j  shoulders  of  au  attendant. 
!<nn  Jose  Arqiis,  Nov.  1(5,  1867. 

'^Palmer'd  Jour.,  64;  Bacon's  Merc.  l'/<  Or.,  MS  ,  6. 


516 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1846. 


already  contracted,  or  from  overeating  at  the  Dalles 
food  which  in  their  starving  condition  they  would 
not  wait  to  have  properly  prepared. 

Notwithstanding  their  long  detour  and  two  weeks' 
delay,  it  does  not  appear  that  the  lost  companies  were 
longer  travelling  than  the  main  caravan.  Palmer 
arrived  at  the  Dalles  with  his  company  on  the  2yth 
of  September,  or  about  the  time  they  came  to  the  cross- 
ing of  Des  Chutes  River.  Here  awaited  them  the 
trials  wliich  had  beset  previous  caravans.  I  find  the 
condition  of  tlie  whole  body  spoken  of  in  the  Oregon 
Spectator  of  January  21,  1847,  as  wretched  in  the 
extreme.  This  paper  says  that  the  supply  of  boats 
being  wholly  inadequate  to  their  speedy  conveyance 
down  the  Columbia,  and  their  stock  of  provisions 
failing  at  the  Dalles,  famine  and  a  malignant  disease 
raging  among  them,  a  misery  ensued  which  is  scarcely 
paralleled  in  history.  The  loss  of  life  and  property 
was  enormous.  The  people  of  Oregon  City  despatched 
necessaries  to  their  relief,  and  Cook,  owner  of  the  only 
sail-boat  in  the  country,  gave  them  the  use  of  his 
vessel.'"'  The  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  as  usual,  lent 
their  bateaux.^" 

In  a  country  like  western  Oregon,  where  the  princi- 
pal travel  was  by  river  navigation,  it  seems  strange 
that  there  should  have  been  no  more  boat-building. 
The  explanation  lies  probably  in  the  fact  that  most  of 
the  population  were  landsmen,  who  knew  nothing  of 
ship-carpentry.  Besides  this  insufficient  reason,  for 
there  were  some  seafaring  men  in  the  country,  there 
was  so  nmch  to  do  on  their  farms  to  make  sure  of 
food  and  shelter  for  themselves  and  the  expected 
incoming  of  each  year,  that  they  had  given  too  little 
thought  to  providing  transportation;  and  unforeseen 
circumstances  attended  every  arrival  for  a  number  of 
years. 

■'•  Tlie  sloop  Calapooya,  25  tons,  built  at  Oregon  City  by  Capvain  Cook,  an 
Kngli»htnan,  in  1845.  Bacon's  Meir.  LiJ'cOr.,  MS.,  12. 

'"  For  assisting  these  sufifering  people,  MoLoughlin  says  Lieutonaufc  Vava- 
Honr  charged  hinj  with  disloyalty. 


PALMER'S  WAGON-ROAD. 


617 


)f 


e 
11 


When  Palmer's  compaiiy  reached  the  Dalles  they 
found  sixty  families  awaiting  transportation  by  two 
sn)all  boats,  which  would  require  at  least  ten  days. 
The  season  was  so  far  advanced  that  Palmer  feared 
detention  for  the  winter;  and  impatient  of  the  weari- 
ness and  expense  of  such  delay,  tliey  determined  to 
attempt  the  crossing  of  the  Cascade  Mountains  with 
their  wagons.  This  plan  was  strongly  opposed  by 
Waller  and  Brewer.  Knighton  had  returned  discour- 
aged, for  he,  in  company  with  Barlow  and  seven  others, 
had  penetrated  twenty-five  miles  into  the  mountains 
without  finding  a  pass,  although  Barlow  was  still 
seeking  one. 

On  the  1st  of  October,  Palmer,  with  fifteen  families 
and  twenty-three  wagons,  left  the  Dalles  to  join  Bar- 
low and  his  company,  which  was  reduced  to  seven 
wagons.  On  arriving  at  Tyghe  Creek,  at  the  mouth 
of  which,  S(Mne  five  miles  below,  the  lost  immigrants 
were  then  crossing,  Palmer  turned  up  the  stream,  and 
overtook  Barlow's  company  on  the  3d.  Here  leaving 
the  train.  Palmer  with  one  man  began  exploring  for 
a  wagon-road.  At  first  the  undertaking  seemed  likely 
to  succeed.  By  travelling  up  one  of  tlie  long,  scan- 
tily timbered  ridges  that  characterize  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Cascade  Range,  ten  miles  were  made 
with  ease;  after  which  came  a  bushy  level,  followed 
by  a  shorter  ridge  running  in  a  general  direction 
westward,  but  covered  with  heavy  forest.  From  this 
apparent  gain  in  height  and  distance  they  were  then 
obliged  to  descend  to  a  densely  wooded  bench,  from 
which,  still  descending,  they  reached  a  stream  which 
they  called  Rock  Creek,  beyond  which  began  again 
the  ascent  over  a  hill  long  and  steep,  covered  thickly 
Avitli  a  fine  growth  of  spr-uce  timber,  and  on  the  other 
side  of  the  hill  was  a  cedar  swamp,  which,  however, 
they  found  passable  where  the  dammed-uj)  stream 
which  formed  it  was  confined  within  banks.  Con- 
tinuing westward  a  few  miles,  tlieir  course  was  sud- 
denly interrupted  by  a  deep  and  wide  canon,  compelling 


518 


TUE  IMMIGRATION   OF   l*i5. 


them  to  travel  northward  toward  Mount  Hood ;  dark- 
ness overtaking  them  thirty-six  miles  from  camp. 

On  the  following  morning  a  descent  to  the  bottom 
of  the  canon  was  effected,  and  a  stream  was  discov- 
ered which  evidently  came  down  from  Mount  Hood, 
the  waters  overflowing  the  banks  during  the  night, 
and  subsiding  during  the  day.  It  had  a  sandy  bottom, 
and  was  very  irregular  in  width,  varying  from  two 
rods  to  half  a  mile.  On  this  low  ground  there  were 
scrubby  pines,  alder  thickets,  rushes,  and  a  little  grass. 
Returning  to  the  higher  ground,  and  exploring  back 
beyond  the  point  where  they  first  came  to  the  bluff, 
a  descent  was  discovered,  gradual  enough  to  admit 
the  passage  of  wagons.  Unacquainted  with  the  ex- 
tent and  roughness  of  the  Cascade  Mountains,  Palmer 
believed  that  by  travelling  up  this  gulf  he  would 
arrive  at  the  sunmiit,  imagining  that  Mount  Ht)od 
rose  from  or  upon  the  axis  of  the  range,  whereas  it  is 
far  to  the  east  of  it.  In  this  belief  he  returned  to 
camp  for  provisions  to  prosecute  his  explorations  in 
that  direction,  being  soon  followed  by  Barlow,  who 
had  taken  the  same  general  route  with  no  definite 
success. 

Observing  that  in  the  mountains,  owing  to  the 
density  of  the  forest,  tJie  grass  was  insufficient  for 
their  cattle,  the  leaders  thought  proper  to  send  the 
greater  part  of  the  herds  back  toward  the  Dalles  to 
be  driven  over  the  trail  north  of  Mount  Hood,  send- 
ing at  the  same  time  a  horse-train  to  that  place  for  a 
further  supply  of  food,  it  being  evident  that  some  time 
would  be  consumed  in  getting  through  to  the  Willa- 
mette. 


Work  was  then  commenced  upon  the  road,  which 
was  opened  in  three  days  as  far  as  Rock  Creek,  chiefly 
by  means  of  fire,  which  consumed  the  thickets  of 
arbutus,  alder,  hazel,  and  other  growths  very  difiicult 
to  penetrate  and  laborious  to  cut  away. 

On  the  morning  of  the   11th  Palmer,  Barlow,  and 


OVKK  THE  CASCA1>E  MOUNTAINS. 


619 


a  Mr  Lock  set  out  again  in  advance  to  anticipate 
the  roacl-iuakorH  by  marking  out  their  route.  Their 
course  was  up  Rock  (^reek  to  a  branch  coming  in  from 
the  left,  following  which  for  a  short  distance  and  find- 
ing it  im})racticable,  they  turned  north,  and  came 
unexpectedly  into  the  cattle  trail  where  it  crossed  a 
barren  sandy  plain  stretcliing  away  seven  or  eight 
miles  west  to  the  foot  of  Mount  Hood.  Followinij 
this  trail  six  miles  to  the  sunnnit  of  the  ridge  leading 
to  the  snow-peak,  they  explored  unsuccessfully  for  the 
expected  route  down  this  side.  Ridges  and  canons 
thousands  of  feet  high  and  deep  environed  the  has.  ^ 
this  majestic  mountain.  Icy  precipices  opposed  their 
passage;  and  in  the  lower  ground  there  were  marsluis 
filled  with  snow-water.  After  two  days'  severe  labor 
they  returned  once  more  to  camp,  to  find  the  wagons 
advanced  as  far  as  the  small  branch  of  the  creek  be- 
fore mentioned;  but  the  company  was  nmch  discour- 
aged with  the  slow  progress,  and  annoyed  with  the 
constant  straying  of  their  cattle  and  the  thieving  of 
the  savages.  Upon  consultation  it  was  determined  to 
make  one  more  essay  at  exploration,  while  the  road 
was  being  opened  to  the  sandy  plain  near  the  base  of 
Blount  Hood,  the  wagons  remaining  at  the  small 
stream  called  Camp  Creek. 

The  tliird  attempt  revealed  equal  difficulties,  a,nd 
although  by  no  means  convinced  that  a  wagon-road 
through  the  Cascade  Mountains  was  impracticable, 
the  explorers  were  aware  that  the  rainy  season  was  at 
hand,  and  that  rain  in  the  valleys  meant  snow  at  this 
elevation.  They  therefore  hastened  to  camp,  where 
provisions  were  already  nearly  exhausted,  and  made 
arranefcments  for  leavinjj  the  wayfons  and  bai'i)fai»'e  in 
charge  of  a  guard,  while  the  women  and  children 
were  carried  through  to  the  Willamette  without  fur- 
ther delay,  on  horses,  by  the  cattle  trail,  which  plan 
was  immediately  executed.  Hardly  had  they  started 
when  the  rain  began  to  descend.  The  trail  led  over 
open  and  elevated  ground;  the  cold  was  benumbing, 


.  1  '1 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


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23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14580 

(716)  872-4S03 


S 


520 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1845 


and  a  thick  fog,  of  the  temperature  of  melted  snow, 
settled  over  the  heights.  On  the  third  day  so  com- 
plete was  the  obscuration  that  the  trail  was  lost,  and 
Palmer's  advance  party  of  four,  which  included  two 
women,  became  bewildered,  and  the  women  were  left 
alone  on  their  horses  in  the  rain,  while  the  men  ram- 
bled about  for  two  hours  in  search  of  the  path,  which 
Palmer  fortunately  discovered.  Soon  after  this  peril 
was  over  a  breeze  sprang  up  which  cleared  away  the 
fog ;  and  in  the  evening,  to  their  great  joy,  they  were 
met  by  a  party  from  Oregon  City,^'^  who,  upon  hear- 
ing of  the  attempt  to  cross  the  Cascade  Range  with 
wagons,  and  of  the  scarcity  of  food  among  the  com- 
panies, had  loaded  a  train  of  eleven  horses  with  flour, 
coffee,  sugar,  and  tea  for  their  relief.  Not  finding 
them  as  soon  as  expected,  and  not  knowing  where  to 
look  for  them,  the  rescuers  turned  back,  but  prompted 
by  some  secret  impulse,  when  six  miles  on  the  home- 
ward course,  returned  and  soon  encountered  Palmer's 
party,  and  thus  undoubtedly  saved  many  lives.  The 
provisions  were  taken  in  clnarge  by  Palmer  and  one  of 
the  relief  party,  whili  others  returned  to  Oregon 

City  with  the  two  a\  a  and  one  man  of  Palmer's 
company.-*  It  was  found  on  reascending  the  Mount 
Hood  ridge  that  the  weather  was  even  worse  than 
before,  tlie  same  icy  fog  being  encountered,  while  the 
trail  was  now  covered  with  snow,  and  to  get  the 
heavily  loaded  horses  over  the  slippery  ascents  and 
descents  was  a  severe  and  dangerous  toil  for  man  and 
beast.  On  arriving  at  the  camp,  October  20th,  a  mis- 
erable spectacle  was  presented.  Several  families  were 
entirelv  without  food,  and  all  nearly  so.  The  work- 
oxen,  and  most  of  the  cattle,  were  being  driven  by  the 
able-bodied  men  to  the  Willamette,  while  the  women, 

''  N.  and  C.  Gilmore  and  Stewart  are  the  names  of  this  party  given  in 
Palmc/x  Joitninl. 

^*  These  were  Mr  and  Mrs  BufFum  and  a  Mrs  Thompson.  Tlie  only  names 
mentioned  iri  the  narratives  are:  Keetor,  Bacon,  Barlow,  Lock,  Palmer,  Tay- 
lor, Caplinger,  Creighton,  Farwell,  Buckley,  Powell,  Senters,  Smith,  and 
Hood. 


SUFFERINGS  IN  THE  MOUNTAINS. 


521 


children,  and  enough  men  to  care  for  their  safety  were 
here  awaiting  the  arrival  of  horses  which  Barlow  and 
Rector,  who  had  started  on  the  IGth,  intending  to 
explore  for  a  road  as  they  passed,  were  to  send  back 
from  Oregon  City.  A  few  half-starved  cattle  yet 
remained,  the  only  resource  of  the  destitute  people. 

After  being  furnished  with  food,  a  few  families 
immediately  set  out  for  Oregon  City  on  the  pack- 
horses.  Others  followed  on  foot  through  the  snow, 
having  loaded  their  weak  oxen  witli  some  necessary 
articles.  By  the  25th  all  the  families  had  departed 
except  those  of  Barlow,  Rector,  and  Caplinger,  who 
were  still  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  horses.  Palmer 
remained  until  this  date  assisting  to  build  a  storehouse 
for  the  baggage  left,  which  was  named  Fort  Deposit 
and  placed  in  charge  of  a  small  guard.  As  Palmer 
and  three  others  were  leaving  the  camp  they  met 
Barlow  and  Rector  coming  in. 

They  had  reached  Oregon  City  after  undergoing 
much  suffering  from  being  lost  in  the  mountains  for 
several  days.  Barlow,  being  older  tliaii  liis  companion, 
and  much  exhausted,  frequently  fell  in  walking,  and 
became  alarmed  lest  he  should  break  a  leg,  and  be 
compelled  to  die  alone  in  the  wilderness ;  and  piteously 
inquired  of  Rector  what  he  would  do  in  sucli  an  event. 
"  Eat  you ! "  growled  Rector,  and  stalked  on.  Look- 
ing back  he  beheld  his  friend's  face  bathed  in  tears, 
which  smote  his  heart,  and  he  returned  to  comfort 
him.  Not  long  after  this  incident  they  came  to  a 
small  stream  flowing  westward,  which  was  regarded 
as  a  happy  omen,  and  soon  they  heard  the  tinkling  of 
cow-bells  on  the  cattle  trail.  So  great  was  their 
joy  that  for  some  minutes  they  could  not  command 
their  voices  to  call  for  help.^'"  Palmer's  party  passed 
many  families  on  the  way.  Two  of  them  had  lost 
all  their  provisions  in  the  night  through  the  greed 
of  their  hungry  horses,  the  snow  having  entirely  cov- 
ered tlie  grass,  and  these  nine  persons  scantily  clad, 

**  Victor's  River  qf  the  West,  375-6. 


622 


THE  IMMIGRATION   OF   1845. 


the  children  with  feet  almost  bare,  with  nothing  to 
eat,  were  still  eighty  miles  from  the  settlements. 
Their  wants  were  partially  relieved  by  others  in  a  not 
much  better  condition.  Three  of  those  who  had  first 
reached  Oregon  City  were  met  returning  with  horses ; 
and  a  company  was  found  at  the  crossing  of  the  Sandy 
cutting  out  a  road  toward  the  settlements  from  this 
point;  the  low  land  along  the  stream  being  covered 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  fir  and  cedar. 

Two  of  the  horses  in  Palmer's  party  became  too 
weak  to  proceed  and  were  left.  Of  the  eleven  sent  with 
provisions,  not  one  survived.  On  the  30th  Palmer 
arrived  at  the  house  of  Sanmel  McSwain  of  the  pre- 
vious year's  pilgrimage,  who  subsequently  sold  his  claim 
to  Philip  Foster,  and  it  became  tlie  recruiting  station 
in  crossing  the  mountains.  The  next  night  was  spent 
at  the  house  of  Pet(!r  H.  Hatch,  in  the  Clackamas 
Valley.  On  the  1st  day  of  November  he  arrived  at 
Oregon  City,  having  passed  a  month  in  the  Cascade 
Mountains;  but  it  was  not  until  December  that  the 
last  of  the  belated  people  arrived  in  the  Willamette 
Valley .^^  Nor  did  those  who  last  reached  the  Co- 
lumbia River  arrive  in  the  valley  any  earlier.  The 
same  detentions  and  misfortunes  whicli  awaited  every 
company  here  were  meted  out  to  these.  A  raft  of  logs 
becoming  water-soaked,  four  women,  mother  and  three 

'^^ Bacons  Mercantile  L{f'e  Or.  City,  MS.,  7.  Joel  Palmer  was  born  near  the 
foot  of  Lake  Ontario,  Canaila,  1810,  of  Quaker  parentage.  When  a  boy  he 
went  to  Pennsylvania,  and  married  in  Buck  County;  removing  afterward  to 
Indiana,  where  he  was  a  large  canal  contractor  and  tlien  a  farmer;  being  also 
a  member  of  tlio  legislature  in  tlie  winter  of  1844-5.  The  excitement  on  tiio 
boundary  question  was  then  .it  its  height,  and  iiiHuenced  him  to  go  to 
Oregon.  Palmer  returned  to  the  States  in  184G  to  bring  cmt  his  family.  He 
ke])t  a  journal  of  liis  travels,  which  he  ijublished.  In  a  manuscript  called 
Palmer  I*  Witijoti  7'rti!ii,  he  givcJ  an  account  of  the  publication  of  l:is  Journal, 
and  of  the  main  incidents  of  the  return  to  Oregon.  He  says  that  he  contracted 
in  Cincinnati  for  the  printing  of  tlie  narrative  of  his  journey  to  and  from 
Oregon,  with  his  observations  on  tlie  country,  the  condition  of  the  people, 
the  government,  and  other  matter.^,  the  whole  constituting  a  fund  of  informa- 
tion of  value  to  persons  intending  to  emigrate.  He  expected  to  have  his  book 
ready  to  sell  to  the  immigration,  and  to  realize  from  it  enough  to  pay  most,  if 
not  all,  the  expense  of  his  second  journey;  but  although  ho  waited  almost  two 
months,  he  never  received  more  than  a  <lozeu  or  two  copies,  and  was  compelled 
to  leave  it  behind  for  the  pnblisher  to  <lisp(ise  of  as  he  pleased.  This  is  to  bo 
regretted,  as  it  is  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind. 


INCOMERS  BY  SEA. 


023 


daughters,  were  put  on  shore  between  the  Dalles  and 
Cascades,  the  son  and  father  remaining  with  the  raft. 
When  darkness  came  the  raft  ct)uld  not  be  found,  and 
the  desolate  women,  after  building  a  fire,  sat  down  by 
it  to  spend  the  night  in  the  wet  forest.  But  the  fire 
attracted  others  in  similar  trouble,  and  they  were 
rescued  from  impending  dangers.''  The  incidents, 
pathetic  and  humorous  whicli  attended  the  journey- 
ings  of  three  thousand  persons  would  fill  a  volume. 
I  only  attempt  to  point  out  such  as  led  to  certain 
results  in  the  history  of  the  colony,  and  gave  rise  to 
certain  legislation.'"^^ 


"W.  p.  Herron,  in  Camp-fire  Orations,  MS.,  17;  James  Morris,  in  Id.,  18. 

"*One  of  the  most  curious  chapters  in  the  history  of  overland  travel  is 
that  which  relates  to  a  party  who  probably  never  reaches  I  tlieir  destination. 
It  appears  that  a  man  named  James  Emmet,  a  Tennessean,  in  the  winter  of 
1844-5  gathered  from  Illinois,  Kentucky,  and  Tennessee  principally,  a  com- 
pany of  men,  women,  and  cliildren,  amounting  in  all  to  over  one  hundred 
])ersons,  about  forty -five  of  wliom  were  able  to  Dear  arms.  In  the  month  of 
January  they  left  Iowa  City  for  Oregon  witli  twenty-one  wagons,  a  nund)er 
of  horses,  cattle,  and  farming  utensils — Emmet  being  chosen  guide  of  the 
expedition.  Instead  of  rendezvousing  at  any  of  the  points  from  which  com- 
panies usually  started,  or  waiting  for  the  grass  to  come  up  in  the  spring, 
tliey  proceeded  at  once,  under  Emmet's  direction,  to  take  a  nortli-west  course, 
which  soon  carried  tliem  beyond  the  settled  pot 'i  on  of  the  territory.  After 
travelling  north-west  for  a  couple  of  weeks  they  turned  a  little  more  north  Ut 
the  Iowa  River,  wliicli  they  ascended  for  a  considerable  distance,  and  then 
turned  due  west,  plunging  into  an  ocean  of  wilderness  and  prairie,  without 
compass  or  anything  to  guiile  them  except  the  rising  and  setting  sun.  After 
pursuing  this  course  for  forty  days,  and  not  reaching  the  Missouri  River, 
some  of  the  men  became  alarmed,  and  only  the  most  strenuous  exertions  of 
Emmet  and  his  adherents  prevented  their  turning  back  in  a  body.  The  per- 
suasions and  tlireats  of  these  men,  together  with  the  consciousness  of  being 
already  so  far  into  the  wilderness  that  to  return  was  about  as  dangerous  a.s 
to  go  forwaril,  kept  tliem  from  abandonding  the  effort  to  reach  the  Missouri, 
In  the  mean  time  their  provisions  were  becoming  exhausted,  game  on  the 
prairie  was  scarce,  bridges  hail  to  be  built,  and  numerous  difficulties  beset 
them  that  had  not  been  expected,  sucli  as  being  obliged  to  keep  along  the 
bottoms  of  streams  in  order  to  fin<l  feed  for  their  cattle,  whether  those 
streams  flowed  from  or  toward  the  west,  the  direction  they  wialied  to  jiursue, 
and  to  keep  near  the  timber  for  game  to  eke  out  their  own  rapidly  dwindling 
stock  of  fooil.  After  three  months  of  aimless  wandering  over  a  trackless 
desert,  they  readied  the  Vermilion  River,  which  empties  into  tlie  Missouri 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  north  of  the  I'latte,  where  the  Missouri 
makes  a  great  bend  to  the  south;  but  they  were  still  several  days  from  the 
main  stream,  and  following  down  the  Vermilion,  they  reached  the  fort  at  the 
junction,  with  eighteen  men,  and  about  half  the  number  of  women  and  chil- 
dren that  had  started  from  Iowa  City.  Some  had  turned  back,  in  spite  of 
persuasion,  and  some  had  camped  higher  on  the  Vermilion  to  rest  and  hunt 
tiuffalo.  While  they  were  encamped  at  Vermilion,  the  steamer  Oewral  Brmka 
came  down  from  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone  River  with  a  cargo  of  furs. 
When  this  company  reached  the  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Vermilion  Rivei 


«» 


! 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1845. 


There  is  a  marked  difference  between  the  people 
who  came  to  the  Pacific  coast  by  sea  and  those  who 
crossed  tlie  continent,  that  is  not  accounted  for  by  the 
fact  that  one  class  came  from  the  Atlantic  seaboard, 
and  the  other  from  the  western  frojitier;  because  the 
origin  of  both  classes  was  the  same.  These  western 
men  came  in  larger  numbers,  an<l  Americanized  Ore- 
gon, stamping  upon  its  institutions,  social  and  political, 
their  virtues  and  their  failings.  There  was  an  almost 
pathetic  patience  and  unlimited  hospitality,  born  of 
their  peculiar  experiences  rather  than  of  any  greater 
largeness  of  heart  or  breadth  of  views. 

The  immigration  of  1845  did  not  differ  essentially 
from  the  previous  ones,  except  that  it  was  drawn 
more  from  the  middle  states,  or  rather  less  from  the 
Missouri  border.  Like  their  predecessors,  they  unex- 
pectedly became  indebted  to  the  charitable  offices  of 
the  British  fur  company,  whom  they  had  intended  at 
the  outset  to  drive  from  the  country,  and  had  their 
views  much  modified;  though  as  events  afterward 
proved,  they  accepted  the  modification  witli  reluctance 
and  even  opposition. 

Most  of  these  adventurers  had  left  comfortable 
homes,  and  the  position  they  occupied  on  first  reach- 
ing Oregon  was  humiliating  and  discouraging.  The 
shelter  afforded  in  tlie  rude  dwellings  of  the  colonists, 
although  bestowed  with  true  hospitality,  involved 
heavy  cost  and  nmch  discomfort  on  both  sides.  The 
community  was  suddeidy  divided  again  into  old  and 
new  settlers,  and  the  new  were  often  peevish  and  un- 
reasonable.'^ They  had  recently  endured  so  much 
that  they  could  not  realize  that  the  settlers  of  a  year 

they  were  reduced  to  an  allowance  of  half  a  pint  of  corn  a  day,  and  had 
just  three  bushels  left  in  the  general  store.  Emmet  kept  a  jealous  watch 
over  the  remainder  of  his  company  to  prevent  tliem  from  taking  passage  on 
the  Generol  Brooks  for  tlie  settlements  uelow.  One  young  man  and  his  wife 
contrived  to  eluge  liis  vigilence  and  were  taken  to  St  Louis  by  the  steamer. 
What  became  of  tliose  M'lio  remained  with  Emmet  is  not  known,  but  they 
were  intending  to  hunt  butfalo,  and  with  tliis  food  supply  to  prosecute  their 
journey  to  Oregon.  Nilfn'  Re;/.,  Ixviii.  33i)-40. 
■"  liiinieU's  liccolkctiom  of  n  Pioneer,  175. 


NAMES  OF  THE  NEW-COMERS. 


S26 


or  two  had  undergone  similar  experiences.  To  them 
it  seemed  as  if  the  first  comers  were  repn^hensible  for 
taking  u})  the  most  convenient  land,  compelling  others 
to  travel  farther  and  find  claims,  when  they  had  come 
CO  Ore<»;on  to  be  near  the  sea  and  a  market.  With 
the  better  class  this  feeling  passed  away  after  a  few 
weeks,  and  they  became  cheerful  again.  But  there 
were  some  who  never  ceased  complaints,  and  who 
only  excited  themselves  when  forced  to  do  so  by 
necessity. 

Undoubtedly  the  journey  of  two  thousand  miles 
with  ox-teams,  and  the  peculiar  misfortunes  incident 
to  each  migration,  often  exhausted  vitality  and  changed 
the  character  of  individuals,  so  that  many  never  recov- 
ered their  lost  ambition  and  energy;  and  that  the 
children  weakened  by  unfavorable  circumstances  lacked 
the  temper  of  body  and  mind  which  crowns  effort 
with  success.  The  few  who  rose  superior  to  these 
trying  influences,  had  they  remained  in  their  own 
country,  would  probably  have  risen  to  eminence.*^ 


'*Tlie  following  lire  some  of  the  men  of  the  immigration  of  1845:  .S.  Arm- 
strong, N.  H.  .Armstrong,  J.  M.  Ai-mstrong,  Joseph  C.  Avery,  James  Allen, 
William  Allen,  M.  B.  Alderman,  Henry  Alman,  Ariin,  J.  0.  Avery,  J.  J. 
Burton,  John  D.  Boon,  H.  D.  Boon,  Joel  Barlow,  Saniuc'  K.  Barlow,  William 
Barlow,  James  Barlow,  B.  Berry,  F.  Baker,  John  Wesley  Baker,  Owen  W. 
Bozarth,  Arthur  Burrow,  liailey,  J.  J.  Burston,  F.  Budroe,  C.  A.  Bradbury, 
William  Bufi'um,  Babor,  H.  M.  Bryan,  Lorenzo  1).  Brooks,  Mahlon  Brook, 
Lyman  E.  Byard,  John  Brown,  F.  Biibel,  J.  M.  Bfieon,  W.  W.  Buck,  Buck- 
ley, Edwin  Bryant,  Benj.  F.  Burch,  F.  Berry,  William  Berry,  Bean,  J.  R. 
Bean,  Joseph  Cumungham,  Creighton,  Jacob  C.  Capliuger,  Benjamin  Corne- 
lius, sen.,  Thomas  R.  Cornelius,  Benjamin  Cornelius,  jun.,  Samuel  Cornelius, 
David  Carson,  Joseph  Champion,  Tliomas  W.  Cliambers,  Rowland  Cliambers, 
Nathaniel  W.  Colwcll,  John  M.  Courtney,  Joseph  I'larlton,  Charles  Craft, 
Patrick  Conner,  E.  W.  Conner,  J.  Casaada,  L.  W.  Coon,  Jesse  Cayton,  W.  1). 
Cole,  Samuel  Y.  Cook,  Samuel  Clark,  John  R.  Coatney,  John  M.  Cantrel, 
Ari  t'antrel,  Samuel  Chase,  Reuben  Crowder,  John  V>'.  Crowcll,  N.  H.  Cotlin, 
(i.  W.  Cotfinbury,  Jesse  Cadwallader,  Klias  Cox,  Daviil  Colver,  James  Camp- 
bell, Eli  C.  Cooley,  F.  C.  Cason,  Couzine,  Jackson  Cooley,  John  Conner, 
Andrew  Cluimbers,  Thomas  W.  Cliand)ers,  David  J.  Chambers,  Albert  T. 
Davidson,  James  Daviilson,  F.  U.  Dewitt,  I)avi<l  R.  S.  Daley,  David  Delauey, 
Reuben  Davis,  Jelui  Davis,  Felix  Ci.  Dorri.s,  Dodson,  Franklin  Duval,  Solomon 
Durbin,  John  Durbin,  Leven  N.  English,  William  Englisli,  Napoleon  H. 
Evans,  Harvey  Evans,  William  Engle,  J.  Eagle,  lAither  Elkiiis,  .lolin  Ed- 
monds, Josepli  Earl,  S.  D.  Earl,  Jolin  Foster,  Rev.  E.  l>'isher,  William  Flett, 
A.  H.  Frair,  Levi  Fanning,  William  Finley,  Farwell,  Field,  Sidney  S.  Ford, 
Joseph  H.  Foss,  Dr  Foley,  B^Iisha  CrifHth,  William  Claser,  Gerrish,  William 
(iale,  Basil  Ground,  R.  A.  Gesner,  J.  Grazer,  Thomas  Hart,  Silas  Height, 
Andrew  Hood,   Hipes,  Jacob  Hampton,  Isaac  Hutchins,  N.  Huber,  B.  F. 


<1H 


026 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1845. 


Oil  the  20th  of  August,  1845,  the  house  of  repre 
sentatives  adjourned  until  the  first  Tuesday  in  De 


Halu,  David  Hill,  Henry  Hawkins,  Francis  S.  Holland,  kSamuel  Hancock, 
I'tiincaM  Hunt,  H.  (i.  Hadloy,  W.  J.  Herron,  Daniel  Herron,  N.  Herron, 
(Jeorge  Hannon,  Isaac  Hinuhaw,  John  Hammer,  Hough,  Lawrence  Hall, 
William  Hake,  H.  H.  Hide,  Amos  Harvey,  Uackleman,  D.  C.  Ingalls, 
li.  H.  .lackson,  Ulysses  Jackson,  Rev.  Johnson,  (leorge  W.  Johnson,  \V. 
Carey  Johnson,  John  T.  Jeffries,  Joselyn,  H.  M.  Knighton,  Morgan  Keyes, 
John  Killin,  IJeorge  Knox,  Knox,  Kennedy,  Kirhy,  Orrin  Kellogg,  Joscpli 
Kellogg,  Rev.  Thomas  Simpson  Kendall,  John  E.  Lyle,  Jesse  Lovela(ly, 
D.  R.  Lewis,  .lohi'.  Lemon,  John  Lloyd,  Jonathan  I^aggett,  Joseph  Linn, 
Lampson,  Lock,  Jeremiah  Lawson,  John  W.  Meldrum,  Job  Mc(,'lane,  Zehe- 
diah  Martin,  W.  B.  Maley,  James  Maley,  Job  McNamee,  Alexander  W. 
McNary,  James  Morris,  McDonald,  Sylvaniis  Moon,  Josiah  Morris,  Alfred 
Markham,  (Jeorge  Moore,  .J.  H.  McMillan,  Henry  Noble,  (Hdeon  R.  Night- 
ingale, A.  Nigiitingale,  Nathan  Olney,  Owenby,  John  M.  Pugh,  William 
Porter  Pugh,  Dr  Samuel  Parker,  Joel  Palmer,  W.  Peers,  Francis  Perry, 
Patterson,  Elisha  Pack  wood,  John  Packwood,  Robert  Packwood,  Tait  Pack- 
wood,  Jjarkin  Packwood,  Cliarlcs  Packwood,  James  M.  Pyle,  Powell,  John 
Phillips,  Robert  Pentland,  William  H.  Rector,  Clark  Rogers,  Thomas  Ruge, 
Thomas  M.  Reed,  Orville  Risley,  Joieph  B.  Rogers,  John  P.  Rogers,  John 
Rounds,  William  Ryan,  R.  A.  Riggs,  James  B.  Riggs,  Sherry  Ross,  Thomas 
(}.  Robinson,  J.  S.  Rinearson,  Peter  M.  Riuearson,  Raines,  Roumia,  John. 
Howe,  Ridgeway,  William  Savage,  Alonzo  A.  Skinner,  Eugene  F.  Skinner, 
Sharp  C.  Senters,  Sanmel  Sinnnons,  Simeon  Smith,  Harna  Sijeel,  Samuel 
Smith,  (>.  D.  Sniitii,  Hiram  Smitli,  Shelly,  William  Sportsman,  J.  Sanders, 
Startuff,  Stephen  Staats,  Henry  ScwcU,  Green  B.  Smith,  Davis  Shannon,  S. 
Scroggins,  Isaac  Staats,  Spence,  Stansbury,  Switzler,  Tabritas  R.  Smith, 
Ross  Sherry,  Price  Scott,  Solomon  Tetherow,  James  Taylor,  Phdip  Thomp- 
son, Rev.  Lewij  Thompson,  William  Taylor,  W.  G.  T'Vault,  John  Travers, 
William  Levi  Todd,  Staidey  Umphlet,  George  Urben,  J.  H.  Voss,  C.  Wheeler, 
William  Wheeler,  James  White.  John  White,  Benjamin  Wood,  Ellis  Walker, 
Frederick  Wayir<ire,  John  Waymire,  Richard  E.  Wylie,  Ralph  Wilcox,  Leo 
Weston,  H.  Wright,  Cl'arles  Austin  Williams,  J.  L.  Williams,  John  J.  Wil- 
liams, A.  W.  Walle}-,  Henry  Clay  Welch,  Presley  Welch,  Joel  Welch, 
Amariali  Wilson,  Mitchel  Whitlock,  P.  Wilkes,  Anthony  Wliitaker,  Asa 
Williams,  James  L.  Williams,  Henry  Williamson,  E.  L.  W^alter,  Helm 
Walter,  Waldrom,  Claiburne  C.  Walker. 

Leven  N.  English,  born  near  Baltimore,  Maryland,  March  25,  1792,  re- 
moved while  in  his  childhood  to  Kentucky,  where  he  afterward  married.  On 
the  breaking-out  of  the  war  of  1812  he  voluiiteeretl,  and  fought  in  several 
battles  on  the  frontier  of  Canada.  After  the  settlement  of  the  difficulty  with 
England  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Illinois,  where  the  attempt  at  creating 
a  home  in  the  wilderness  was  interrupted  by  the  Black  Hawk  war,  in  which 
he  was  commissioned  captain  of  a  company  raised  by  himself.  In  183<i  he 
ma<le  another  move  westward  as  far  as  Iowa,  where  he  settled  and  erected  a 
mill.  But  not  being  yet  satisfied  with  emigration,  he  sold  out  his  Io\  .:  prop- 
erty and  came  out  to  Oregon,  losing  one  of  his  sons  on  the  journey.  In  1S4(5 
he  built '  Phiglish's  Mills  '  at  Salem,  which  aided  greatly  to  build  u"p  tha',  town. 
He  served  in  the  Cayuse  war  of  1847-8.  In  18G9  he  removed  to  Cali.'ornia, 
but  returned  to  Salem  in  1871.  He  was  twice  married,  living  39  yearn  with 
his  first  wife,  by  whom  he  had  12  children;  and  [by  his  second  mai-riage 
7  more,  making,  even  in  prolific  Oregon,  a  family  of  unusual  size.  Eng- 
lish died  March  5,  1875,  being  nearly  85  years  old.  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc,  Triiis., 
1875-6. 

William  P.  Pugh,  born  in  Sullivan  County,  Ind.,  March  9,  1818,  settled 
in  Marion  County,  Oregon,  in  1845;  died  Feb.  21,  1877,  at  his  home,  leaving  a 


bi(k;rai'Hk;al. 


627 


elm 


ceniV)cr,    which,   aect)rdinj^    to    organic   huv,   was  tho 
appointed  time  for  tlie  asseiiil)hiifi^  of  the  lej^islature. 

largo  family  of  children,  and  iniineroua  friendu  by  whom  he  was  respected  and 
lionorcd.   liL,  1877,  73. 

Simeon  Smith,  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  Feb.  Hi,  182S,  was  a 
Hon  of  James  Smith,  who  also  emigrated  to  Oreg<m.  The  family  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Missouri  in  1838,  from  which  state  they  started  for  the  coast  of  the 
Pacific.  Simeon  Smith  settled  in  Marion  Count; ,  but  left  his  farm  near  Tur- 
ner's station  for  Salem  after  10  years  of  country  life.  He  died  May  1871), 
leaving  4  children.     His  wife  was  a  Miss  Barger.   l<l.,  1878,  !)'2. 

Joseph  Cunningham  was  born  about  17!'l),  and  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel 
Cunningham,  one  of  the  foremost  men  of  the  town  of  Spencer,  .\la.s.sachusetts, 
who  helped  to  capture  Fort  Ticonderoga  under  Ethan  Allen,  and  wlu)  fought 
tiirough  the  revolution.  Joseph,  when  not  quite  17  years  old,  was  a  volun- 
teer in  tho  war  of  1812-13,  and  served  under  (Jeneral  Crawford.  In  1818  he 
went  west,  .and  joined  Ashley's  company  for  the  Rocky  Mountains.  AfttT 
'2  years  spent  with  Ashley  he  returned  to  Boonville,  Missouri,  wlience  he 
went  to  Oregon.  He  settled  on  the  lower  end  of  Sauv6  Island;  and  in  1847, 
in  partnership  with  the  Canadian  Pluniondon,  built  a  saw  and  grist  mill  at 
the  falls  of  Ces  Chutes  River,  at  the  head  of  I'uget  Sound.  He  afterward 
resided  on  Suavti  Island  and  at  McMinnville,  where  he  died  March  14,  1878. 
Salem  Mereutij,  March  2'],  1878. 

Henry  Hawkins  was  70  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Oregon.  His  wife 
was  the  first  white  woman  at  Louisville,  Kentucky.  He  followed  Hat- 
boating  on  the  Mississippi  River  before  the  days  of  steamboats.  He  lived 
for  33  years  in  Marion  County,  dying  at  Silverton,  at  the  age  of  103,  in  July 
1878.   Porlldiid  Stiimlnnl,  July  13,  1878. 

Sidney  S.  Ford  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York  in  1801.  In  184(5  he 
settled  north  of  the  Columbia  in  the  region  of  Puget  Sound.  He  belongs, 
therefore,  to  the  history  of  Washington,  where  he  took  an  active  part  in  pub- 
lic affairs.     Mr  Ford  died  October  22,  18(50. 

Owen  W.  Bozarth  was  a  native  of  Marion  County,  Missouri,  born  in  1820. 
He  settled  on  Lewis  or  Cathlapoot'e  River,  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
Columbia,  where  he  died  Feb.  15,  1875. 

Henry  Clay  Welch  Avas  a  i.ative  of  Randolph  County,  Virginia,  born  Sep- 
tember 2,  1839.     He  died  in  Oregon  April  11,  18C3. 

Thomas  U.  Robinson  resided  for  many  years  at  Portland,  where  he  tljed 
July  27,  18(57. 

James  Barlow,  who  came  hither  at  tho  age  of  10,  and  resided  in  Clackaniiva 
County,  died  at  his  home  July  20,  lS(t(),  aged  40  years. 

J.  J.  Burton  settled  on  a  farm  i]i  Marion  County;  died  September  8,  1878. 

Hiram  Smith  came  to  Oregon  from  Danville,  Ohio,  in  1845,  but  returned 
to  the  States  tlie  following  year,  an<l  came  out  again  in  1851.  He  brought 
with  liim  several  huiulred  head  of  choice  cattle,  and  ItK)  horses,  for  improving 
the  stock  of  the  country.  He  afterward  made  a  similar  expedition  for  this 
])ur2)ose.  Mr  Smith  was  a  charitable,  intelligent,  and  successful  business 
man.  He  died  in  San  Fran'jisco  January  17,  1870.  Portland  Oregonian,  April 
2,  1879. 

James  B.  Riggs  settled  in  Polk  County,  where  he  resided  till  his  death, 
which  occurred  at  his  homo  in  Dallas  August  15,  1870,  at  tlie  age  of  (59  years. 
Salem  Statexmnii,  Aug.  20,  1S70. 

(loorge  Moore,  who  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  arrive<l  in 
company  with  John  D.  Boon,  died  at  Salem  in  April  1871.  Salem  Stale.vman, 
April  5,  1871. 

John  Lemon  was  born  in  1800,  in  Kentucky.  He  died  at  French  Prairie, 
September  13,  1869. 

Charles  Craft  settled  at  Salem,  where  he  assisted  in  erecting  some  of  the 
first  residences.     He  died  July  23,  1809.  Salem  Unionist,  Jidy  31,  18(59. 

J.  R.  Bean,  with  his  father  and  family,  settled  in  Yandiill  County,  where 


m 


Ill" 


0S8 


THE  IMMIGKAIION  OF   1845. 


The  recent  large  ininil<:^ration  could  not  but  affect 
legislature  to  some  extent,     (jrovernor  Abernethy,  in 

they  ruaitlud  many  years.     Boaii  reinovcil  with  his  fiimily  fnim  McMiiiiivillu, 
in  th'it  county,  to  Soiittle,  VVa.shington,  in  1874.      He  was  Imrn  in  1824. 

Mr.s  Mary  A.  Nohle  who  witli  lier  hu8!)an<l  crossed  tlie  phiins  in  1845,  and 
Hcttled  in  \Vashington  County,  died  Feljruary  '20,  1870.  I'orthind  Aduocute, 
March  12,  1870. 

Ijiiwrencu  Hall  was  one  of  the  lost  iinniigrauta.  Ho  settled  In 'I'ufilatin 
County— now  Wasliington — and  was  elected  to  tlie  legislature  ii'  IS-Ki,  and 
served  with  a  strong  American  bias.  After  the  territorial  government  wiw 
organized,  ho  was  elected  a  menilier  of  tlie  council.  He  died  in  Portland, 
l'Y'l)niary  11,  1807.   J'or/lniid  Oreijoiiian,  Feb.  1(5,  .'807. 

William  Englo  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Maryland,  reniove<l  with 
his  parents  to  Jefferson  County,  Virginia,  and  in  1820  to  St  Clair  County, 
Illinois,  and  thence  removed  to  Oregon.  He  settled  in  Marion  County,  where 
lie  died  May  18,  1808,  aged  70  years.  Porllnnd  (Ji-fj/oiiiaii,  May  HO,  1808. 

Francis  (r.  Dewitt  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits  in  Portland,  where  he 
resideil  for  a  number  of  years.  He  removed  to  California,  and  wa.s  acciilent- 
ully  killed  at  Point  Arenas  in  the  spring  of  1872.   A/.,  April  20,  1872. 

Benjamin  Cornelius  was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  February  9,  1802. 
He  went  to  Missouri,  and  thence  to  Oregon,  settling  with  his  family  in  the 
Tualatin  plains,  Wasliington  County,  where  ho  lived  in  the  midst  of  his  sons 
until  his  death,  December  l.'l,  1804.  lit.,  Dec.  24,  1804. 

Job  McNamoe  settled  on  tlie  town  site  of  Portland,  and  at  one  time  claimed 
tliu  land  but  failed  to  secure  it  through  the  decision  of  tlie  United  States 
land-ollice.  In  1808  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Pacilic  County,  V\'ashing- 
ton.  He  died  at  Portland,  October  1,  1872,  aged  5'.)  years.  Mrs  Hannah 
McNamec,  his  wife,  born  in  1815,  in  Ross  County,  Indiana,  died  in  Pacific 
County,  Washington,  one  month  before  her  husband.  Portland  Herald,  Sept. 
10  an.lOct.  2,  1872. 

Orrin  Kellogg  was  one  of  the  fathers  of  masonry  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  He 
brought  the  charter  from  Missouri  in  1C45  for  tlie  organiziition  of  Multnomah 
Lodge  No.  1,  at  Oregon  City.  By  tlie  miisous  maile  at  that  time,  the  first 
lodge  in  California  was  instituted  about  1848.  He  was  esteemed  a  useful  and 
public-spirited  citizen.  His  deatii  occurred  at  Portland  in  February  1873 
Portland  BnlHin,  Feb.  17,  1873. 

Gideon  R.  Nightingale  was  a  printer,  who  came  to  Oregon  in  the  same 
year  witli  Fleming.  It  is  stated,  although  the  Ori'ijon  Spectator  does  not 
show  it,  that  he  set  the  typo  for  the  first  number  of  that  paper,  issued  four 
months  after  his  arrival.  Ho  removed  to  Marysville,  California.  Id.,  Aug. 
12,  1871. 

Rowland  Chambers  settled  in  King's  Valley,  Benton  County,  where  he 
resided  continuously  until  IStiO,  when  ho  made  a  visit  to  the  scenes  of  his 
<!arly  life.  A  few  days  after  returning  to  Oregon,  in  January  1870,  he  sud- 
denly died.  Portland  Adrocati;  Jan.  29,  1870. 

Jonathan  Laggett  was  born  in  W'ythe  County,  Va.,  March  7,  1790.  In 
1814  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Fanning  of  Tenn.,  and  the  following  year 
removed  to  Mi-ssouri,  whence  he  came  to  Oregon  in  1845,  settling  in  Polk  Co., 
where  he  resided  until  his  death,  November  20,  1808.   Id.,  F^b.  20,  1809. 

K.  li.  Walter  w;is  born  in  Oliio  in  1813.  After  coming  to  Oregon  in  1846 
he  married  Naomi  Williams,  and  settled  in  Linn  County,  where  the  town  of 
Brownsville  now  stands.  Ho  was  for  several  years  justice  of  the  peace,  and 
for  one  term  a  member  of  tho  legislature,  and  afterward  trefisurer  of  the 
county;  a  man  esteenie<l  for  his  intellectual  and  moral  traits.  He  died  April 
11,  1807.  /(/.,  April  27,  1807. 

Ross  Sherry  was  bora  in  Indiana,  February  11,  1824.  He  married  Rebecca 
Deardorfl"  in  November  1851,  and  resided  in  Portland  until  his  death  in  Jan- 
uary 1807.  /(/.,  Jan.  19,  1807. 

Morgan  Keyes  was  born  Miiy  14,   1814,  in  Washington  County,  Penn., 


KFFKCT  ON    LE(JISLATI(/N. 


.V2S> 


He 

liih 
first 


nd 
;he 
ril 

:ca 
.11- 


his  incasaixc!  to  tlic  housi'  of  rcprest^ntativos  in  Do- 
ct'inber,   recujiiiint'iidetl    tliu  consideration  of  military 

lieiiiK  till!  Becoiid  hoii  of  a  family  of  1^  cliililrcii.  In  1S3'2  Ik;  romov.Ml  to  Illi- 
uois.  and  thoiico  to  Iowa  in  IH'M,  wliero  in  March  1841  ho  niarritMl  Mary  Han- 
ninj;,  and  fonr  years  later  reached  Oregon.  He  settled  in  the  spring  of  liS4(» 
tin  the  Santiani  River,  in  Liini  County,  whore  ho  continued  to  reside  for  the 
'JOyiNirs  precodini}  his  demise  on  the  7th  of  March,  18(30.   /<l.,  March  'M,  18G(i. 

Kllslia  (iriHith,  the  son  of  Williani  N.  and  Sahra  C  mhut  OritKth,  was 
born  in  Fayette  Co.,  I'enn.,  March  l.'i,  180H.  He  married  Kliz-ilieth  Findley, 
in  Clark  Co.,  Indiana,  in  1824.  Tiiey  lived  some  years  in  Indianaand  Illinois 
licfore  removinj,'  to  Oregon;  and  after  arriving  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  lived 
in  Linn  Co.  Mr  (Iritlith  died  at  Brownsville,  October  12,  1871.  /(/.,  Nov.  10, 
1871,  and  Aug.  13,  1874.  Mrs  Eliziiboth  (Jrillith,  his  wife,  born  in  Westmore- 
land Co.,  I'onn.,  March  II,  1805,  died  at  her  home,  Juno  0,  1874. 

Isaac  Hinshaw  was  born  in  Highland  Co.,  Ohio,  December  15,  1813.  He, 
like  others,  moved  from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  from  Indiana  to  Mo.,  ever 
drifting  westward  until  he  arrived  on  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  His  first 
wife  was  Mary  Cox,  whom  he  married  in  1838,  and  who  died  in  1843.  He 
married  Miss  Melissa  Buell,  Jan.  1,  1851.  Becoming  insane  from  con- 
tinued ill  health,  he  committed  suicide  by  drowning,  June  27,  1873.  Id., 
July  17,  1873. 

.lolin  Lloyd  came  from  Clay  County,  Missouri,  and  settled  in  Benton 
County,  near  the  present  town  of  Monroe.  His  son  W.  W.  Lloyd,  who  was 
but  four  years  old  when  he  starteil  for  Oregon,  and  who  grow  up  to  i)e  an  es- 
teemed citizen,  died  at  the  age  of  3.3,  in  Benton  County.   /'/.,  March  li),  1872. 

John  Wesley  Baker  was  bom  in  F  lirlield  Couii  y,  Ohio,  November  12, 
1831.  He  came  with  his  father's  fa  lily  to  Orego..;  and  in  1848  settled 
on  French  Prairie,  where  ho  married  Mary  Jane  Brown  in  March  1800.  He 
removed  to  Pacific  County,  Washington,  in  1872,  and  died  on  the  20th  of 
March  1874.  A/.,  April  10,  1874. 

Harris  Speel,  a  native  of  Philadeli)hia,  went  from  Oregon  to  California 
in  1840,  and  served  in  Fremont's  battalion.  He  was  killed  Tiy  a  fall  at  Santa 
Cruz  in  June  I8r)8,  aged  52  years.  S.  F.  liuUctin,  June  10,  1858. 

Mrs  Tabitha  Ridgeway,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  accompanied  her  husband 
to  Oregon  in  1845.  She  died  at  iSheridau,  in  Yamliill  County,  Nov.  4,  1877 — 6 
years  after  the  death  of  Mr  Ridgeway — aged  55  years.  Fortlaml  Advocate, 
Dec.  13,  1877.  • 

(ieorge  Hannon  was  boni  in  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1820.  At  the  ago  of  23  he 
removed  to  New  York,  and  thence  to  Missouri,  in  which  state  he  marr?ed 
Liza  Jane  Eavens,  Feb.  2,  1844,  and  the  following  year  joined  the  caravan 
to  Oregon.  He  went  first  to  Oregon  City,  where  he  remained  some  years, 
finally  settling  in  the  Umpiiua  Valley,  where  he  died  Feb.  23,  1877,  leaving 
his  wife  and  7  children  at  Garden  Bottom  in  Douglas  County.  liosehuiy  Plain- 
dcakr,  March  17,  1877. 

David  C.  Ingalls,  a  native  of  Maine,  was  boni  Oct.  31,  1808.  In  1830  ho 
removed  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  in  which  state  he  was  married  in  183'.(,  moving 
to  Iowa  in  1840,  and  to  Oregon  live  years  later.  In  the  spring  of  184!)  ho 
settled  at  Astoria.  His  daughter,  Mary  Columbia,  was  the  first  child  of 
white  parentage  born  at  that  place.  IngiJls  was  much  esteemed  and  beloved 
by  the  people  of  A.storia,  among  wliom  ho  lived  until  the  3lHt  of  Aug.,  1880, 
when  he  quietly  passed  away,  according  to  an  imi)res3ion  entertained  by  him 
for  five  years  that  he  should  die  at  that  time.   l>a'ili  Attftrian,  Sept.  12,  1880. 

John  T.  Jeffries,  born  in  Missouri,  in  183i),  emigiMtod  to  Oregon  in  1845, 
and  settled  in  Yamhill  County.  When  eastern  ».)regon  b"!gan  to  attract 
attention  he  removed  to  the  Dalles,  where  he  practised  Taw,  but  finding  cattle 
buying  and  selling  more  profitable,  he  engaged  successfully  in  that  business. 
He  died  Feb.  24,  1807,  at  the  Dalles,  leaving  two  children,  a  son  and  a 
daughter.  Dalles  Mountaineer,  March  2,  1867. 
Hist.  Ob.,  Vol.  L    84 


1  ,| 


VI 

1 


'   '..1 


rr 


d3U 


TUE  IMMIGRATION   OF   1845. 


atfairn,  ourn^ncv,  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors,  woi^lits 
and  nioasun^H,  tho  suat  of  <;;()Vornniont,  and  a  now  road 


li  M 


ThonioH  •Simpson  Kcndnll,  burn  in  Oliin,  wtui  uilucatol  at  JutferHon  College 
iin<l  Cannontiburg  Thuological  Suniinivry,  IVnuaylvania.  His  tirst  congrega- 
tion was  in  TennuHstio,  from  which  Htato  ho  was  tlriven  on  a<tcount  oi'  Lis 
<lenunciatioii  of  Hlavery.  Ho  was  an  intluoiitial  ininistor  of  tho  ProHhytoriaii 
ilonorninatiou  in  Oregon  from  1K45  to  the  time  of  liis  death,  which  oecurreil 
l>uc.  T),  1871,  at  the  age  of  02.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  James  VVilliaiiis 
of  Linn  (Jouuty.   Allmnij  Jtei/iMrr,  Doc.  10,  1870. 

Francis  8.  Holland  was  born  in  Liberty,  Lidianii,  Dec.  '2\,  bS'J.'J.  He  sot- 
tied  in  Clac^kanias  County  in  1845,  of  which  lie  wa.s  elork  for  ni:iny  years. 
In  1S()2  he  removed  to  the  H.illcH,  where  ho  held  tho  otKco  of  recorder  for  tlio 
rcncainder  of  his  life,  his  deatli  occurring  in  JSan  Francisco,  Feb.  10,  18()7- 
He  loft  two  children.   IMIU-h  Moitntnincer,  March  2,  18t)7. 

William  Berry  emigrated  from  Farmington,  Illinois,  Ho  was  one  of  the 
men  Icfi  at  Fort  Dejjosit  in  the  Cascade  Mountains  in  tho  winter  of  1845,  He 
went  to  the  Willamette  Va.lcy  in  the  spring  of  184(5,  but  eveiitiudly  settled 
on  tho  Lewis  and  Clarke  liivcr  of  Clatsop  plains.  In  March  1875  he  died  alone 
in  his  boat,  in  which  bo  was  returning  from  Astoria,  nX  the  age  of  55  years, 
h'aving  a  family.  AxtorUin,  March  27,  1875. 

Mis  Roiiocca  Fanning,  motlier  of  IjCS'y  Fannini;,  die<l  at  her  residence  near 
Albany,  in  Feb.  1881.  .She  was  believed  to  have  been  100  years  of  age  on  the 
1st  of  January  previous.  She  was  tho  mother  of  18  children,  15  of  whom 
lived  to  be  men  and  women,  and  13  of  whom  were  living  at  the  time  of  her 
death.   I'lirtUmd  SUwIard,  Feb.  18,  1881. 

Samuel  Simmons  settled  on  Howell  Prairie.  His  wife  died  November  (>, 
1879,  aged  70  years.  Their  children  were  5  sons,  and  one  daughter  who  is 
the  wife  of  Wesley  Shannon  of  Salem.  Salem  SUitvimian,  Nov.  14,  1879. 

Tiiomaa  Hart  settled  in  Polk  County  soon  after  arriving  in  Oregon.  For 
80  year.s  ho  resideil  on  his  farm,  amassing  a  considerable  fortune.  He  was  1)5 
years  old  at  tho  time  of  his  death,  in  February  1874,  and  until  5  years  before 
had  continued  to  labor  upon  Ir  ;  farm,  doing  tiio  work  of  a  man  in  his  prime. 
He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  \  'ng  then  33  years  of  ago.  Portland  Urojoniaii, 
Feb.  14,  1874. 

Elisha  Packwood,  brother  of  William  ami  Samuel  who  arrived  the  pre- 
vious year,  was  born  in  Patrick  County,  Virginia,  in  July  1810,  and  removed 
with  his  father's  family  to  Indiana  anil  Mi.ssouri,  whence  he  migrated  to  Ore- 
gon. He  remained  two  years  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  after  wliich  he  went 
to  Puget  Sound  with  his  brother  William,  wlio  determined  to  settle  there,  but 
not  liking  the  country,  returned  to  the  Willamette,  and  in  March  1848,  went 
to  California  by  sea  with  his  family,  arriving  just  before  the  gold  discovery. 
His  first  expedition  from  Yerba  Bucna  was  to  the  Santa  Clara  Valley,  where 
a  cousin,  Parringtou  Packwood,  was  living.  He  then  went  to  the  New  Alma- 
den  quicksilver  mine,  but  soon  hearing  of  the  gold  found  above  Sutter's  Fort, 
Ktteil  up  a  wagon,  and  with  it  moved  his  family  to  the  gold-field.  Ho  spent 
the  summer  of  1848  working  with  his  Ui-year-old  son  Samuel  Tait,  at  Mormon 
Island,  after  which  he  went  to  Coloma  and  established  a  trading  post,  where 
he  remained  until  November  1849,  when  he  returned  to  the  States  by  way  of 
tlie  Isthmus  of  Panama,  by  tho  steamer  Unicorn,  Captain  Pastor — a  British 
vessel  with  an  American  crew — arriving  by  way  of  New  Orleans  and  the 
Mississippi  River  at  their  former  home.  In  the  spring  of  1850  Mr  Packwood 
returueii  across  the  plains  to  California,  with  a  large  train,  arriving  in  the 
San  Jos6  Valley  in  October.  He  brought  out  several  hundred  cattle,  chietlj 
cows,  and  went  into  the  business  of  supplying  fresh  milch  cows  to  milkmen, 
feiking  from  them  their  old  stock.  In  1852  he  brought  out,  by  an  agent, 
another  herd  of  cattle,  and  continued  in  this  business  of  dealing  in  neat 
stock  until  the  great  Hood  of  1861-2,  having  acquireil  property  to  the  amount 
of  about  140,000;  but  the  disasters  of  that  memorable  year  deprived  him  of 


ROAI>-MAKIN(i. 


5:n 


into  till'  Willamette  Hettleiiients.""  With  regard  to 
the  latter,  no  less  than  three  ptititions  were  presented 
to  the  legislature  for  authority  to  construct  roads 
across  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  take'  testimony  in  relation  to  the  prac- 
ticability otthe  routes  suggested;  and  also  to  ])reparc 
a  memorial  to  congress  j)rayiiig  tor  an  approi>riation 
to  construct  a  road  over  the  Blue  and  (^ascade  moun- 
tains. The  memorial  when  reiul  in  committet^  of 
tht!  whole  was  rejected.  Among  '■  applicants  for 
road  chai"ters  was  Thomas  McKay,  .vho  rtM-eived 
authority  to  open  and  construct  ?  voll-road  from 
the  Hottlement  on  Santiam  Iiiv<  r  nou  the  f  avii  (»f 
Albany,  across  the  Cascade  and  Blue  m  -untains  to 
''•  rt  Boise,^"  to  be  completed  before  1.;.'  1st  of  Au- 
gust, 184r,  or  in  time  for  tiie  nev!  innnigration. 
The   road   was  not  built,  nor  the   pass   discovered,'" 

.ill  hia  profits.  His  laml  was  ruined  by  lunng  covered  with  sand,  ami  l)i 
Ktock  was  drowned,  wliilc  he  narrowly  escaped  with  his  life.  After  this  lie 
returned  to  t)regon,  and  went  to  the  mines  tiien  recently  discovered  in  IJiiker 
('(lunty.  After  several  efl'orts  to  repair  his  fortunes,  ho  finally  settled,  with 
his  son,  S.  Tait  I'aekwood,  on  the  Snohomish  flats,  in  the  year  1808,  at  a 
place  now  known  as  I'aekwood  Landing.  Elisha  I'aekwood  died  May  27, 
]87t),  aged  0(5  years,  having  furnished  a  striking  example  of  Ihc  industrj', 
courage,  and  patience  of  tlio  early  pioneers  of  the  Nortliwest  Coast,  as  well 
as  of  their  small  rewards.  Jlis  son  while  living  in  California,  married  Matilda 
Wardle.  !iis  eldest  daughter,  Chilitha,  married  Beii'iett,  living  at  EUens- 
Imrg,  in  tiie  Kittetas  Valley,  Wasiiington.  He  had  also  a  sou  Joseph.  His 
hrotliers  who  camo  to  Oregon  in  1845  were  Larkin,  John,  Charles,  and  Rol)ert 
Tait.  A  cousin,  James  I'aekwood,  also  belonged  to  this  immigration.  Mornei 
Xoti'M  on  Hint.   IKfw/j.  Ter.,  i.  fw-So. 

Mrs  Florentine  Wilkes  Cornelius,  who  accompanied  her  father,  P.  Wilke.s, 
was  horn  in  Indiana,  and  married  Benjamin  Cornelius.  .Slio  die<l  June  20, 
1S()4,  aged  34  years.  Salnn  Stutcsfiiini,  July  11,  1804.  Benjamin  Cornelius, 
who  settled  near  Hillshoro,  on  the  Tualatin  I'lains,  was  a  successful  farmer 
a:id  trader.  He  lost  his  life  in  the  spring  of  1882  in  a  quarrel  with  his  son- 
iudaw,  who,  he  believed,  had  ill  treated  his  daughter. 

Mrs  Laodicea  McNary,  of  the  Alexander  McNary  Company,  who  dis- 
covered gold  on  the  head  waters  of  John  Day  River,  in  1845,  died  near  Kola, 
ill  Polk  County,  Feb.  26,  1875,  aged  77  years.  Salem  Ileconl,  Feb.  27, 
1875. 

ilohn  Killin,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  settled  in  Clackamas  Co.,  and  died 
October  23,  1807,  aged  70  years.  Portland  A<  I  v.,  Nov.  2,  1807. 

^yiMfkin's  Off.  Corr.,  MS.,  ii.  OO-N. 

•"This  application  does  not  confinn  the  supposition  that  British  subjects 
in  Oregon  desired  to  prevent  immigration. 

"'A  writer  in  the  Orfrpn  Spectator  alleges  thai,  Ai  -Kay  gave  up  his  charter 
without  attempting  anything;  but  that  this  was  not  so  I  can  show  by  the 
testimony  of  one  of  the  exploring  party,  which  left  Salem  July  3,  rj40,  and 
consisted  of  Cornelius  Gilliam,  James  Waters,  Seyburu  P.  Thornton,  and  T. 


rf  ;. 


532 


THE   IMMIGRATION   OF   1845. 


although  it  is  now  known  tliat  such  a  pass  exists. 
The  great  breadth  and  confused  upheaval  of  the 
Cascade  Range,  together  with  the  dense  covering  of 
forest  and  tangled  undergrowth  on  the  western  decliv- 
ities, opposed  almost  insurmountable  obstacles  to 
exploration.  Even  the  Indian  trails  that  once  existed 
when  the  natives  were  numerous  had  fallen  into  dis- 
use, and  were  completely  overgrown  and  lost.  It  is 
therefore  not  surprising  that  McKay,  famous  for 
wood-craft,  met  with  failure  on  his  first  expedition  in 
search  of  a  wagon  route. 

Stephen  H.  L.  Meek  also,  still  of  the  opinion  that 
a  pass  would  be  found  at  the  sources  of  the  Willamette 
by  which  a  road  could  bo  opened  direct  from  the  head 
of  the  valley  to  Fort  Boise,  petitioned  for  a  charter; 
but  the  prejudice  created  by  his  leadership  a  few  weeks 
previous  defeated  his  endeavor  to  set  himself  right  in 
the  estimation  of  the  public.^* 

A  third  applicant  for  a  road  charter  was  S.  K.  Bar- 
low, who  was  personally  interested  in  the  completiou 
of  the  road  to  Fort  Deposit,  where  his  wagons  and 
baggage  still  remained  with  those  of  his  company. 
He  was  permitted  to  address  the  house  in  behalf  of 
the  Mount  Hood  route,  and  received  authority  to  con- 
struct a  toll-road,  which  was  so  far  completed  in  July 
that  the  wagons  were  brought  through,  and  a  few 
weeks  afterward  large  numbers  passed  over  it.^^ 

After  further  improvement  the  road  was  still  so 
steep  that  in  descending  some  of  the  hills  on  the 
western  declivities  the  oxen  could  only  be  prevented 
from  dashing  themselves  against  some  way-side  tree 

C.  Shaw,  Americans;  and  Thonic-is  McKay,  Joseph  Gervaia,  J.  B.  Oardipie, 
Georgo  Montoure,  Zavier  Gcrvais,  Antonio  Delorc,  and  McDonald,  British 
subjects.  They  explored  up  to  tlio  Sautiam,  but  failed  to  find  where  a  road 
could  be  made.  T.  C.  Shaw,  in  Sakm  Alercury,  June  4,  187a. 

'*An  attempt  was  made  in  the  spring  (f  1S46  to  lind  thij  pass,  whicli 
failed.  The  company  consisted  of  J.  M.  Garrison,  J.  B.  McClaiio,  limnias 
Holt,  James  P.  Martin,  J.  W.  Boylo,  A.  R.  C.  Shaw,  and  Mosuj  Harris.  Or. 
Spcctatw,  March  19,  184G. 

"■' Samuel  K.  Barlow  continued  to  be  an  active  and  public-spirited  citi^'Mi 
of  Oregon  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  July  18G7.  He  residt-a  at  Cauemali, 
above  tho  falls  o£  the  Willamette.  Portland  Oregonian,  July  20,  18G7. 


THE  Making  of  laws. 


ess 


till  so 
a  the 
nted 
tree 


by  chaining  to  the  rear  of  the  wagon  a  heavy  tree-top 
to  hold  back  its  weight.^ 

The  memorial  to  congress  concerning  the  important 
matter  of  a  good  and  safe  road  into  Oregon  was  not 
the  only  one  rejected  by  the  legislature  in  December, 
(jrray  made  a  motion  to  appoint  a  connnittee  to  draft 
a  memorial  to  the  people  of  the  United  States,  giving 
a  brief  account  of  its  soil,  climate,  productions,  and 
social  condition,  with  the  difficulties  and  facilities  of 
travel  and  settlement,  and  was  made  chairman  of  that 
committee,  and  in  due  time  presented  his  letter  to 
the  people  of  the  United  States.  It  contained  sonie 
unfortunate  passages,  and  was  condemned  by  the 
house  to  the  seclusion  of  the  archives.^'  Mr  Apple- 
gate  resigned  after  having  accomplished  his  purpose 
in  the  legislature.** 

Gray  mentions  that  at  the  August  session  Apple- 
gate  adopted  the  suggestion  of  Governor  Abernethy, 
that  an  act  should  be  passed  to  prevent  litigation  on 
account  of  debt,  but  that  the  bill  failed,  and  apologizes 
for  the  iijnorance  of  the  lefjislature  and  uovernor  in 
the  business  of  law-making;  but  Ap})lcgate  writes 
that  he  still  believes  laws  for  the  collection  of  debts, 
where  no  fraud  is  alleged,  are  injurious,  and  at  a 
future  day  will  be  jbolished  in  all  civilized  conmmni- 
ties;  but  that  there  were  special  reasons  why  they 
should  not  be  enforced  by  provisional  government, 
which  might  never  l)e  acknowledged — a  side  of  the 
subject  which  had  escaped  recognition. 

At  the  December  session  Gray  introduced  a  bill  on 
currency,  which  after  several  amendments  was  passed. 
It  was  suitable  to  the  time  and  country,  he  alleges, 
and  was  made   necessary  by  the  disposition   of  the 


citiz'^u 
uetuah, 


■■"■'  Victor,  in  Oivrlaiid  Monthbi,  W.  202. 

■"  In  this  memorial  it  is  saitl  that  wliile  in  certain  parts  of  Oregon  the  soil 
■wouM  pri  (luce  54  bushels  of  wiieat  to  th(!  acre,  other  parts  iu  the  interior 
Wf.uld  'pnduce  scarcely  anything  of  the  vegetable  kind.  <h\  Arr/ihyx,  MS., 
44.  Spalding,  on  tlie  contrary,  in  lii.s  report  to  White,  had  given  a  very  favor- 
iil>le,  and  as  it  ia  now  known  to  be  an  intelligent,  account  of  iho  prouuctive- 
jiess  of  the  soil  in  the  interior. 

"^  Applegato's  marginal  notes  on  Oray's  Hint.  Or.,  438. 


'"■"^""■"-" 


r)34 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1845. 


Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  force  payment  in  an  op- 
pressive  manner.  But  as  this  was  the  first  law  passed 
for  the  collection  of  debts,  and  the  company  were 
neretofore  wholly  without  the  power  to  enforce  pay- 
ment, being  entirely  outside  tlie  pale  of  colonial  war, 
Gray's  explanation  of  his  motives  in  presenting  such 
a  bill  lacks  consistency.^''  The  law  on  currency,  after 
declaring  that  in  addition  to  gold  and  silver  treasury 
drafts,  approved  orders  on  solvent  merchants,  and 
good  merchantable  wheat  at  the  market  price,  deliv- 
ered at  some  customary  depot  for  wheat,  should  be 
lawful  tender  for  the  payment  of  taxes,  judgments 
rendered  in  the  courts,  and  for  all  debts  contracted  in 
the  territory,  where  no  special  contract  had  been 
made  to  the  contrary  —  provided  that  no  property 
should  be  sold  on  execution  for  less  than  two  thirds  of 
its  value  after  deducting  all  encumbrances ;  and  that 
the  value  of  the  property  should  be  fixed  by  two  dis- 
creet householders,  who  should  be  sworn  by  the  officer 
making  the  levy,  and  they  should  make  a  written 
statement  of  the  value,  which  the  officer  should  ap- 
pend to  his  return.  Should  the  property  remain 
unsold  on  the  return  day  of  the  writ,  the  officer  hav- 
ing so  indorsed  it,  the  writ  and  indorsement  should 
constitute  a  lien  on  the  property ;  the  defendant  hav- 
ing the  right  to  remain  in  possession  of  the  unsold 
property  by  executing  a  bond  with  sureties,  in  double 
its  value,  to  deliver  the  property  at  the  time  and 
place  appointed  by  said  officer.*" 

An  act  supplementarj^  to  the  currency  law  was 
passed,  requiring  all  those  who  paid  taxes  in  wheat  to 
deliver  it  at  stated  places  in  their  districts ;  at  Fort 
(jleorge  in  Clatsop  County;  at  Cowlitz  Farm  or  Fort 
Vancouver  in  Vancouver  County ;    at  the  company's 

'•The  act  provides:  'The  personal  estate  of  every  individual,  company, 
body  pcditic  or  corporate,  including  his,  her,  or  their  goods  or  chattels,  also 
town  lots,  city  property,  or  improvements  claimed  and  owned  in  virtue  of 
occupancy  secured  and  allowed  by  the  treaty  between  (Jreat  Britain  and  the 
United  States,  shall  be  subject  to  execution,  to  be  taken  and  sold  according 
to  the  provisions  of  this  act.'  Or.  Spectator,  Feb.  5,  1846. 

**>Or.  Lawn,  IHp-'J. 


THE  PRINTING  ASSOCIATION. 


535 


warehouse  at  Linntoii ;  at  the  store  of  F.  W.  Petty- 
grove  in  Portland,  Tualatin  County ;  at  the  mills 
'either  of  McLoughlin  or  the  Island  Milling  Company 
hi  Clackamas  County  ;  at  the  warehouses  of  the  Mill- 
ing Coni[)any  or  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  Cham- 
poeg  County;  and  at  some  place  to  be  designated  by 
the  collector  in  Yamhill  County.  These  places  were 
to  be  considered  depots  for  receiving  the  public  rev- 
enue, and  the  persons  in  charge  should  give  a  receipt 
stating  the  amount  which  should  be  placed  to  the 
credit  of  the  treasurer  of  the  county  or  territory." 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  house,  on  Gray's 
motion  it  was  resolved  that  the  supreme  judge  be 
called  upon  to  inform  them  whether  he  had  examined 
the  laws,  which  he,  Burnett,  had  helped  to  make,  and 
how  many  of  them  were  incompatible  with  the  organic 
articles  of  compact  adopted  by  the  people  in  July  pre- 
vious—a piece  of  irony  which  might  well  have  been 
•spared  the  chief  justice,  whose  reply  was  referred  to 
the  judiciary  committee.*'^  For  the  first  time  there 
was  a  pros]>ect  of  having  the  laws  printed  when  re- 
vised, a  company  having  been  formed  which  owned  a 
printing-press  and  material  at  Oregon  City,  to  which 
a])plication  was  made  for  proposals  to  print  the  laws. 
This  company  was  known  as  the  Oregon  Printing 
Association,  one  of  the  articles  of  whose  constitution 
declared  that  the  press  owned  by  the  association 
should  never  be  used  by  any  party  for  the  purpose  of 
propagating  sectarian  principles  or  doctrines,  nor  for 
the  discussion  of  exclusive  party  politics. 

If  it  is  proper  to  judge  by  appearances,  the  reason 
of  the  introduction  of  this  article  was  th.it  there  were 
men  in  the  associatitdi  who  wished  to  curtail  the 
Methodist  influence,  the  Mission  being  largely  repre- 

"Or.  Lawn,  lS4,S-!>,  27.  These  (luaint  laws  concerning  curroncy  and 
revenue  are  still  the  prido  of  the  pionu'  -a  of  Oregon,  who  coi'teml  that  gold 
was  of  no  advantage  to  the  country  when  <U8Covered,  but  that  they  progressed 
more  safely  with  wheat  a-s  a  legal  tender. 

"  Orowr'n  Or.  Arclnwn,  140^1. 


ilHiH 


f 


536 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1845. 


sented  in  the  company.*^  How  tney  succeeded  will 
appear  hereafter. 

The  recommendation  of  Governor  Abernethy,  that 
proposals  should  be  received  for  locating  the  seat  of 
government,  created  little  interest  and  small  competi- 
tion. The  only  propositions  received  were  from  Robert 
Moore,  whose  claim  of  Robin's  Nest,  opposite  Oregon 
City,  was  by  legislative  enactment  named  Linn  City ; 
and  Hugh  Burns,  who  occupied  an  adjoining  claim. 
Neither  of  these  proposals  meeting  with  entire  appro- 
bation, and  a  petition,  signed  by  sixty  persons  of 
Cliampoeg  County,  being  received,  praying  that  action 
on  the  seat  of  government  question  might  be  deferred," 
it  was  practically  postponed  by  the  passage  of  an  act 
ordering  that  the  future  sessions  of  tlie  house  of  rep- 
resentatives be  held  at  Oregon  City  until  otherwise 
directed  by  law.  By  the  same  act  the  governor  was 
authorized  to  give  notice  by  publication  in  the  news- 
papers t)r  otherwise,  that  he  would  receive  sealed  pro- 
posals from  all  who  desired  to  make  donations  to  the 
government  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  in  the  erection 
of  public  buildings  and  locating  the  capital ;  which 
proposals  should  be  submitted  to  the  next  legislature. 

Two  other  topics  of  general  interest  to  the  people 
which  received  attention  were  tlie  liquor  law  and  the 
districting  of  tlve  territory.  Burnett's  liquor  law  of 
1844  was  found  to  be  insufficient  to  prevent  the  use 
of  intoxicating  drinks  since  the  advent  of  the  British 
sloop  of  war  Modeste,  whose  officers  ami  crew,  being 
independent  of  colonial  laws,  not  only  did  not  see  lit 

*'  Gray  aaya  the  originators  of  the  printing  association  were  the  same  that 
started  the  Multnomali  circulating  library,  the  Wolf  association,  and  provis- 
ional government.  Tlie  pioneers  of  1843  founded  the  library,  and  (rray  claims 
to  have  originated  the  Wolf  association,  while  Jason  Lee  was  tlie  first  projector 
of  the  provisional  government.  The  truth  is,  that  Abernethy  was  largely 
interested  in  tlio  printing  aysociation,  and  that  in  spite  of  tlie  protest  con- 
tained in  the  8th  article,  the  press  was  controlled  by  missionary  influence. 
The  first  olTieers  of  the  company  were  W.  G.  T'Vault,  president;  J.  W. 
Neamitli,  vice-president;  Joliii  P.  Brooks,  secretary;  George  Abernethy, 
treasurer;  John  H.  Couch,  John  E.  Long,  and  Robert  Newell,  directors. 

**  This  was  the  licgiiining  of  the  long  tight  made  by  the  people  of  Salem  t« 
secure  the  capital. 


liilFi 


SPIRITUOUS   UQUORS. 


537 


to  forego  this  indulgence,  but  in  their  efforts  at  social 
intercourse  among  the  colonists,  introduced  it  with 
a  freedom  offensive  to  tlie  temperance  sentiment  so 
sedulously  cultivated  in  Oregon,  thereby  bringing 
reproach  upon  the  officers  of  the  fur  company  who 
supplied  them  with  liquors,  and  furnishing  their 
adversaries  a  justifiable  cause  of  complaint,  where  they 
were  already  oidy  too  eager  to  discover  evidences  of 
moral  turpitude/^ 

The  alterations  in  the  liquor  law  in  December  made 
it  an  offence  to  give  away  ardent  spirits,  as  well  as  to 
sell  or  barter;  the  fine  being  fifty  dollars  for  each 
violation  of  the  law.  It  made  it  the  duty  of  every 
person,  officer  or  private  citizen,  who  knew  of  the 
distillation  of  any  kind  of  spirituous  liquors,  to  seize 
the  distilling  apparatus  and  deliver  to  the  nearest 
county  judge  or  justice  of  the  peace,  who  should 
issue  a  warrant  causing  the  premises  of  the  distiller 
to  be  searched,  and  all  liquors,  or  implements  for 
manufacturing  them,  discovered  should  be  seized  and 
delivered  to  that  officer,  who  should  arrest  the  offender 
and  proceed  against  him  according  to  law;  tlie  punish- 
ment being  forfeiture  of  the  property,  and  a  fine  of 
one  hundred  dollars,  one  half  of  which  was  to  go  to 
the  informant  and  witnesses,  and  the  other  half  to 
the  officers  engaged  in  arresting  and  trying  the  crim- 
inal. No  more  than  half  a  pint  of  liquor  was  per- 
mitted to  be  sold  by  jtractising  physicians  for  medical 

'•'With  regard  to  tliis  matter  Miiito  says:  The  ofHcera  of  the  Modexte. 
made  frequent  excursions  into  the  WiUamette  Valley,  and  did  not  always 
choose  the  most  discreet  means  of  cultivating  feelings  in  favor  of  Britisii  sub- 
jects. The  scenes  enacted  at  the  residences  they  visited  indicated  that  they 
'lid  not  regard  the  laws  of  tlie  colony:  and  even  their  temporary  association 
with  an  American  was  a  cause  of  suspicion.  Earhi  /><n/x,  MS.,  .SO.  Roherts 
admits  that  the  company  furnished  rum  for  the  Mot/r.-itc'n  crew,  and  that 
hranily  was  placed  upon  the  talile  while  her  officers  were  at  Vancouver,  in 
addition  to  the  iisual  wine;  not  liecauste  temperance  was  not  the  rule  at  Van- 
couver, but  heciiusc  Douglas  could  not  refuse  to  furnish  to  tlie  oliieers  and 
men  sent  there  to  protect  the  company  any  supplies  they  might  require. 
lirrollectionif,  MS.,  53.  But  the  colonists  were  not  disposed  to  make  allowances 
for  the  position  in  which  the  company  was  placed.  As  an  evidence  of  the 
eftorts  made  hy  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  do  away  with  the  use  of 
spirituous  liquors,  not  only  in  Oregon  hut  east  of  the  Rocky  ^louutaina,  see 
fitz'/i'ntld'/i  l''nir.  /.y/., '211    1.3. 


S88 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1845. 


purposes.  Such  was  the  rigor  resorted  to  in  the 
effort  to  promote  temperance,  and  prevent  British 
subjects  from  defying  colonial  law. 

But  at  the  following  session  there  was  a  reaction, 
the  legislature  taking  advantage  of  its  power  under 
the  organic  law  to  regulate  the  manufacture  and  sale 
of  wine  and  distilled  spirituous  liquors,  tv)  pass  an 
act  which  allowed  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  them 
under  certain  restrictions.  This  act,  like  the  previous 
one,  was  chiefly  inspired  by  opposition  to  the  fur 
company ;  it  being  held  by  the  majority  that  so  long 
as  the  company  kept  liquors  in  store  at  Vancouver  to 
sell  or  to  give  away,  Americans  should  not  be  de- 
prived of  tlie  profits  of  the  traffic.*''  Every  British 
subject  in  the  house  voted  against  the  new  law,  and 
Governor  Abernethy  vetoed  it  in  an  admirable  mes- 
sage, recommending  the  repeal  of  the  clauses  making 
it  an  offence  to  give  away  a  glass  of  liquor,  and  of 
that  also  which  allowed  the  fines  to  be  divided  be- 
tween the  informant  and  the  officers  of  the  law,  by 
which  they  became  interested  in  the  conviction  of  the 
person  charged;  and  advising  only  the  alteration  of 
Burnett's  law  of  1844,  to  make  it  agree  with  the 
organic  law,  if  it  was  in  any  way  adverse  to  it.  But 
the  legislature  passed  their  act  over  the  governor's 
veto,  and  prohibition, "which  up  to  184G  was  the  law 
and  the  rule  in  colonial  Oregon,  has  never  been  re- 
stored. 

Two  new  counties  were  created  and  organized:  one 
called  Lewis  county  on  the  north  side  of  the  Colum- 
bia, comprising  all  of  Oregon  Teritory  nor-th  of  that 
river,  and  west  of  tlie  Cowlitz  River,  up  to  the 
latitude  of  54°  40';  another  called  Polk  County, 
south  of  Yamhill,  comprising  all  the  territory  between 
the  Willamette  River  and  the  Pacific  Ocean,  and 
extending  from  the  southern  boundary  of  Yamhill 
County,  which  line  extended  due  west  of  George 
Gay's  house,  to  the  northern  boundary  of  California. 

*•  Tolnue'^  Piujet  So-nd,  MS.,  22-3. 


COUNTY  BOUNDARIES. 


539 


Neither  of  these  new  counties  was  allowed  a  sherift' 
of  its  own;  but  the  sheriff  of  Vancouver  was  com- 
pelled to  do  duty  for  Lewis,  and  the  sheriff'  of  Yam- 
hill to  serve  Polk,  Judges  were  not  appointed,  but  it 
was  left  for  the  people  to  choose  them  at  the  annual 
election  of  1846.*^  The  boundaries  of  the  five  counties 
previously  created  were  definitely  fixed  as  follows: 
Clatsop  embraced  the  territory  bounded  by  a  line 
drawn  from  the  middle  of  the  main  channel  of  the 
Columbia  River  at  Oak  Point  Mountain,  thence  south 
to  the  line  dividing  Tualatin  from  Yamhill,  thence 
west  tt)  the  Pacific  Ocean,  thence  north  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia,  and  east  along  the  middle  of  the 
main  channel,  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  soutliern  line  of  Tualatin  and  northern  line  of 
Yamhill  commenced  one  mile  north  of  Butteville, 
the  Butte,  as  it  was  then  called,  and  extended  due 
west  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.*^  Tualatin  County  em- 
braced all  the  territory  lying  north  of  this  line,  south 
of  the  Columbia,  east  of  Clatsop,  and  west  of  the 
Willamette  River ;  and  Yamhill  all  that  bounded  by 
Tualatin  on  the  north,  the  Willamette  River  on  the 
east,  Polk  County  on  the  south,  and  the  ocean  on 
the  west.  Clackamas  County  was  divided  from 
Champoeg  by  a  line  running  due  east  from  a  point  in 
the  Willamette  River  one  mile  below  Butteville,  being 
an  extension  of  the  north  line  of  Yamhill.  Both  of 
these  counties  stretched  east  to  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  Cl:ampoeg  covered  all  the  territory  south  to  the 
California  boundary,  in  order  that  everywhere  in  ( )re- 
gon  the  benefits  of  the  provisional  government  might 
be  enjoyed. 

One  other  matter  connected  with  the  welfare  of 
society  was   settled   by    authorizing    every    ordained 


*'  Orover's  Or.  Arcliive.%  152. 

♦^This  line  was  detinitely  fixed  by  the  legislature  of  1846,  beginning  oppo- 
site the  mouth  of  Pudding  River,  running  north-west  to  the  summit  of  the 
dividing  ritlges,  between  the  Chehalim  and  Tualatin  ami  the  Yamhill  and 
Tualatin.  The  county  seat  was  also  fixed  at  or  near  the  falls  of  Yamliill  River 
where  the  town  of  Lafayette  was  laid  off  in  that  year. 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1845. 


minister  of  good  standing,  of  any  denomination,  the 
supreme  and  district  judges,  and  justices  of  the  peace, 
to  solemnize  marriages. 


As  to  the  means  of  carrying  on  the  government,  a 
revenue  was  to  be  raised  by  levying  an  ad  valoreno 
tax  of  one  fourth  of  one  per  cent  for  territorial  pur- 
poses ;  the  county  taxes  to  be  regulated  by  the  county 
courts,  not  to  exceed  the  territorial  tax ;  the  levy  to 
be  made  upon  town  lots  and  improvements,  mills,  car- 
riages, clocks  and  watches,  horses  and  nmles,  cattle, 
sheep,  and  hogs ;  upon  every  qualified  voter  under  the 
age  of  60  years,  a  poll-tax  of  50  cents;  upon  every 
merchant's  license  where  the  capital  employed  was 
under  $10,000,  $20;  over  $10,000,  $30;  over  $15,000, 
$45 ;  over  $20,000,  $60 ;  upon  each  auctioneer's  license, 
$10;  upon  each  pedler's  license,  $10;  upon  each  ferry 
license,  not  less  than  $5  nor  more  than  $25. 

There  should  be  paid  into  the  county  treasuries,  as 
the  costs  of  the  courts,  a  tax  of  one  dollar  upon  each 
petition  of  a  public  nature  to  be  paid  by  the  peti- 
tioners; for  hearing  and  determining  each  motion  of 
counsel,  one  dollar;  for  each  final  judgment,  three 
dollars ;  for  allowing  an  appeal,  one  dollar ;  and  the  fee 
allowed  masters  in  chancery,  where  like  services  were 
performed  by  the  court. 

Thus,  while  farming  lands  and  farm  products  were 
not  taxed,  the  people  were,  notwithstanding  their 
former  })rotests,  assessed  on  every  other  species  of 
property  and  on  their  business  capital,  which  taxes 
the  farmers  paid  principally  in  wheat.  The  legisla- 
ture of  1845,  in  framing  laws,  had  not,  after  all, 
greatly  improved  upon  the  conmiittee  of  1844,  being 
compelled  to  conform  to  the  usages  of  other  govern- 
ments in  even  a  greater  degree,  as  the  wants  of  the 
community  increased. 

Although  the  laws  were  still  imperfect  even  for 
present  uses,  they  covered,  by  enactment  and  adop- 

d  embraced  by  tl 


grc 


legis- 


PEACEABLE  INTENTIONS. 


541 


lation  "of  the  territories  established  by  the  authority 
of  the  United  States. 

On  the  19th  of  December  the  house  adjourned.  Its 
last  act  was  to  pass  a  resolution,  '*  that  one  of  the  })rinci- 
pal  objects  contemplated  in  tlie  formation  of  the  govern- 
ment was  tlie  promotion  of  peace  and  happiness  among 
ourselves,  and  the  friendly  relations  which  have,  and 
ever  ought  to  exist  between  the  people  of  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain ;  and  any  measure  of  this 
house  calculated  to  defeat  tJie  same  is  in  direct  viola- 
tion of  the  true  intention  for  which  it  was  formed." 


II 


CHAPTER  XX. 

OPENING  OP  THE  SOUTHERN  OREGON  ROUTE— IMMIGRATION 

OF    1846. 

RoAD-MAKINn    AS   A    WaR    MEASURE — A    PasS   REQUIRED — A   COMPANY   Or- 

OANIZED— They  Proceed  to  RociUE  River — Whence  They  Continue 
Eastward  and  Cros-  iHE  Cascade  Ranoe  into  the  Humkoldt  V'al- 
i-KY— They  Proceed  to  Port  Hall— Hastings  and  his  Cut-ofi- — Immi- 
gration of   184C— Aitleoate's  Cut-off— J.  Q.   Thornton,  his  Book 

AND   HIS   V'iNDICTIVENESS — SuFFERINfiS  OF  THE  EMKiRANTS   IIY  THE  NeW 

Route — Comments  of  the  Settlers  on  the  Southern  Route — Bio- 
ORAPUICAL  Notices. 

The  disasters  attending  the  immigrations  of  1843, 
1844,  and  1845  stimulated  exploration,  as  we  have 
seen.  The  United  States  government  was  not  indif- 
ferent to  the  need  of  a  better  route  to  Oregon,  as 
the  attempts  for  the  third  time  of  one  of  its  offi(;ers 
attest,  even  if  he  was  always  floating  away  toward 
California.  There  were  other  reasons,  besides  the 
sufferings  of  the  immigrants,  whicli  influenced  both 
the  government  and  the  colonists  to  desire  a  route 
into  the  Willamette  Valley  which  led  away  from  the 
chain  of  the  fur  company's  posts.  As  the  British 
officers  Park  and  Peel  had  been  anxious  to  know 
whether  troops  could  be  brought  from  Canada  over- 
land to  Fort  Vancouver,  so  thoughtful  men  among 
the  colonists  were  desirous  to  make  sure,  in  tlie  event 
of  their  being  needed,  that  troops  from  the  United 
States  could  be  brought  without  interruption  into 
(Jregon,^  knowing  that  in  case  of  war  nothing  would 
be  easier  than  for  a  small  force  of  the  enemy  to  pre- 

' '  One  of  the  road-hunters,'  in  Or.  Spectator,  April  15,  1847;  Lindsey  Ap- 
plegate,  ia  Portland  West  S/iore,  June  1817;  TuthilVs  Hkt.  Cat.,  162. 

'542^ 


THE  BARLOW   ROAD. 


rxi:s 


voiit  the  passage  of  the  Columbia  from  the  Dalles  to 
and  beyond  the  Cascades. 

It  was  still  doubtful  whether  the  road  that  Harlow 
had  undertaken  to  open  would  prove  practicable;  in 
any  case  it  must  be  ditticult,  from  the  nature  of  the 
mountains  near  the  Columbia.  The  passes  looked  for 
at  the  head  waters  of  the  Santiam  and  VV^illamette 
rivers  had  not  yet  been  found,  and  there  was  the 
prospect  that  if  war  should  be  declared  neitlier  inuiii- 
grants  nor  troops  could  force  their  way  to  the  settle- 
ments. 


Routes  and  '_'ut-okks. 

In  order  to  settle  the  question  of  a  pass  to  the 
south  through  the  Cascade  Mountains,  the  colonists 
oft'ered  to  raise  money  for  the  purpose  of  paying  the 
expense  of  an  expedition,  and  the  cost  of  opening  a 
road  in  that  direction,  and  early  in  May  184()  a 
company  was  formed  in  Polk  County  to  undertake 
this  enterprise;  but  being  insufficient  in  numb'  •«^, 
after  travelling  seventy  miles  south  of  the  Calapooya 


■  \- 


A44 


THE  IMMIUUATION  OF    1840. 


KMn<:fo,  whicli  foriiiH  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
Williiin('tt(!  Vallev,  and  hciii}^  deserted  hy  four  of 
tlieh"  iiuiul)er  on  thi^  hordei*  of  the  hostile  Indian 
country,  wliicli  h^ft  them  not  nun  enougli  to  stand 
t^uurd,  tliey  returiieil  for  reunforcenients. 

The  lieadof  tlu!  first  fonipany  had  l)een  Levi  Scott, 
a  native  of  lUinois,  vvh<»  came  to  Oregon  in  IS  44  from 
lUiar  Burhn;jfton,  Iowa,  a  man  of  character  and  deter- 
mination. Ife  appealed  to  the  patriotism  of  the 
Polk  County  settlers,  and  secured  the  cooperation  of 
Jesse  and  Lindsiiy  A})ple<^ate,  who  had  privat(>ly  pro- 
moted the  exi)edition  from  tiie  first,  hut  who  now  left 
their  homes  and  families  with  the  fixed  resolve  never 
to  retrace  their  stei)8,  never  to  abandon  the  enterprise, 
until  a  good  wagon-road  should  be  found,  if  such 
existed,  as  they  did  not  doubt,  from  what  they  knew 
of  Fremont's  expeditions,  and  tiie  accounts  given  by 
the  lost  emigrants  of  1845,  of  the  level  appearance  of 
the  country  to  the  south  of  their  route  in  the  lake- 
basin."  The  company  as  finally  organized  consisted 
of  fifteen  men,  well  supplied  for  a  protracted  expedi- 
tion, who  set  out  from  La  Creole  settlement  June 
22d.' 

» Nathaniel  Ford,  in  Or.  Spectator,  July  9,  1846. 

*They  were  Levi  Scott,  Jesse  Applegate,  Lindsey  Applegatc,  John  Scott, 
Moses  Harris,  Henry  Bogus,  John  Owens,  John  Jones,  Robert  Smith, 
Samuel  Goodhue,  Bennett  Osborne,  William  Sportsman,  William  Parker, 
Benjamin  Burch,  and  David  (!oflF,  From  notes  and  reminiscences  by  Lindsey 
Applegatc,  in  Portland  Went  Shore  from  June  to  September  1877,  the  follow- 
ing biographical  facts  are  taken: 

John  Scott  accompanied  his  father,  Capt.  Scott,  to  Oregon  in  184.3.  He 
resided  at  Dal    s  in  Polk  County. 

Benjamin  j  Burch  emigrated  from  Missouri,  his  native  state,  in  1845. 
He  has  long  o      'pied  positions  of  trust  in  Oregon,  and  resides  at  Salem. 

David  Gofl  is  an  immigrant  of  1844.  He  settled  in  tlie  neidiborhood  of 
the  Fords,  and  le  of  his  daughters  was  tiie  wife  of  J.  W.  Nesmith.  Ho 
belonged  to  th  class  of  pioneers  whose  patriotism  extended  beyond  a 
desire  to  secure  grant  of  land.  He  died  in  Polk  County  in  1875,  aged  80 
years. 

William  G.  P;  ker  was  a  native  of  Missouri,  and  an  immigrant  of  1843. 
Ho  left  Oregon  r  California,  where  he  resided  many  years;  but  returned 
Onally  to  Lake  County,  Oregon,  and  long  resided  in  the  country  he  assisted 
to  explore  in  184C.     He  wiis  a  brother  of  Mrs  Jesse  Applegatc. 

Robert  Smith  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  came  to  Oregon  in  1843.  He 
married  a  daughter  of  Charles  Applegatc,  and  was  brother-in-law  of  S.  F. 
Chadwick. 

Samuel  Goodhue  waa  a  native  of  New  York,  and  an  immigrant  of  1844.    Ho 


THE  Al'rLE(;ATE  EAI'EWTION. 


545 


The    explorinf^  coiupanv  proceeded  south  by  the 
California  trail.      On   arriviii<':  at  tlic  canon   of  tlic 


a, 
80 


tcil 

Ho 
F. 


canon 

Unipqua  Kiver,  wliere  trappers  and  travellers  had 
formerly  taken  to  those  high,  wooded  ridges,  where 
drought,  chaparral,  and  savages  had  so  vexed  the  soul 
of  1*.  L.  Edwards,  and  tried  the  finnness  of  Ewing 
Young  in  1837,  finding  that  no  wagon-road  could  be 
made  over  them,  they  returned  to  explore  the  canon, 
which  they  found  to  be  a  practicable  pass,  though 
rocky  and  filled  with  a  thick  growth  of  scrul)by  trees 
and  undi'rbrush  requiring  nmch  labor  to  cut  awoy. 
The  greatest  vigilance  being  used  in  guarding  against 
natives  in  the  Rogue  River  Valley,  the  company  en- 
countered no  hostilities,  although  they  discovered  the 
evidences  of  trouble  to  a  California  party  of  about 
eighty  persons  who  had  left  the  rendezvous  on  Ija 
Creole  two  weeks  before.  This  party  had  been  detained 
in  camp  in  the  Rogue  River  Valley  by  the  loss  of 
some  of  their  horses,  which  they  had  endeavored  in 
vain  to  recover.*  Signal-fires  were  seen  burniny;  on 
the  mountains  nightly,  but  finding  the  road-hunters 
watchful,  the  natives  finally  left  the  explorers,  and 
followed  the  California  company  to  ambush  them  in 
the  Siskiyou  Mountains. 

On  arriving  in  the  Rogue  River  Valley  the  course 
followed  was  along  the  river  to  a  l)ranch  coming  from 
the  south-east,  which  led  them  to  the  foot  of  the 
Siskiyou  Range,  where  the  California  trail  crossed  it, 
from  which  they  turned  eastward  toward  the  Cascade 

married  a  daughter  of  Albert  T.  iJavidson  of  the  immigration  of  1845,  aud 
reside*!  for  s'^veral  years  at  Salem,  hut  tiually  removed  to  Oliio. 

William  Sportsman  came  from  Missouri  in  1845,  and  left  Oregon  in  1847. 

John  Owens  was  a  native  of  Missouri,  and  an  immigrant  of  1843. 

Moses  Harris,  the  '  Black  Sr[uire,'  a  famous  scout  and  trapper,  came  to  the 
Willamette  Valley  in  1844.  He  Wiis  well  versed  in  the  Slioshonu  dialect,  and 
was  in  this  and  other  ways  of  nmch  service  to  tlio  expedition.  Harris  returned 
to  the  States  in  1847,  and  died  at  Independence,  Mo. 

*Applegato  says  the  party  con3i8te(l  of  Canadians,  halfdireeds,  and  Colum- 
bia River  natives,  with  a  few  Americans.  These  natives  were  probably  some 
of  the  Walla  Wallas,  who  were  going  down  to  claim  the  inclemnity  which 
White  had  promised  them  for  the  losses  sustained  in  their  cattle  expedition  of 
1844,  and  who  arrived  just  in  time  to  Join  Fremont's  battalion  against  the 
Califomians. 

Hist.  Or.,  Vol.  I.   85 


1  j 


I 


M6 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1846. 


Mountains  through  a  region  hitherto  unexplored,  and 
from  a  point  now  ascertained  to  be  only  six  miles 
north  of  the  42d  parallel,  or  southern  boundary  of 
Oregon.  A  few  miles  brought  them  to  slopes  of  grad- 
ual ascent,  where  wagons  could  pass  without  great 
difficulty,  to  a  fine  stream  of  water,  Keene  Creek, 
which  they  followed  to  a  small  valley,  later  known 
as  Round  Prairie.  On  the  following  day,  however, 
they  found  themselves  confronted  by  a  rooky  ridge, 
which  it  was  impossible  for  wagons  to  pass,  and 
three  days  were  consumed  in  searching  for  a  route 
over  or  through  it.  On  the  third  day,  Long  Prairie 
was  discovered,  and  near  it  the  desired  pass,  from 
which  they  followed  a  ridge  trending  northward  to 
the  summit  of  the  Cascade  Range,  which  they  reached 
on  the  4th  of  July ;  coming  soon  after  to  the  Klamath 
River,  and  travelling  through  a  magnificent  forest  of 
3^ellow  pine  for  six  miles  farther,  where  they  had  a 
first  view  of  the  Klamath  Valley. 

"  It  was  an  exciting  moment,"  says  Lindsey  Apple- 
gate,  "after  the  many  days  spent  in  dense  forests  and 
among  the  mountains,  and  the  whole  party  broke  forth 
in  cheer  after  cheer.  An  Indian,  who  had  not  been 
observed  until  the  shouting  began,  started  away  from 
the  river-bank  near  us,  and  ran  to  the  hills,  a  quarter 
of  a  mile  distant.  An  antelope  could  scarcely  have 
outstripped  him,  for  we  continued  shouting  as  he  ran, 
and  his  speed  seemed  to  increase  until  he  was  lost 
from  our  view,  moving  among  the  pines." 

Following  up  the  river  about  six  miles  to  where  it 
leaves  the  lower  Klamatli  Lake,  a  ford  was  discovered, 
which,  though  the  water  was  deep,  was  passed  in 
safety,  and  the  west  shore  of  the  lake  followed  down 
for  two  miles.  By  this  time  columns  of  smoke  were 
seen  rising  in  all  directions,  the  natives  who  had  dis- 
covered the  party  telegraphing  to  others  the  presence 
of  strangers.  Keeping  down  the  shore  of  the  lake, 
they  encamped  on  Hot  Creek,  at  the  identical  spot 
where  Frt^mont's  party  had  been  a  couple  of  months 


THROUGH  THE  MODOC  COUNIKY. 


047 


were 

dis- 

iBsence 

lake, 

I  spot 

onths 


previous,  and  where  the  Hot  Creek  Modocs  murdered 
his  three  faithful  Delawares. 

The  explorers  were  made  aware  of  the  fact  that 
white  men  had  been  there,  by  fragments  of  news- 
l)apers  lying  about;  doubtless  tliose  that  Gillespie 
brought  from  the  States  with  him,  on  his  mission  to 
Fremont,  who  turned  back  just  before  the  real  path- 
finders struck  his  trail.  Observing  that  the  turf  had 
been  removed  as  well  as  the  willows,  and  the  ground 
trampled  on  the  bank  of  the  crock,  and  remarking 
also  that  there  were  many  places  where  horses  could 
get  to  the  water  without  this  trouble,  the  company 
were  convinced  that  some  persons  liad  been  buried 
there,  and  this  method  adopted  of  'Concealing  their 
bodies  from  the  savages,  the  marks  of  digging  being 
obliterated  by  driving  the  animals  of  the  party  many 
times  over  the  spot.  This  opinion  was  confirmed  by 
the  excitement  evident  among  the  Modocs,  who  nat- 
urally judged  that  thesstj  white  men  had  come  to 
avenge  the  murder  of  the  three  members  of  Frd- 
monts  party  whom  they  were  conscious  of  having 
killed,^  and  which  were  the  first  of  a  long  list  of 
murders  committed  by  this  tribe,  extending  from  1846 
tn  1873. 

With  ev^ery  precaution  not  to  expose  themselves  to 
attack,  they  pursued  their  way  along  the  shore,  and 
l)assing  around  the  southern  end  of  the  lower  Kla- 
malii  Lake,  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  5th  op[)o- 
aiie  the  camp  on  Hot  Creek,  with  the  lake  to  tiie 
west,  and  a  high  rocky  ridge  to  the  east  of  them. 
Tliis  ridge  they  ascended  next  morning,  and  discov- 
ered mt  its  eastern  base  the  since  famous  Tule  or 
Modoc  Lake,  and  apparently  about  thirty  miles  to  the 
east  of  that  a.  timbered  butte,  near  which  appeared  to 
be  a  pass  through  the  rocky  range  encircling  the  basin 
of  the  lakes.  The  route  seemed  to  lie  around  the 
north  enc'  of  Tule  Lake.  In  attempting  to  descend 
the  ridge,  however,  they  found  themselves  entangled 

"Martinn  Nour.,  MS.,  19-21;  Shasta  Courier,  July  7,  1876. 


648 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1846. 


among  short  lava  ridges,  and  yawning  crevices  and 
caves  in  the  rocks,  which  compelled  a  retreat  to 
smoother  ground.  Some  difficulty  was  experienced 
in  conducting  a  retreat,  .is  the  party  had  become  sep- 
arated and  hidden  from  each  other  by  the  numerous 
jutting  rocks. 

When  all,  with  the  exception  of  Scott,  were  reas- 
sembled, a  northern  course  was  taken  toward  the 
meadow  country  which  was  oljserved  from  the  bluff, 
surrounding  Modoc  Lake  on  that  side.  The  lake 
being  in  fuU  view,  great  numbers  of  canoes  were  seen 
puttmg  off  from  the  shelter  of  the  blrfT  ij^d  tules, 
and  making  for  what  seemed  to  be  an  islari  several 
miles  distant;  this  was  in  reality  a  rocky  promontory, 
now  known  as  Scorpion  Point,  projecting  into  the 
lake  from  the  south-east  side.  The  wild  men  were 
apparently  alarmed  at  seeing  Scott  riding  along  the 
margin  of  the  lake,  and  believing  that  the  whole  com- 
pany that  they  had  seen  in  the  lava-beds  were  close 
at  hand,  were  fleeing  from  a  single  horseman.  Still 
under  the  impression  that  the  explorers  were  vengeful 
foeman,  they  remained  out  of  thoir  reach,  and  gave 
them  no  trouble. 

On  coming  to  Lost  River  where  it  enters  Modoc 
Lake,  and  where  the  water  is  deep,  a  native  was  dis- 
covered crouching  under  the  shelter  of  the  bank,  who 
on  being  made  to  understand  by  signs  that  the  party 
wished  to  cross,  was  induced  to  point  out  an  excellent 
fording-place,  where  a  ledge  of  stone  runs  quite  across 
the  stream."  He  was  compensated  by  some  trifling 
presents ;  his  new  friends  shook  hands  with  him  at 
parting,  and  he  returned,  apparently  pleased,  to  join 
his  tribe,  while  they  kept  on  eastward,  finding  a  good 
spring  of  water  at  ihe  foot  of  a  ridge  to  the  north, 
where  they  encamped. 

Still  making  for  their  former  landmrrk,  they  passed 

*  A  ffrodual  rise  in  the  waters  of  Modoc  Lake  haa  overflowed  the  moadowa 
whore  the  exploring  j/arty  grazed  their  horses,  and  backed  up  the  water  in 
Lost  River,  so  named  from  sinking  in  the  ground  in  places,  until  the  ford,  or 
Stone  Bridge  aa  it  waa  called  by  the  early  iuimigrouts,  has  become  impassable. 


GRANITE  MOUNTAINS. 


649 


eastward  over  the  rocky  juniper  ridge,  between  Lan- 
gell  Valley  and  Clear  Lake,  then  to  Goose  Lake,  round 
the  southern  end  of  which  they  continued,  encamping 
the  8th  on  a  small  stream  coming  in  from  the  south- 
east, and  where  game  was  found  in  abundance. 

Ascending  a  spur  of  the  mountains  bordering  Goose 
Lake  Valley,  a  view  was  obtained  of  another  beautiful 
valley,  with  trees  and  streams,  beyond  which  was  a 
mountain  ridge  supposed  to  be  a  part  of  the  California 
•sierras.  This  was  Surprise  Valley,  into  which  a  good 
pass  was  found,  with  grass  and  water  plenty,  'n  the 


gap. 


The  party  had  now  come  to  the  dividing  ridge 
lietween  the  waters  of  the  lake-basin  of  the  Pacific 
coast  and  that  other  great  basin  which  contains  the 
Humboldt  River  and  the  great  inland  sea  of  Salt 
Lake.  Their  horses  had  worn  out  their  shoes  oh  the 
rocks  of  Klamath  land;  the  sandy  desert  that  lay 
before  them  beyond  the  bc^rders  of  Surprise  Valley 
seemed  to  stretch  interminably,  with  no  indication  of 
water  or  grass  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see,  and  unbroken 
except  by  rocky  ridges;  and  the  prospect  for  the 
future  looked  gloomy.  But  pressing  on  to  the  close 
of  the  day  over  sand,  gravel,  and  rock,  at  evening  a 
little  spring  was  most  unexpectedly  found.  Proceed- 
ing in  an  eastward  course  over  a  sage  plain,  by  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon  of  the  10th  the  weary  trav- 
ellers found  themselves  confronted  by  a  sheer  wall  of 
solid  granite,  varying  in  height  from  twenty  or  thirty 
to  several  hundred  feet,  and  entirely  impassable.  Sep- 
arating into  two  divisions,  the  country  was  explored 
to  the  north  and  south,  whore  was  found  a  gap  vary- 
ing from  two  hundred  feet  to  the  width  of  little  moi,'e 
than  a  single  wagon.  It  was  about  twenty  miles  in 
length.  A  stream  ran  tli rough  it  in  places  under 
overhanging   cliifs.      After   examining    this   strange 

'  Tho  Binall  stream  spoken  of  as  coining  into  f  rooae  Lake,  aiul  the  pass  into 
Su  ^irise  Valley,  have  taken  the  uanie  of  Lassen,  from  I'etur  Liissen,  who  two 
years  after  the  discovery  by  the  Oregon  company,  led  a  party  of  California 
uiunigrauta  through  it  ou  to  tho  waters  of  the  Fit  and  Sacrauieuto  rivont. 


nso 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  ;846. 


defile  for  some  distance,  it  was  determined  to  follow  it 
on  tlie  1  Itli ;  and  on  arriving  at  the  eastern  end,  it  was 
found  to  terminate  in  a  lake-basin  containing  little 
water  but  much  mud,  to  which  the  name  of  Mud 
"Springs  was  given.  On  the  farther  side  of  the  basin 
was  another  ridge  extending  parallel  to  the  Granite 
Mountains,  which  appeared  to  terminate  about  fifteen 
miles  to  the  south  of  the  gorge.  Travelling  toward 
the  end  of  this  ridge  along  its  base,  grass  and  water 
were  found,  but  not  in  abundance ;  and  at  the  extrem- 
ity, hot  springs,  with  immense  piles  of  volcanic  rock 
and  scoriae  of  a  daik  color,  from  which  the  place  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Black  Rock.  At  this  point  the 
company  divided,  half  going  east  and  the  rest  south. 
Finding  nothing  encouraging  in  the  outlook  east- 
ward from  the  Rabbit-hole  Mountains,  this  party  also 
turned  southward  along  their  base,  and  at  the  termi- 
nation found  a  large  spring,  but  too  strongly  alkaline 
to  be  used  except  in  making  coffee.  From  this  spring 
looking  east,  nothing  could  be  seen  but  a  vast  plain 
glittering  with  an  alkaline  efflorescence,  which  greatly 
aggravated  the  heat  of  a  July  sun.  In  travelling  over 
it  the  party  suffered  not  only  from  heat  and  thirst, 
but  from  those  atmospheric  illusions  so  tormenting  to 
those  who  traverse  deserts.  All  that  day  and  night, 
and  until  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  following 
day,  they  were  without  water,  and  one  of  tlie  men  had 
succumbed,  and  was  left  lying  in  the  shadow  of  some 
rocks,  while  his  companions  in  suffering  directed  their 
course  toward  a  small  green  spot  several  miles  distant. 
While  on  this  errand  they  fell  in  with  the  southern 
division,  which  had  also  been  without  water  about  as 
long,  and  was  travelling  toward  the  bit  of  green  in 
tlie  distance.  That  night  all  encamped  togethe  ^  again, 
tlie  sick  man  having  been  brouglit  to  camp.  But  so 
warm,  alkaline,  and  disagreeable  was  the  little  water 
found,  that  few  of  the  company  could  retain  it.  The 
horses  drank  it  eagerly,  and  this  small  relief,  with  a 
night  of  rest,  sufficed  to  raise  the  sinking  courage  of 


HUMBOLDT  RIVER. 


Sfil 


these  determined  men.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th 
they  proceeded  southward  over  a  level  plain,  passing 
burning  peat-beds,  and  coming  at  noon  to  the  Hum- 
boldt Kiver,  near  the  present  site  of  Humboldt  City. 

Although  rejoiced  to  reach  this  river,  which  had 
been  from  the  first  an  objective  point,  the  explorers 
found  the  route  from  here  too  southerly  for  their  pur- 
pose, and  began  a  course  up  the  valley  in  a  north- 
easterly direction,  looking  for  a  pass  more  directly 
westward  from  a  point  east  of  Black  Rock.  The 
march  continued  for  two  and  a  half  days,  until  they 
came  to  a  dry  branch  of  the  Humboldt  coming  in  fi'om 
the  north,  where  there  was  an  extensive  meadow, 
and  where  they  encamped  with  the  Intention  of  ex- 
ploring back  toward  what  seemed  to  be  a  gap  through 
the  ridge  round  which  they  had  travelled  to  the 
south. 

At  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles  up  the  dry  creek  they 
came  to  a  fine  spring;  and  fifteen  miles  west,  up  a 
gradual  rise,  to  a  table-land  covered  with  good  grass, 
from  which  Black  Rock  was  plainly  visible.  Satis- 
fied that  they  had  now  discovered  a  direct  route  from 
the  Humboldt  westward  to  Black  Point,  with  grass 
and  water,  and  making  assurance  doubly  sure  by  re- 
discovering Rabbit-hole  Springs,  after  remaining  in  the 
Humboldt  Meadow  to  recruit  their  horses  three  days, 
they  turned  their  faces  once  more  toward  the  east, 
knowing  that  the  source  of  the  Humboldt  was  in 
the  vicinity  of  their  destined  point,  and  that  tliere 
could  be  no  lack  of  water  or  grass  for  the  remainder 
of  the  way. 

On  the  25th  of  July  the  march  was  resumed.  The 
intention  of  the  explorers  was  to  locate  their  rt)ad 
directly  to  Bear  River,  fifty  or  sixty  miles  south  of 
Fort  Hall,  where,  in  case  of  hostilities  with  England, 
the  American  traveller  would  not  wish  to  go.  But 
provisions  running  short,  only  two  thirds  of  the  com- 
pany proceeded  to  Bear  River,  while  Jesse  Apple- 
gate,  Harris,  GofF.  Owens,  and  Bogus  turned  oif  from 


552 


THE  IMmGRATION  OF   1846. 


Thousand  Springs  Valley  to  Fort  Hall  for  supplies,' 
and,  if  possible,  to  induce  a  portion  of  the  immigra- 
tion, which  would  probably  be  in  that  vicinity,  to  travel 
the  new  route  and  open  the  road.  Before  arriving 
at  Fort  Hall,  Henry  Bogus,  learning  that  a  son  of 
Mr  Grant  of  the  fort  had  started  for  St  Louis,  and 
wishing  to  return  there,  left  the  party,  and  took  a 
cut-off,  in  the  hope  of  overtaking  the  St  Louis  Com- 
pany, but  was  never  again  heard  from.^ 

The  immigration  of  1846  was  not  so  large  as  that 
of  the  previous  year,  and  many  were  destined  to  Cali- 
fornia, whither  efforts  were  made  to  direct  the  waver- 
ing/" From  th  Lest  evidence  I  can  gather,  about 
twenty-five  hundred  persons  left  the  Missouri  frontier 
this  year  for  the  Pacific  coast.     Of  these,  from  fifteen 

*  Bryant'a  What  I  who  in  California,  196-7. 

•  Liiiilsey  Applegate  of  the  Bear  River  party,  who  kept  a  journal,  relates 
that  in  travelling  slowly  up  the  inonotonons  Humlwldt  Valley,  where  game 
was  scarce,  and  the  natives  seemed  to  live  on  crickets  and  grasshoppers,  Scott 
and  he  turned  asiile  one  day  to  pursue  a  band  of  antelope,  and  came  to  wagon- 
tracks  leading  away  from  the  river  toward  a  rocky  gulch  two  or  three  miles 
distant.  There  seemed  to  have  been  several  wagons,  and  the  i)rints  of  bare 
feet  were  numerous  beside  the  track.  In  the  gulch  were  found  the  ashes 
and  '.rons  of  tlie  wagons  which  liad  been  burned.  No  human  remains  were 
seen.  The  emigrants  had  probably  been  murdered.  Thoy  were  one  of  the 
small  parties  which  from  1S43  to  1846  sought  +■■  enter  California  by  the  Hum- 
boldt route. 

'•  I  find  that  this  efibrt  was  understood  and  resisted  by  the  people  of  Oregon. 
The  15th  of  Juno  a  public  meeting  was  held  at  Oregon  City,  to  provide  for 
sending  an  express  to  Soda  Springs  to  meet  the  emigration,  '  to  prevent  their 
being  deceived  and  led  astray  by  the  luisrepresentations  of  L.  W.  Hastings, 
Avho  IS  now  on  his  way  from  California  for  that  object. '  The  committee  selected 


to  composp  the  express  was  W.  Finley,  J.  S.  Rmearson,  and  W.  (r.  T'Vault. 
The  committee  took  the  depositions  of  Truman  Bouncy,  Jarius  Bonney,  Abiier 
Frazer,  John  Chamberlain,  Robert  C.  Koyes,  aiitl  Allen  Sanders,  recently 
from  CaUfornia,  concerning  the  intention  of  Hastings,  and  the  general  condi- 
tion of  affairs  in  California.  The  first  three  afliants  deposed  that  by  the  rep- 
resentations of  Mr  (irant  at  Fort  Hall  the  year  previous,  tliey  were  induced 
to  go  to  California,  but  on  arriving  in  the  Sacramento  Valley  found  the  whole 
country  burned  by  the  sun,  an<l  no  food  either  for  man  or  beast.  Flour  was 
$10  or  .§12  per  cwt.,  and  vegetables  there  were  none.  Five  to  eight  bushels  of 
wheat  was  an  average  crop.  No  rain  fell  from  March  to  January;  there  was 
no  timber  except  on  the  mountains.  Society  did  not  exist,  and  it  was  difficult 
for  a  man  to  keep  his  own.  The  Catholic  missions  were  destroyed;  no  land 
could  be  obtained  without  purchase,  and  titles  were  not  good;  duties  were  so 
high  that  no  shipping  came  in,  and  clothing  was  almost  impossible  to  obtain. 
And  above  all,  Mr  Hastings  an<l  Captain  Sutter  were  intending  to  revolution- 
ize the  country  as  soon  as  people  enough  had  come  to  fight  the  Spaniards. 
Similar  (lepositions  were  made  by  the  other  three,  to  be  used  in  undeceiving 
tlie  immigrants  whom  Hastings  would  endeavor  to  mislead!  Or.  iSpectator, 
June  25,  1846. 


INDEPENDENT  COMPANIESw 


r53 


to  seventeen  hundred  went  to  Oregon ;  the  remainder 
to  California." 

As  usual  with  the  migrations,  there  was  a  lack  of 
adhesiveness,  and  large  companies  split  into  half  a 
dozen  smaller  ones,  and  there  were  many  quarrels 
arising  from  trifling  causes.  In  1846  those  feuds  were 
intensified  by  a  scarcity  of  grass,  the  season  being 
dry.^^ 

''The  authorities  dififer.  The  Spectator  of  Deo.  10,  1846,  gives  the  number 
of  immigrants  for  the  year  at  1,000.  (Message  of  Governor  Abemethy.)  But 
at  that  time  several  hundred  had  not  yet  arrived.  In  Hyde's  Statement,  (i, 
the  Oregon  immi(  ration  is  spoken  of  as  'large.'  Saxton,  in  his  Or.  Ter.,  says 
tliat  at  St  Joseph,  Elizal>ethtown,  Iowa  Point,  and  Council  Bluffs  were  col- 
lected 271  wagons,  and  at  Independence  174  wagons;  and  estimates  the  emi- 
grants at  1,841.  The  best  authority  is  probably  Joel  Palmer,  who  says  that 
his  party  of  16  continued  to  meet  for  200  miles  companies  of  from  6  to  40 
wagons,  and  that  in  all  he  passed  541  wagons,  averaging  5  persons  to  each; 
and  that  212  wagons  were  oound  for  California.  Journal,  137;  McQbwhanx 
Hist.  Donner  Party,  17.  Ifind  corroborative  evidence  in  Nilen  Jieg.,  Ixx.  211, 
272,  281,  341,  343,  416.  An  extract  from  the  St  Louis  Republican,  in  the  Jieij- 
Mvr,  says:  '  The  Oregon  emigrants  have  gone  on  in  advance  of  the  Calif omians, 
to  their  great  encampment  on  tlje  Kansiis  River,  about  100  miles  west  of  this. 
We  have  not  yet  received  a  census  of  their  company,  but  will  in  a  few  days. ' 
A  letter  to  the  Iie<jinter,  from  some  one  in  Weston,  AIo.,  says  the  emigration 
must  be  strung  along  the  road  for  300  miles;  40  wagons  were  yet  to  start,  on 
the  .18th  of  May;  216  wagons  exclusive  of  these  had  left  the  Iowa  agency; 
each  of  these  356  wagons  had  4  yokes  of  oxen,  which  added  to  tlie  loose 
stock  would  make  2,000  head  of  cattle  on  the  road.  The  number  of  persons 
he  estimated  at  2,000,  800  of  them  being  '  able-bodied  men  of  resolute  spirit. ' 
This  same  writer  says:  '  On  yesterday,  I  for  the  first  time  heanl  the  news 
from  Mexico.  It  ilid  not  surjjrise  me  in  the  least,  but  I  wi.di  an  express  could 
be  sent  to  overtake  the  emijirants,  after  congress  has  acted,  and  authorize 
them  to  make  the  coucj^uest  of  California.  They  could  and  would  do  it,  and  1 
take  it  for  granted  our  government  will  declare  war;  all  tliey  want  is  a  chance. ' 
A  correspondent  of  the  St  Louis  Ileptddicnn,  quoted  in  the  Rvijixlcr,  says  the 
Oregon  emigration  was  a  fine-looking  body  of  people,  and  well  fitted  out  for 
their  expedition.  Some  wagons  were  carpeted,  and  had  chairs  i^nd  other  con- 
veniences for  families.  One  old  man  of  more  tlian  70  years  was  going  to  accom- 
pany his  children  and  grandchildren;  and  this  family  all  together  had  10 
wagons.  Some  of  the  wagon-covers  bore  'Oreijon,  54°  40';  all  or  none!' 
Josiah  Gregg,  writmg  to  the  Ri-ijister,  thinks  the  emigration  numbers  2,000, 
but  that  the  larger  part  of  it  is  for  California.  I  learn  also  that  the  Pawnees 
fired  upon  2  emigrants,  killing  one,  named  E<lward  Trimble,  from  Iowa.  See 
also  Home  Missionary,  xviii.  89;  and  Rahhisons  Growth  of  Towns,  MS.,  1-5. 

''■'In  volume  Ixxi.  146,  of  Niles'  Rty.,  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by 
one  of  the  California  emigrants,  dated  July  23d  at  Fort  Bridger,  near  Black 
Fork  of  Green  River,  not  far  from  Bear  River  Mountains,  which  was  '  brought 
by  Capt.  Walker,  who  was  returning  from  California  \»  ith  Lieut.  Fr^nmnt. ' 
The  letter  runs  as  follows:  '  At  Fort  Laramie  Colonel  Russel,  and  many  other 
of  the  emigrants,  sold  off  their  wagons,  and  with  a  pack  containing  a  few 
articles,  pursued  their  journey  on  horseback.  Tlie  grass  on  the  route  from 
Fort  Laranue  was  <leficieut,  and  the  animals  fared  badly. . .  .The  parties  were 
in  the  South  pass  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  on  the  13tli  of  July,  and  had  then 
seen  no  Indians  after  leaving  Fort  Laramie,  and  considered  themselves  lieyond 
their  dangerous  vicinity,  and  only  a  few  of  the  emigrants  kept  a  night  guard, 
i'rom  Fort  Laramie  they  had  pleasant  weather,  with  cool  nights  and  warm 


554 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1840. 


The  character  of  these  pilgrims  was  in  general 
good;  they  were  intelligent,  and  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances. That  this  was  true,  many  well-written 
letters  that  appeared  in  the  public  prints  give  evi- 
dence, both  as  regards  their  authors  and  their  travel- 
ling companions.  I  find  in  a  book  by  a  writer  always 
successful  in  making  a  readable  narrative,  as  well  as  in 
lecording  useful  information,  but  who  occasionally 
gives  proof  of  powers  of  observation  put  to  good  use, 
that  there  was  the  usual  substratum  of  the  hardy 
pioneer  element;  and  also,  that  though  the  companies 
scattered  along  the  road  for  two  hundred  miles  were 
all  well  fitted  out  at  the  start,  some  of  them,  through 
carelessness,  or  strife  amongst  themselves,  became 
much  distressed  before  the  conclusion  of  even  the 
first  half  of  their  journey. ^^ 


ill 


days,  thoiigh  very  dusty  roads  until  they  reached  Fort  Bridger,  and  during  the 
whole  route  they  had  not  seen  more  than  a  dozen  buffalo.  Col,  Russel  and 
his  party,  by  hard  travelling,  reached  Fort  Bridger  2  or  3  days  before 
the  others;  but  his  horses  had  their  backs  badly  worn,  and  he  remained  .S 
or  4  days  to  recruit.  At  that  place  they  were  met  by  Mr  Hastings,  from 
California,  wlio  cime  out  to  conduct  them  in  by  the  new  route,  by  the  foot  of 
Salt  Liike,  discovered  by  Captain  Fr<5mont,  which  is  said  to  be  200  miles 
nearer  than  tlie  old  one,  by  Fort  Hall.  The  distance  to  California  was  said 
to  be  650  miles,  through  a  tine  farming  country,  with  plenty  of  grass  for  the 
Ciittle.  Companies  of  from  one  to  a  dozen  wagons  are  continually  arriving, 
and  several  have  already  started  on,  with  Hastings  at  their  heatl,  who  would 
conduct  them  to  near  where  the  new  road  joins  the  old  route,  and  there  leave 
them,  and  push  on  with  Jiis  party.  Russel  had  also  started,  guided  by  a  man 
who  came  through  with  Hastings.  He  is  said  to  be  very  sick  of  the  journey, 
and  anxious  to  complete  it.  Instead  of  entering  California  as  the  commander 
of  a  half -military  caravan,  he  had  been  forsaken  by  his  most  cherislied  com- 
panions, and  even  his  undcratrappers  had  treated  Inmwith  indignity.  Gray- 
son had  quarrelled  with  all  his  companions,  and  every  one  who  could  rai&e  a 
horse  had  left  him.  Boggs  and  many  otliers  liad  determined  to  go  to  Oregon, 
and  were  expected  to  arrive  at  Fort  Bridger  in  a  day  or  two.  Curry  had  al;io 
been  persuaded  to  go  to  Oregon,  and  from  thence  he  would  go  to  California 
and  the  Sandwich  Islands. . .  The  Oregon  route  may  be  considerably  shortened 
by  avoiding  Fort  Bridger  antl  passing  a  stretch  of  45  miles  without  water, 
but  most  of  the  companies  go  that  way.  The  emigrants  wore  heartily  tireil 
of  their  journey,  and  nine  tenths  of  them  wished  themselves  back  in  the  States. 
The  wliole  company  has  been  broken  up  into  squads  by  dissatisfaction  and 
bickerings,  and  it  is  pretty  much  every  man  for  himself.  Tlie  accounts  they 
had  received  of  Oregon  and  California,  by  the  parties  they  met  returning  to 
the  States,  had  greatly  disheartened  them,  and  they  had  horrible  anticipa- 
tions of  the  future,  in  the  country  which  tliey  believed  to  be,  when  they  set 
out,  as  beautiful  as  the  Elysian  fields.' 

"  '  Far  off  on  tlie  other  side  of  the  Platte  was  a  green  meadow,  where  we 
could  see  the  wliite  tents  and  wagons  of  an  emigrant  camp;  and  just  opposite 
to  us  we  could  discern  a  group  of  men  and  animals  at  the  water's  edge.     Four 


THORNTON  AND   HIS  ^VRITINf;S. 


J.  Quinn  Thornton  "  dealt  with  the  opening  of  the 
southern  route  to  the  Willamette  Valley  in  a  partie- 

or  5  horsemen  soon  entered  the  river,  and  in  10  ininiitea  had  waded  across 
and  clambered  up  the  loose  sunil-buiik.  They  were  ill-looking  fellows,  thiu 
and  swarthy,  with  care-worn,  anxious  faces,  and  lips  rigidly  compressed. 
They  hail  goml  cause  for  anxiety;  it  waa  3  days  since  they  tirst  encamped 
here,  and  on  the  night  of  tlieir  arrival  they  had  lost  l'J3  of  their  best  cattk, 
•Iriven  ofiF  hy  the  wolves,  through  the  neglect  of  the  man  on  guard.  Thi'i 
discouraging  and  alarming  calamity  was  not  the  iiri^t  that  had  overtaken 
them.  Since  leaving  the  settlements  they  had  met  M-ith  nothing  but  mis- 
fortune. Some  of  tneir  party  had  died;  one  man  had  been  killed  by  tlie 
Pawnees;  and  alwut  a  week  before,  they  hatl  been  plundered  by  the  Dakotiihs 
of  all  tlieir  best  horses. .  .The  emigrants  recrossed  the  river,  and  we  prepared 
to  follow.  First  the  heavy  ox -wagons  plunged  down  the  bank,  and  dragged 
slowly  over  tlie  sand-beds;  sometimes  the  hoofs  of  the  oxen  were  scarcely 
wetted  by  the  thin  sheet  of  water;  and  the  next  moment  tlic  river  would  bo 
boiling  against  their  sides,  and  eddying  fiercely  around  the  wheels.  Inch  l)y 
inch  they  receded  from  the  shore,  dwindling  every  moment  until  at  length  they 
seemed  to  bo  floating  far  out  in  the  very  middle  of  the  river. .  .As  we  gained 
the  other  bank,  a  rough  group  of  men  surrounded  us.  They  were  not  robust 
nor  large  of  frame,  yet  tliey  had  an  aspect  of  hardy  endurance.  Finding  at 
home  no  scope  for  their  fiery  energies,  they  had  betaken  themselves  to  the 
prairie;  and  m  them  seemed  to  be  revived,  with  redoubled  force,  tliat  tierce 
spirit  which  impelled  their  ancestors,  scarce  more  lawless  than  tliemselves, 
from  the  (lerman  forests,  to  inundate  Europe,  and  break  to  pieces  the  Roman 
empire.  A  fortnight  afterwards  tliis  unfortunate  party  passed  Fort  Laramie 
while  we  were  there.  Not  one  of  their  missing  oxen  had  been  recovered, 
though  they  had  encamjjed  a  week  in  search  of  them;  and  they  hfid  been 
compelled  to  abandon  a  great  part  of  their  baggage  and  provisions,  and  yoke 
cows  and  heifers  to  their  wagons  to  carry  them  forward  upon  their  journey, 
tlie  most  toilsome  and  hazardous  part  of  which  lay  still  before  them.' 

It  is  worth  noticing,  that  on  the  Platte  one  may  sometimes  see  the 
shattered  wrecks  of  ancient  claw-footed  tables,  well  waxed  and  rubbed,  or 
massive  bureaus  of  carved  oak.  These,  many  of  them  no  doubt  the  relies  of 
ancestral  prosperity  in  the  coloni.al  time,  must  have  encountered  strange 
vicissitudes.  Imported,  perhaps,  originally  from  England;  then,  with  the 
declining  fortunes  of  their  owners,  borne  across  the  Alleghanies  to  the  remote 
wilderness  of  Ohio  or  Kentucky;  then  to  Illinois  or  Missouri;  and  now  at  hist 
fondly  stowed  away  in  the  family  wagon  for  the  interminable  journey  to 
Oregon.  But  the  stern  privations  of  tlie  way  are  little  anticipated.  Tlie 
cherished  relic  is  soon  flung  to  scorch  and  crack  upon  the  hot  prairie.  Park- 
mnns  C'<tl.  and  Or.  Trail,  10.")-8. 

'*  On'non  ami  Cal{/'ornia  in  I84S,  by  J.  Quinn  Thornton,  etc.,  in  two  vol- 
umes, with  illustrations  and  a  map.  New  York,  1849.  Mr  Thornton's  book 
was  written  after  one  year's  residence  in  Oregon,  his  account  of  its  political 
hiotory  and  the  description  of  California  being  drawn  from  the  writings  of 
Hall  J.  Kelley,  whose  acquaintance  he  formed  in  1848.  To  tiiis  is  adelcd  a 
sketcli  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  country  by  iiiiosionaries  and  others;  a 
sketch  of  the  establishment  of  the  provisional  government,  with  an  account 
of  his  late  participation  in  its  affairs;  an  account  of  the  general  features,  geol- 
ogy, mineralogy,  forests,  rivers,  farming  huids,  and  institutions  of  Oregon;  all 
of  which,  considering  the  date  of  publication,  is  useful  and  interesting  and  in 
the  main  correctly  given,  establishing  the  author's  ability  to  produce  literary- 
matter  of  rather  unu^iual  merit.  But  these  two  volumes  could  well  have  been 
contained  in  one  by  the  omission  of  the  author's  narrative  of  the  incidents  of 
the  immigration,  which  reveal  a  narrowness  of  judgment  and  bitterness  of 
."pirit  seldom  associated  with  those  mental  endowments  of  which  Mr  Thorn- 
ton gives  evidence  in  his  writings. 


bM 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF  1840. 


-  I    I 


ular  and  detailed  manner,  which  makes  him  the  prin- 
cipal authority  upon  the  incidents  attcindirii^  it.  It 
is  there  stated  that  Thornton  and  his  wife  loft  Quincy, 
Illinois,  on  the  18th  of  April,  and  went  to  Indepen- 
dence to  join  the  Oregon  and  California  emigrants. 
He  left  that  place  May  1 2th,  and  soon  overtook  the 
California  Company  under  W.  H.  Russell.  The  train 
witii  which  Thornton  travelled  together  with  Rus- 
sell's made  a  caravan  of  72  wagons,  130  men,  G5 
women,  and  125  children.  The  ill-fated  Donner  party 
Hubsequently  joined  them,  and  all  travelled  together, 
or  not  far  apart,  to  Fort  Bridger,  where  about  80 
persons  were  persuaded  to  tok.?  the  newly  discovered 
route  to  the  Humboldt  Valley  by  the  way  of  Weber 
Canon  and  Salt  Lake,  which  Hastings,  who  had  come 
to  Fort  Bridger  to  meet  the  immigrants,  recommended 


J.  (^uinn  Thornton  was  born  August  24,  1810,  near  Point  Pleasant,  Mason 
County,  West  Virginia.  From  Iiis  inann8crij)t  A  iitobim/ntph;/,  it  appears  his 
ancestors  arrived  in  eastern  Virginia  in  16.'J3  from  England,  and  that  the 
Thornton  family  are  now  widely  scattered  over  the  southern  and  western 
states.  In  his  infancy  Thornton  removed  with  his  parents  to  t'liampaign 
County,  Ohio,  and  grew  up  a  studious  hoy,  reading  all  the  books  that  came 
in  his  way,  among  others  Sully's  Memoirs,  from  wliich  he  drew  his  favorite 
voiii  ill'  plitine  of  'Achilles  De  Harley,'  used  in  later  years  as  a  signature  to 
certain  political  articles  in  the  A'cw  York  Tribune.  His  mother  desired  liiiu 
to  study  for  tlio  ministry;  but  he  chose  law  as  a  profession,  and  went  to 
England  to  study,  remaining  nearly  tliree  years  in  London,  living  in  retirement 
an< I  luavuing  little  of  the  great  world  about  him.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he 
returned  to  Virginia,  and  studied  law  under  John  Howe  Peyton,  of  Staunton 
in  that  state,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  May  1833.  Tliornton  says  that 
during  tlie  period  of  liis  studies  he  became  interested  in  trying  to  discover  the 
nature  of  gravitation;  being  of  the  belief  thiit  the  word  '  attraction, '  as  applied 
to  gravitfition,  is  a  mi.snoiner,  and  that  the  force  is  external  to  rather  than 
inherent  in  nuitter;  and  claims  that  the  identity  of  that  force  was  discovered 
by  him  in  August  1832.  The  residts  of  his  investigations  on  this  subject, 
being  committed  to  manuscript,  were  twice  destroyed  by  tire,  since  which 
no  further  effort  has  been  made  to  place  liis  discovery  before  the  world.  After 
being  admitted  to  the  bar,  Thornton  attended  law  lectures  at  the  University 
of  Virginia  under  Prof.  Joliii  A.  G.  Davis.  Having  had  all  this  preparation, 
he  opened  a  law  office  in  Palmyra,  Missouri,  in  1835,  and  in  183()  e;lited  a 
political  paper  in  that  place,  in  the  interest  of  Martin  Van  Burcn  during  the 
presidential  campaign.  On  the  8th  of  Feb.,  1838,  he  married  Mrs  Nancy  M. 
Logne  of  Hannibal  in  that  state;  and  in  1841  renioved  to  Quincy,  Illinois. 
The  Oregon  Question  being  popularly  discussed  by  all  ranks  of  society  about 
this  time,  led  him,  as  it  did  thousands  of  others,  to  tlii:ik  of  adding  his  indi- 
vidual weight  to  the  American  claim,  and  in  184(5  he  resolved  to  emigrate.  I 
am  indebted  to  Mr  Thornton  for  many  favors.  When  in  Salem,  in  1878,  he 
not  only  gave  me  a  valuable  dictation,  but  placed  me  in  poasessiou  of  many 
important  documents  collected  by  him  during  .vn  eventful  life. 


THE  APPLEGATE  ROUTE. 


n,u 


to  them"  with  so  much  urgency.  The  remainder  of 
the  Caliiornia  company  kept  to  the  old  route  turning 
ofl  west  of  Fort  Hall. 

When  Applegate's  party  were  at  that  post,  they 
met  and  conversed  with  many  persons  on  the  subject 
of  routes,  among  whom  was  a  company  led  by  William 
Kirquendall,  to  which  belonged  Thornton  and  Boggs, 
and  which  determined  to  take  the  southern  route, 
piloted  by  the  explorers.  Without  cjuestion  Apple- 
gate  represented,  as  he  believed,  that  the  southern 
route  was  superior  in  many  respects  to  that  along 
the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers.  The  grass,  except  on 
the  alkali  desert,  which  he  expected  in  returning  to 
avoid  for  the  most  part,  was  better  than  in  the  Snake 
country;  there  were  no  mountains  to  cross  before 
coming  to  the  Cascade  Range,  and  the  pass  through 
it  was  greatly  superior  to  the  Mount  Hood  pass; 
while  in  tlie  Klamath,  Rogue  River,  and  Umpqua 
valleys  grass  and  water  were  of  the  greatest  excellence 
and  abundance.  The  distance  he  judged  to  be  shorter 
than  by  the  old  route,  though  in  this  he  was  mis- 
taken.    Influenced  by  the  misrepresentation  of  Has- 

**  The  narration  of  the  misfortunes  which  attended  the  emigrants  on  Has- 
tings' cut-off  docs  not  belong  to  this  division  of  this  history,  but  will  be  found 
in  If  Ml.  Cat.,  tliis  series;  also  ui  MrGltin/tan  8  If  Lit.  of  the  Dniirwr  Purti/,  and  in 
Tliorutons  (Jr.  and  t'al.,  ii.  115-240.  Thornton  became  well  acquainted  M'ith 
Boggs  of  Missouri,  and  several  of  the  most  prominent  persons  in  the  Cali- 
fornia emigration,  including  the  Donner  party,  ancl  has  rueonled  many  facta 
concerning  them.  Hnstiugs  undoubtedly  exaggerated  in  persuading  the  Don- 
ner company  to  take  his  route,  and  in  trying  to  influence  the  Oregon  immi- 
grants to  go  to  California,  thereby  producing  the  effect  spoken  of  in  the  letter 
already  quoted  from  jV/7m'  livijktcr.  On  the  otlier  hand,  the  Ort:gon  com- 
mittee sent  out  to  counteract  his  influence,  by  showing  tiie  depositions  of  the 
last  year's  emigrants  to  California,  added  to  the  feeling  of  uncertiiinty.  Tiio 
travellers  knew  not  which  statement  to  believe,  and  elioso  at  random  which 
route  to  take.  According  to  Hastings,  the  8()0  miles  between  Fort  Hall  and 
tlie  Pacific  w;is  a  '  succession  of  higli  mounfciins,  elifl's,  deep  cafions,  and  small 
valleys,'  with  a  scarcity  of  fuel  along  the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers.  Mc- 
(ilaahan  in  the  Hint.  Donner  P<irt>j,  2*2,  says  that  Bridger  and  Vazquez,  who 
liad  charge  of  Fort  Bridger,  earnestly  advised  the  California  emigration  to 
take  Hastings'  cut-off,  because  they  wanted  to  sell  supples  to  tlio  trains 
which  would  otherwise  refit  at  Fort  Hall.  He  also  says  that  Hastings  wiis  a 
famous  hunter  and  trapper,  and  employed  to  pilot  the  emigration:  which 
departure  from  facts  clouds  the  credibility  of  the  previous  assertion.  Time 
confirmed  the  merits  of  the  Hastings  cut-off  as  a  road  to  California;  and  it 
is  certain  that  to  dissensions  among  themselves,  and  unwise  delays,  was  to  bo 
attributed  the  tragedy  of  Donner  Lake. 


6ft8 


THE  IMMIUUATION  OP   1846. 


tings  as  to  the  northern  route,  and  l)oping  to  escap*' 
its  oight  hundred  miles  of  mountains,  ravines,  an<l 
jirecipices  by  taking  tlio  southern  one,  a  caravan  of 
ninety  or  a  hundred  wa«;ons,  including  Kirquendall's 
ov)mpany,  left  Fort  Hall  on  the  Dth  of  August,  ar- 
riving at  the  rendezvous  of  tlie  exploring  party  at 
Thousand  Springs  on  the  12th,  where  David  Goif 
and  Levi  Scott  assumed  the  duty  of  guiding  them 
to  the  Willamet*^'>,  while  the  Applegates  and  the  re- 
mainder of  the  company  pushed  forward  to  mark  out 
or  cut  out  the  road,  as  the  case  might  demand,  accom- 
panied by  a  volunteer  party  of  young  men  from  the 
immigration/^ 

On  arrivhig  at  the  tributary  of  the  Humboldt,  they 
proceeded  up  the  stream  to  the  spring  before  discov- 
ered, which  they  called  Diamond,  but  which  is  now 
known  as  Antelope  spring,  and  which  they  enlarged 
by  digging.  Thence  they  took  a  north-west  course 
to  Rabbit-hole  Mountains,  where  they  enlarged  the 
Rabbit-hole  spring.  They  found  no  way  of  avoiding 
the  Black  Rock  desert  of  alkali  and  nmd  lakes  be- 
tween there  and  the  Granite  Mountains,  the  sanui 
course  being  followed  in  locating  the  road  west  of 
Black  canon  that  was  pursued  on  the  first  explora- 
tion. The  real  labor  of  road-making  began  when  the 
company  reached  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  was 
repeated  in  the  chain  tt)  the  north  of  the  Rogue 
River  Valley,  and  in  the  Umpqua  canon.  On  ar- 
riving in  the  Umpq'.ia  YaWey,  at  the  north  end  of  the 
canon,  feeling  that,  they  had  removed  the  greatest 
obstacles  to  travel  \.  V.h  wagons,  and  being  reduced  to 
the  necessity  of  imnting  to  supply  themselves  with 
provisions,  the  passage  through  the  Calapooya  Moun- 
tains was  left  to  be  opened  by  the  immigrants  them- 
selves, and  the  company  hastened  to  their  homes, 
from  which  they  had  been  absent  fifteen  weeks. 

'*Theac  were  Thomcos  Powers,  Alfred  Stewart,  Charles  Putnam,  who 
married  a  <laHghter  of  Jesse  Applegate.  ]>argefis,  Shaw,  Carnahan,  and  otiiers. 
William  Kirqueiidall  and  J.  M.  \\'air  also  joined  the  road  company. 


I      H! 


iif 


SCAlU;liY  OF  GRASS  AND  WATER, 


550 


Before  tlie  Applej^ates  left  the  caravan  at  Thousaiul 
Springs  to  smooth  as  far  as  possihle  the  road  which 
the  wagons  wore  to  foUow,  they  instructed  tlie  innni- 
grants  to  hi;  careful  in  passing  through  the  country 
occu|)ied  by  savages,  no  companies  of  less  than  twenty 
wagons  being  considered  safe;  that  diligence  should 
be  used  in  travelling,  and  that  in  making  the  U)ng 
drives  over  the  desei-t  portions  of  the  road  certain 
precautions  should  be  observed.  With  these  explicit 
directions,  and  two  reliable  men  as  guides,  they  appre- 
hended no  difficulty  for  those  who  were  to  follow.'^ 

The  first  companies  to  take  the  road  after  the  ex- 
])lorer8  were  those  led  by  Harrison  Linville,  and  a 
Mr  Vanderpool;  and  although  ui)on  them  fell  the 
sever •>  toil  of  breaking  the  track,  and  reopening  the 
'road  over  the  Cascade  Mountains  made  by  Apple- 
gate's  company,  which  a  fire  had  filled  in  places  with 
fallen  timber,  they  arrived  in  the  Rogue  River  Valley 
on  the  9th  of  October  ;^^  while  the  rear  companies, 
disregarding  the  instructions  of  the  guides,  loitered 
by  the  way,  some,  indeed,  from  circumstances  over 
which  they  had  no  control  but  many  from  dilatori- 
ness  and  a  desire  to  evade  sharing  in  the  labor  of  road- 
making.  These  detained  the  main  companies,  some 
of  whom  were  compelled  to  wait  for  them  at  the 
parting  of  the  California  and  Oregon  roads  on  the 
Humboldt,  because  Goff,  their  guide,  was  compelled 
to  do  so,  lest  they  should  mistake  the  turning-ofl 
point.'" 

"Or.  Spertnlor,  April  15,  1847;  L.  Applegate'e  Klamath  Lake  Road,  in 
Ashland  Tidim/s,  Oct.  1877  to  July  1878;  ZabrisV.e,  in  U.  S.  Snrveyor-geiieraCs 
Ji'eport,  18(}8,  i042;  BunieWn  Kerollfctiom,  229-30. 

•"D.  (ioff,  in  Or.  Spectator,  April  29,  1847. 

"On  the  13th  of  August  a  young  man  named  Roby  who  had  long  lingered 
in  a  consumption  died.  On  the  21st  a  Mr  Burns  died,  leaving  a  wife  and 
tliree  chililren;  a  few  others  were  ill. 

"•Thornton  says  that  Applegate  affirmed  that  the  distance  from  Fort  Hall 
to  the  Willamette  Valley  hy  way  of  tlie  Dalles  was  from  800  to  850  miles; 
that  the  distance  by  the  southern  route  was  200  miles  less;  that  the  whole  dis- 
tance was  lietter  supplied  with  grass  and  water  than  the  old  ro'id;  and  that  the 
road  was  generally  smooth,  and  the  dry  drive  only  30  miles  long.  '  If  the  total 
absence  ol  all  truth  in  each  of  these  affirmations  aflForda  any  nteans  by  which 
to  judge  of  the  principles  of  the  man  making  them,  he  may  unhesitatingly 


I 


660 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1846. 


According  to  Thornton'K  journal,  the  scarcity  of 
grass,  water,  and  fuel  was  no  greater  than  it  had  been 
from  the  South  Pass  to  Fort  Hall,  nor  indeed  so  great ; 
and  the  travellers  by  this  route  were  relieved  of  the 
clouds  of  dust  which  accompanied  the  caravans  on  the 
Snake  River  route.  But  of  the  sufferings  of  those 
who  travelled  that  route  he  could  not  then  be  aware, 
and  was  intent  only  on  his  own  supreme  wretchedness. 
Every  ox  that  died  upon  ihe  way  was  spoken  of  as  a 
sacrifice  to  the  misrepresentations  of  the  explorers  of 
the  road,  though  oxen  had  died  before  reaching  Fort 
Bridger;  and  every  caravan  that  crossed  the  plains 
had  its  course  marked  out  by  the  whitening  bones  of 
cattle  that  liad  fallen  exhausted  by  the  way."^ 

be  said  to  l)c  jmHhin  mendacior.'  He  also  says  that  he  all  the  time  held  the 
opinion  that  Applegate  was  attempting  to  iluceive  him  from  motives  purely 
sulKsh,  and  that  he  intended  to  profit  by  the  misfortunes  of  the  emigrants. 
He  excuses  himself  for  following  such  a  man  by  saying  that  he  was  influenced 
by  ( rov.  Boggs,  who  confided  in  the  statements  of  Applegate.  In  considering 
Thornton's  statements,  F  have  taken  into  account,  first,  the  unpractical  mind 
of  the  man  as  set  forth  in  his  autobiography,  where  we  discover  that  with 
oppi>i  tnnities  seldom  enjoyed  by  American  young  men  for  acipiiring  a  profes- 
sion, and  with  admitted  Udents  of  a  certain  kintl,  he  achieved  less  than  thou- 
sands who  stuilied  the  law  in  the  office  of  a  country  attorney;  secondly,  that  ho 
was  at  tlie  time  in  question  in  bad  liealtli;  ami  tliirdly,  that  he  was  unused 
to  physical  labor.  Add  to  those  that  he  possessed  ivn  irritable  temper  and 
suspicious  disposition,  and  we  have  the  man  who  could  pen  such  a  record  as 
that  contiiined  in  the  first  volume  of  his  Or.  mid  Cal.  Rabbison,  in  his 
(h-owth  of  Tovm,  MS.,  3,  mentions  that  Thornton  had  a  quarrel  with  a  nuin 
named  Ciood,  who  furnished  liim  a  part  of  his  outfit,  and  tliat  on  the  Platte 
(iood  iiudertook  to  reclaim  his  property,  but  the  Oregon  emigrants  dec'ded 
fia  Tliornton  had  a  family  be  was  not  to  be  entirely  dispossess-ed,  but  took  the 
wagon  out  of  the  California  train  and  cut  it  in  two  to  make  carts,  also 
dividing  the  oxen — in  whicli  manner  they  proceeded;  but  Thornton  gives  a 
different  version,  and  says  tliat  he  conquered  in  the  quarrel  by  an  exhibition 
of  si)irit  and  fire-arms.  Or.  tmd  C-d.,  i.  12;^").  I  do  not  know  which  account 
is  correct,  nor  is  it  of  any  cousei|iience.  At  Green  River,  Thornton  began  to 
take  care  of  his  own  ten,m  for  the  first  time,  and  experiencing  much  difficulty 
from  not  knowing  how  to  yoke  or  lirive  oxen,  only  succeeded  by  the  assistiinco 
of  the  charital)le  Mr  Kirquendall  and  others,  who  pitied  his  inKrmities. 
From  information  olitained  from  his  own  journal,  it  is  evident  that  he  loitered 
by  the  way;  and  f''om  comparing  his  estimates  of  distances  with  others,  that 
he  lias  nearly  doubled  tlie  length  of  tlia  worst  portions  of  the  roml.  See  R.  R. 
Marcy's  Jlitwl-hook  of  Orerlnin/  /irjicdUhii-i,  published  iu  1859,  in  which  tliis 
route  is  described;  or  any  railroad  guide  of  the  piesent  day  giving  distances 
in  the  Humboldt  Valley.  Tlie  whole  distance  to  Oregon  City  wa»  really  J'oO 
miles  from  Fort  Hall,  whereas  Tliornton  makes  it  1,280.  Or.  ami  Vnl,  i.  175; 
Freiiiotit'.i  Cid.  (lutdc  Book,  124;  Baiicrq/Vx  Guide,  87-8;  Hmtiwjn'  Or.  and 
(ML,  187. 

'■"An  emigrant  who  travelled  the  Dalles  route  in  i848,  anil  who  wields  a 
pen  not  less  ti'enchant  than  Thornton's,  treats  these  incidents  of  early  einigra- 


ANNOYANCES  FROM  THE  NATIVES. 


661 


There  is  no  question  as  to  the  hardship  endured 
both  by  explorers  and  emigrants.  The  natives  along 
the  Humboldt  annoyed  the  small  straggling  companies, 
of  which  Thronton's  was  one.  They  concealed  them- 
selves behind  rocks  and  shot  their  poisoned  arrows  at 
men  arid  animals,  and  often  stole  cattle  from  the  herds 
while  grazing.  In  return  for  these  depredations,  a 
Humboldt  Indian  was  shot  in  the  camp  of  the  emi- 
grants.^" One  of  the  foremost  companies  had  a  skir- 
mish with  a  band  of  Indians  who  were  lying  in  ambush 
among  some  willows,  in  which  two  white  men  were 
wounded,  one  of  whom  died,^  and  a  number  of  the 
attacking  party  were  killed.  A  greater  degree  of 
caution  might  have  avoided  these  encounters ;  but  it 
was  not  possible  for  the  guides  to  be  with  every  train, 
or  to  compel  the  wagons  to  keep  together  In  numbers 
sufficient  to  intimidate  the  savages. 

Notwithstanding  the  length  of  the  road,  which 
should  have  warned  the  tiavellcis  not  to  lose  time,  a 
week  was  wasted  in  unnecessary  delay  before  com- 
mencing the  cr  )ssing  of  tlie  Cascade  Mountains.  Tlie 
sour  of  this  chain  up  which  the  road  was  first  located 


tiou  ill  a  (liflerent  cpirit.  '  Our  cattle  stampeded  whoa  they  were  yokcil  x,]y, 
and  were  being  watched  by  herdsmen.  Many  ran  off  in  the  yoke  that  we 
never  saw  again.  They  often  stampeiled  in  the  night,  and  once  over  400  head 
were  overtaken  the  next  day  nearly  40  miles  from  camp,  having  travelled  tliia 
whole  distance  through  an  alkali  plain,  without  grass  or  water.  We  lost  so 
many  cattle  this  -ij ,  that  many  wagons  were  loft  in  the  wilderness.  W^e  cut 
otiier  wagcn-boxitb  down  to  '-'  feet  in  length,  ai:d  threw  away  such  arfides  as 
we  could  8j)are  in  idcr  to  ligliten  our  loads,  now  too  heavy  "for  the  weak  and 
jaded  cattle  wis  h.'nl  lift.  rSome  men's  hearts  died  within  them,  and  some  of 
our  women  an.  doini  by  the  roadside,  a  thousan<l  miles  from  settlements,  and 
crietl,  saying  tlioy  had  abandoned  all  hopes  of  ever  reaching  the  promised  land. 
I  saw  women  witl.  babej  I)ut  a  week  old,  toiling  up  mountains  in  the  Imrning 
sun,  on  foot,  because  our  jaded  teams  were  not  able  to  haul  tliem.  We  wont 
down  mountains  so  steep  that  we  had  to  let  our  wagons  down  witli  ropes. 
My  wife  and  I  cairicd  our  cliildren  up  muddy  mountains  in  tlie  ( 'ascados,  half 
a  mile  high,  and  tlien  carried  the  loading  of  our  wagons  u|)  on  our  backs  ]>y 
piecemeal,  as  our  cattle  were  so  rcibiced  that  they  were  hardly  able  to  haul 
up  tlie  empty  v.-agon.'  Atlamx'  Or.  and  I'm;.  Con.'<t,  ;W  4. 

^^The  Indian  was  killed  by  Jesse  Boone,  a  great-grandson  of  Daniel  Boone 
of  Kentucky,  and  a  Mr  Loveliu,  both  of  whom  shot  at  him.  Tlun-iUoii'x  Or. 
ami  Cut.,  i.  171. 

'^^  Whatoly  and  SaJlee  were  shot  with  ;i.  .-ov**,  and 
Tanner  of  Iowa  also  died  from  wound-',  received  in  >!.. 
Lippincott  of  New  York  City  waa  seriouslv  "-ouut'ed, 
2G,  1840. 

Hist.  Or.,  Vol.  I.     36 


Sallee  died.  Daniel 
skirmish,  and  a  Mr 
Or,  Spectator,  Nov. 


r..-.ia^^a»..tt,J!iHmin.,^^„ 


562 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1846. 


is  steep,"  and  teams  haH  to  be  doubled  until  eighteen 
or  twenty  yokes  ^"^  were  put  to  a  wagon  to  drag  it  up 
the  sharp  «*cclivity.  But  even  this  was  better  than 
having  to  carry  the  loads  up  steep  hills  while  the  oxen 
drew  the  empty  wagons,  as  sometimes  occurred  on  the 
north  road. 

Two  months  from  the  time  the  southern  immigra- 
tio»  left  Thousand  Springs,  the  last  companies  entered 
the  Rogue  Rivor  Valley,  where  according  to  Thorn- 
ton they  were  met  by  Jones  of  the  exploring  party 
with  some  fat  cattle  for  the  relief  of  those  whose  pro- 
visions were  consumed.^*  Being  extremely  weary,  'j  ik' 
their  teams  wellnigh  exhausted,  the  last  of  t'u  far 
ilies  unfortunately  lingered  too  long  in  this  be;  ali 
ful  country,  at  a  season  of  the  year  when  one  da}  oi 
rain  might  be  productive  of  disaster  by  raising  the 
streams,  and  chilling  fatally  the  thin  blood  of  the  worn- 
out  oxen.^^     And  alas !  they  tarried  in  the  valley  until 

^*  The  road  was  subsequently  changed  so  as  to  avoid  going  round  the  bouth 
end  of  Lower  Klamath  Lake,  and  proceeded  by  the  eastern  shore  of  the  lake 
to  Link  River  a  little  below  the  present  town  of  Liukville,  from  which  point 
the  ascent  of  the  mountains  is  gradual. 

*•'  Such  is  Thornton's  statement. 

''^  The  Spectator  of  the  2'.)th  of  October  speaks  of  relief  parties  already  sent 
out  to  assist  tlie  southern  immigration;  but  they  were  behind  that  sent  by 
the  ex  (iloring  party. 

^' '.  'here  is  a  great  eflfort  apparent  in  this  portion  of  Thornton's  narrative 
to  ma';e  it  appear  that  his  misfortunes,  and  the  sufferings  of  other  belated 
travellers,  were  owing  to  the  misrepresentations  of  the  explorers,  wliom  ho 
classes  with  the  '  outlaws  and  banditti  who  during  many  years  infested  the 
Florida  reefs,  where  they  often  contri^'ed  so  to  mislead  vessels  as  to  wreck 
them,  when  without  scruple  or  ceremony,  they,  under  various  pretences, 
would  commence  their  work  ttf  pillage.'  As  this  was  written  after  he  hud 
been  a  year  in  Oregon,  and  learned  the  high  character  of  tlie  men  who  com- 
poseil  the  expedition,  besides  seeing  a  considerable  immigration  arrive  in  the 
Willamette  Valley  by  the  southern  route  tlio  year  following  his  passage  over 
it,  in  the  month  of  September,  in  gootl  healtli  and  condition,  the  vituperative 
censure  indulged  in  by  Mr  Throntou  is,  to  say  the  least,  in  bad  taste.  Certain 
inaccuracies  also  in  his  statement,  into  which  ho  is  led  by  his  desire  to  cast 
opprobrium  upon  the  men  wlio  o[)oned  the  road,  are  calculated  to  bring  him 
into  discredit.  For  instance,  he  professes  to  account  for  not  giving  the  itiner- 
ary of  the  journey  after  leaving  the  California  road,  by  saying  that  the  thml 
volume  of  his  jo'irnal  was  stolon  by  a  person  who  took  charge  of  some  of  his 
property  left  ui  tlie  Umpmia  Mountains,  to  j  -jvent  tlie  true  character  of  the 
road  being  made  known.  Fage  170,  vol.  i.  (Jn  page  100  he  says:  '  A  very  bad 
Ump(£ua  Indian  having,  upon  a  subsequent  part  of  the  road,  relieved  mo  of 
my  third  volume  of  journal  notes  of  this  part  of  the  road,  I  write  from  mem- 
ory only.'  It  may  bo  asked,  what  interest  had  the  Umpqua  Indian  in  sup- 
pressing the  journal?  an<l  why  was  one  of  this  untamed  tril)e  sent  to  take 
charge  of  his  property? 


^ft^' 


THE  SUFFERINGS  ENDURED. 


563 


& 


take 


the  rains  began,^^  and  were  subjected  to  a  thousand 
discomforts  before  they  came  to  the  pass  through  the 
Canon  Mountains,  which  in  its  best  condition  would 
have  been  bad,  the  road  party  not  having  a  force  suffi- 
cient to  make  a  smooth  road,  but  which  was  now,  in 
its  narrowest  part,  filled  with  water  for  a  distance  of 
three  miles,  the  stream  being  cold  and  swift,  and  from 
cne  to  four  feet  in  depth.^" 

While  the  miserable  men,  women,  and  children  were 
making  their  way  through  tliis  defile,  their  condition 
was  pitiable  in  the  extreme,  a  immber  having  aban- 
doned their  wagons,  and  some,  like  Thornton  and  his 
wife,  being  compelled  to  wade  the  stream,  not  only 
through  the  three-mile  gorge,  but  over  and  over  again 
at  its  numerous  crossings.  A  great  loss  of  cattle  and 
destruction  of  property  followed,  unattended,  however, 
by  any  loss  of  life  which  could  be  traced  directly  to 
these  causes.^"  The  famine  which  so  far  had  attacked 
the  rear  of  every  immigration  since  the  wagon-roads 
were  opened  assailed  these  unfortunate  travellers  in 
the  Umpqua  Valley,  and  although  everything  possible 
was  done  for  their  relief  by  the  men  who  explored  the 
new  route,^^  and  other  citizens,  who  on  learning  of 
their  situation  hastened  to  send  them  horses,  cattle, 
and  flour,  nothing  availed  to  supply  the  utter  destitu- 
tion of  some  families  who  had  thrown  away  or  aban- 
doned  their   property   in    the    Umpqua    canon   and 

'■'■'  x'hey  were  on  the  western  fJank  of  the  mountains,  a  day's  drive  from  the 
open  country,  on  the  Ilth  of  October,  the  distance  thence  to  the  south  end  of 
tlie  Unip.jua  canon  lieing  about  CO  miles,  yet  they  did  not  arrive  at  this  pass 
until  the  4th  of  November,  the  rains  having  begun  on  tlie  '.list,  when  they 
should  have  been  in  the  Ump(jua  Valley. 

''*  Thoniton's  Or.  and  Col.,  i.  '2-2'2. 

'"  Thornton  mentions  a  man  sudilonly  falling  dead  near  tlie  entrance  to 
tlie  caflon;  also  that  a  Mr  Brisbane  and  a  child  had  died  at  this  place;  but 
does  not  attribute  their  deaths  to  their  Jiardships,  though  he  miglit  have  said 
something  of  the  kind  without  being  doubted.  A  Miss  f^dand  Croley,  who 
had  long  been  ill,  also  died,  an<l  was  buried  on  (J rave  Creek — whence  the 
name.  Jdcknoiirille  Sentiinl,  May  23,  18G7;  Domll'it  Nnr.,  MS.,  {). 

"'  Oa  page  235,  vol.  i.,  Or.  end  Vnl.,  Thornton  admits  that  Applegato  Bent 
out  horses,  one  of  wliich  ho  had  to  use,  but  assorts  that  the  agent  who  brought 
thorn  demanded  a  fine  suit  of  clothes  in  payment.  He  admits,  too,  that  the  f  list 
flour  and  beef  which  reached  him  in  the  Umjjqua  Valley,  on  Nov.  14th,  were 
sent  by  Applcgate;  but  that  he  was  puritosely  starved  by  him,  in  order  that  a 


mm 


uu 


■  I 


1 1 


i 


i  I  p 


,..,i. 


5G4 


THE  IMMIGRAT.  )N  OF  1846. 


T    fi 


Calapooya  Mountains,  or  to  avert  their  sufferings 
from  the  cold  rains  and  colder  snows  of  November 
and  December. 


market  might  be  found  for  such  articles.  From  the  journal  of  Thomas  Holt, 
who  with  a  French  Canadian  and  five  half -breeds  went  to  the  assistance  of 
the  belated  immigrants,  it  appears  that  on  learning  from  Thornton  and 
others  who  arrived  in  the  settlements  the  condition  of  those  still  in  the 
Umpqua  Valley,  he  left  the  French  settlement  on  the  3d  of  December  with 
a  band  of  horses  and  all  the  provfsions  he  could  gather,  Father  Bolduc  of  the 
mission  of  St  Paul  freely  contributing  a  portion  to  be  given  to  the  needy. 
On  the  5th  he  met  Mr  Gofif  coming  m  with  a  company  who  had  brought 
thej.."  wagons  through,  and  particularly  in  charge  of  a  Airs  Newton,  whose 
hu:.  '1  l  had  been  murdered  by  the  Ump(iua  Indians  wliile  slce^.-'ng  at  the 
doc.     J  ent.  Minto's  Early  Days,  MS.,  39.     On  the  8th  he  ov  i-took. 

Moseti  and  tliree  others  with  horses  and  provisions,  going  to  the  relief 

of  the  ik  ants.     On  this  day  they  met  three  families  on  horseback  and 

one  wagon,  -oming  in,  whom  they  supplied  with  flour.  On  the  9th  they  met 
eight  wagons  and  families,  and  supplied  them  with  provisions.  On  the  10th 
they  came  to  a  camp  of  several  families  whose  teams  were  exhausted,  and  on 
the  same  day  another  relief  party  came  up  with  horses.  Next  day  the  French- 
men and  three  half-breeds  turned  back,  being  afraid  if  they  crossed  the 
Calapooya  Mountains  tliey  would  not  be  able  to  return  that  winter,  while 
Holt  and  the  other  two  continued.  Near  the  head  of  the  Willamette  Valley 
they  found  five  families  unable  to  go  farther,  who  were  assisted  to  resume 
tlieir  journey  by  three  men  from  the  other  relief  parties.  At  tlie  foot  of  the 
mountains  were  three  families  without  food,  whose  oxen  could  travel  no 
farther.  '  It  is  hard  for  me  to  pass  them, '  says  the  Jon  null,  '  but  when  I  know 
there  are  helpless  families  among  hostile  Indians,  I  am  bound  to  go  and  assist 
them.'  Tliey  received  some  flour  and  were  left  to  the  mercy  of  others  who 
might  follow  with  horses.  On  the  summit  of  the  Calapooyas  a  single  family 
was  met  on  horses,  and  many  dead  cattle  by  the  way.  At  the  foot  of  the 
mountains  on  the  south  side  were  two  families  with  their  wagons,  but  doubt- 
ing if  their  oxen  would  be  able  to  cross.  They  were  furnished  with  flour. 
On  the  14th,  having  come  to  the  north  folk  of  Elk  River,  five  families  were 
found  who  had  neither  flour,  meat,  nor  salt,  and  who  were  depending  upon 
game,  which  was  scarce.  One  of  the  half-breeds  killed  a  deer  for  them,  and 
they  received  some  flour.  [These  .families  were  those  of  Ezekial  Kemiedy, 
Croizen,  R.  B.  Hall,  Lovelin,  and  another.]  On  the  loth,  crossing  the  forks 
of  Elk  River  by  swimming  their  horses,  and  ferrying  the  packs  on  rafts  of 
logs,  they  came  to  the  camp  of  the  families  of  James  Camjjbell,  R'oe  Dunbar, 
and  Rev.  J.  A.  Cornwall.  Mr  Campbell,  having  been  to  the  settlements  and 
returned  in  company  with  Harris  and  his  party,  brought  horses  to  carry  his 
family  and  some  of  his  goods  back  with  him.  Harris  and  a  Mr  Jenkins 
remamed  with  these  persons  to  as.sist  them;  but  there  were  not  enough  hoi'ses 
to  take  Cornwall's  ffimily  out,  and  ho  was  left  in  charge  of  a  considerable  prop- 
erty belonging  to  Canmbell.  On  the  17th  Holt  met  the  last  company  of  five 
families  on  the  south  folk  of  the  Umpcjua.  'They  rejoiced  very  much  when 
they  saw  us,'  says  the  Jourtinl.  There  had  been  no  flour  among  them  for  eight 
weeks.  While  busy  making  paek-sadiUes,  four  of  the  precious  horses  were 
stolci:  by  Indians.  The  families  relieved  at  this  last  point  were  those  of 
Crump,  Butterfield,  James  Townsend,  David  Townt  ;u<l,  J.  Baker,  and  Mra 
Butterfield,  widow.  Those  who  rescued  them  were  Holt,  Owens,  Duskins, 
aiid  Fatten — the  last  three  being  a  part  of  the  company  which  overtook 
Holt  on  the  10th — and  the  two  half-breeds,  Baptiste  Gardapio  and  Q.  Delore. 
The  20th  all  started  once  more  for  the  Willamette,  the  natives  refusing  to 
grant  the  use  of  a  canoe  to  cross  the  families  over  the  north  fork  of  the  Ump- 
qua  which  was  too  high  to  be  forded,  except  they  were  paid  with  a  guu  be- 


THORNTON    VERSUS  APPLEGATE. 


66S 


About  a  dozen  families  were  detained  until  Janu- 
ary in  the  Umpqua  Valley,  a  part  of  whom  were 
unable  to  get  out  before  February,  when  their  cattle 
having  recruited  on  the  excellent  grass  of  that  region, 
they  were  able  to  resume  travel  with  their  wagons 
and  stock.  These  last  found  refuge  at  Fort  Umpqua 
on  Elk  River  through  the  few  cold  weeks  of  mid- 
winter, e'xcept  three  or  four  men  who  guarded  the 
property  left  in  camp  on  that  stream  by  those  who 
escaped  to  the  settlements. 


The  'li:L?ussion  of  the  events  connected  with  the  open- 
ing of  the  northern  and  southern  roads  into  the  Wil- 
latnette  Valley  bade  fair  to  overshadow  the  political 
questions  which  had  led,  among  other  causes,  to  the 
establishment  of  the  southern  route.  Two  parties 
were  formed  over  the  discussions  of  the  latter:  one 
which  favored  the  Barlow  road,  because  it  brought 
travellers  directly  to  Oregon  City,  and  pronioted  the 

longing  to  Delore.  The  22d  it  snowed  all  day;  the  24th  the  empty  wagons 
•which  were  brought  to  the  soutli  branch  of  Elk  River  were  there  left,  the 
watf"  being  above  the  banks.  Two  oxen  were  drowned  in  swimming  across. 
Christmas  day  the  snow  was  a  foot  deep,  and  no  progress  was  made.  Next 
day  they  travellc<l  one  and  a  half  miles  to  the  north  fork  of  Elk  River,  where 
the  families  of  Kennedy,  Hall,  and  others  were  encamped.  These  two  fam- 
ilies had  been  without  food  for  four  days,  excejit  a  little  tallow  boiled  iu 
wuter,  and  Holt  proposed  to  Baker,  who  had  purchased  some  oxen  driven  from 
the  settlements,  to  let  the  starving  people  have  these,  telling  him  the  people 
of  the  Willamette  would  make  good  his  loss.  They  were  accordingly  slaugh- 
tered and  divided  between  Kennedy,  Hall,  Croizen,  and  Cornwall,  who  had 
joined  this  camp;  Lovelin  having  'jeen  taken  to  the  Willamette  by  Barrows 
of  Owens'  party.  This,  the  2Gth  of  l)ecend)er,  was  the  first  clear  day  since 
the  3d  of  the  month.  So  many  horses  having  died  or  been  stolen,  the  lean 
oxen  in  Holt's  company  had  to  be  packed.  The  first  of  January  the  snow  was 
three  feet  deep  in  places  on  the  Calapooya  Mountains  and  the  weather  very 
cold.  The  5th,  Holt  arrived  at  the  house  of  Eugene  Skinner,  the  most  south- 
ern settlement  in  the  Willamette  V'alley,  presumably  where  the  town  of 
Eugene  now  stanils.  So  frosty  was  it  on  the  8tli,  that  the  women  and  cliildren 
who  l)ecame  wet  in  crossing  streams  were  almost  frozen.  The  streams,  being 
high  from  the  recent  rains,  were  too  deep  to  ford,  and  were  crossed  by  swim- 
ming the  horses  and  oxen.  On  the  12th  the  house  of  Williams  on  the  Lucki- 
amute  River  in  Polk  County  was  readied,  where  the  company  was  compelled 
to  remain  four  days  on  account  of  cold  and  storms.  Not  until  the  21st  of  Jan- 
uary, 1847,  did  these  storm-beaten  pilgrims  reach  the  friendly  shelter  of  the 
settlers'  homes  in  the  central  portion  of  the  Willamette  Valley.  Holt  and 
the  others  who  went  to  their  rescue  were  absent  fifty  days,  and  endured  great 
hardships  in  their  service,  besides  expending  some  ^00  at  their  own  risk, 
over  and  above  the  assistance  rendered  by  other  companies.  HoWh  Journal  in 
Or.  Spectator,  March  4,  1847. 


r 


JgH 


um 


ll  ! 


]  uL 


5C6 


THE  IMMIGRATION  OF   1846. 


improvement  of  the  lands  in  the  lower  end  of  the 
valley.  To  this  party  belonged  the  Methodist  in- 
terests; and  Thornton,  who  was  a  Methodist,  and 
who  soon  made  the  acquaintance  of  Abernethy  and 
other  leading  persons  among  the  missionaries,  gained 
the  friendship  of  that  society  greatly  by  his  abuse  of 
the  explorers  of  the  southern  road,  who,  besides  hav- 
ing been  guilty  of  this  crime,  were  also  of  that  domi- 
nating western  element  that  opposed  itself  to  the 
Methodist  influence  in  colonial  affairs. 

Thornton  was  also  a  lawyer,  and  a  Methodist  law- 
yer was  an  acceptable  addition  to  the  Methodist  influ- 
ence, supposing  that  he  should  be  controlled  by  it; 
and  to  gain  him  over  to  that  position,  on  the  resigna- 
tion of  the  office  of  supreme  judge  by  Mr  Burnett, 
iVbernethy  appointed  Thornton  in  his  place,  February 
9th,  or  a  little  more  than  six  weeks  after  his  arrival 
in  the  territory.^' 

Article  after  article  on  the  merits  and  demerits  of 
the  southern  route,  as  contrasted  with  the  Barlow 
road,'^  came  to  the  Spectator  from  various  sources,  the 
true  effect  of  which  was  to  call  attention  to  the  Rogue 
River  pnd  Umpqua  valleys,  their  desirability  for  set- 
tlement, and  the  need  of  a  road  to  them  leading 
directly  from  forts  Hall  and  Bridger ;  and  also  to  the 
fact  that  a  road  now  really  existed  by  which  wagons 
could  go  all  the  way  to  California,  by  passing  through 
the  Umpqua  canon,  and  over  the  Applegate  pass  of 
the  Cascade  Range  to  the  California  road  in  the 
Humboldt  Valley,  this  happy  discovery  following  im- 
mediately upon  the  news  of  the  conquest  and  Ameri- 
canization of  that  country. 

In  May  1847  Levi  Scott  led  a  company  of  twenty 
men  destined  ft)r  the  States  over  the  southern  route, 

"  If  this  collusion  were  not  sufficiently  obvious,  we  have  Thornton's  own 
word  for  it,  who  says,  in  his  Hkt.  Or.,  MS.,  11:  'When  I  came  to  the  cou!'- 
try  one  of  the  early  missionaries  said  to  me,  "You  must  under  no  circum- 
stances become  counsel  for  l)r  McLoughliu.  Give  him  no  professional  advice 
or  aasistance;  it  you  do  you  will  be  denounced  as  a  Hudson's  Bay  man,  and 
you  will  lose  caste  among  our  citizens. " ' 

**0r.  Spectator,  Oct.  29,  1840. 


LATER  EXPEDITIONS. 


867 


tl 


le 


and  also  guided  a  portion  of  the  immigration  of  the 
following  autumn  into  the  Willamette  V  alley  by  this 
road,  arriving  in  good  season  and  in  good  condition, 
while  the  main  inunigration,  by  the  Dalles  route, 
partly  on  account  of  its  number,  suffered  severely. 
This  established  the  reputation  of  the  Klamath  Lake 
road ;  and  the  legislature  of  this  year  passed  an  act 
for  its  improvement,  making  Levi  Scott  commissioner, 
and  allowing  him  to  collect  a  small  toll  as  compensa- 
tion for  his  services.  The  troubles  with  the  Cayuses, 
which  broke  out  hi  the  winter  of  1847,  and  which 
but  for  the  Oregon  volunteers  would  have  dosed  the 
Snake  route,  demonstrated  the  wisdom  of  its  explorers 
in  providing  the  mountain-walled  valleys  of  western 
Oregon  with  another  means  of  ingress  or  egress  than 
the  Columbia  River  ;^*  their  road  to-day  being  incor- 
porated for  nearly  its  whole  length  with  some  of  the 
most  important  highways  of  the  country. 

In  June  1847  a  company  headed  by  Cornelius 
Gilliam  set  out  with  the  intention  of  exploring  the 
Rogue  River  and  Klamath  valleys,  which  from  this 
time  forward  continued  to  be  mentioned  favorably  on 
account  of  their  climate,  soil,  and  other  advantages. ^'^ 

'*  Applegate  says:  'It  ia  a  well-known  fact  that  when  it  was  necessary  to 
meet  the  Oregon  rifle  regiment  in  1849,  then  on  its  march  to  Oregon,  beef -cat- 
tle could  not  be  driven  to  Fort  Hall  by  the  Snake  River  route  with  any  beef 
on  their  bones;  yet  the  regiment  slaughtered  at  Fort  Hall  fat  bullocks  from 
the  Willamette,  kept  fat  by  the  abundant  pasturage  of  the  southern  route.' 
Views  of  Histortj,  MS.,  49.  See  Ross'  Rept.,  in  Or.  Jour.  Council,  1857-S, 
App.  19;  Owrland  Monthly,  v.  581. 

^^I  find  in  McKay's  Recollections,  MS.,  2,  a  reference  to  the  xibiquity  of  the 
Americans.  He  says:  ' Shortly  after  my  arrival  (1844)  I  was  ordered  into 
Oregon  to  join  Mr  Paul  Frazer,  who  had  estal)lished  a  station  for  tlie  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  near  the  mouth  of  the  Umpqua  River.  Mr  Frazer  was  alarmed 
at  the  influx  of  Americcan  immigrants  into  his  immediate  neighborhood  from 
different  parts  of  the  United  States.  Several  trains  arrived  overland  during 
the  autumn.  On  account  of  this  many  of  the  Indians  had  shifted  their  loca- 
tion, hunting  was  neglected,  and  our  business  very  poor. '  Herewith  1  give 
the  names  of  those  belonging  to  the  immigration  of  1840,  so  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  gather  them: 

Levi  Anderson,  J.  C.  Allen,  .John  B.  Albright,  Elijali  Bristow,  Elijali 
Bunton,  David  Butterfield,  John  Baker,  Hugh  L.  Brown,  .lesse  Boone,  W.  P. 
Breeding,  George  William  Burnett,  J.  H.  Bosworth,  Alvin  V.  Brown,  Orus 
Brown,  D.  D.  Bailey,  G.  W.  Bell,  M.  Brock,  Sutton  Burns,  William  Burns, 
Elisha  Byrd,  William  Byrd,  sen.,  William  Byrd,  jun.,  L.  A.  Byrd,  Brisbane, 
Rev.  J,  B.  Baldrauch,  Jairus  Bonney,  Truman  Bouney,  A.  Boon,  William  P. 
Bryant,  J.  H.  Bridges,  Heman  C.  Buckingham,  Alphonao  Boone,  Tolbert 


Urn 


■il  lil>iBl 


III  i| 


\i. 


068 


THE  IMMIGRATION   OF   1846. 


In  1849  Jesse  Applegate  removed  to  the  Umpqua 
Valley,  at  the  foot  of  a  grassy  butte  called  by  the 
natives   Yonc-calla,    or    'eagle-bird,'   which   use    has 

Carter,  George  H.  Carter,  J.  S.  Church,  Jones  Cutting,  Charles  Cutting, 
Thomas  M.  Chambers,  John  W.  Chambers,  J.  L.  Collins,  John  Chamberlain, 
Samuel  Y.  Coop,  M.  Chambers,  B.  F.  Cooper,  A.  S.  Cone,  J.  M.  Currier, 
l)r  W.  M.  Carpenter,  Stephen  C.  Cummings,  C.  W.  Cooke,  George  Law 
Curry,  Henry  Croiyers,  Croley,  Crabtrec,  Ricnaril  S.  Caldwell,  Smith  Collins, 
Henry  Cooper,  William  Connel,  James  Campbell,  E.  B.  Comfort,  John  W. 
('harnp,  Rev.  J.  A.  Cornwall,  Crump,  Croizen,  Conduit,  W.  Champ,  Clopzore, 
•Fames  Cluse,  T.  Canlo,  G.  8.  Cox,  John  Coats,  Davidson,  Doild,  Samuel  Davis, 
William  Dodson,  Rice  W.  Dunbar,  John  N.  Durham,  Dickinson,  Duskins, 
John  Edgar,  William  Elliott,  N.  A.  Eberman,  Milton  Elliott,  J.  Elliott, 
Gardiner  Elliott,  Espy,  Eastburn,  Everest,  Abner  Frazer,  Isaac  A.  Flint, 
Jesse  Fleming,  Nathan  Fry,  E.  C.  Fitzhugh,  Frederick  W.  Gier,  Rev.  A.  E. 
(Jarrison,  Waterman  Gale,  Laurence  Gale,  David  M.  (iuthrie,  (ieiUles,  Reason 
B.  Hall,  John  B.  Hall,  Washington  Hall,  Rev.  Helm,  Robert  Henderson, 
Capt.  Richard  Hoyt,  William  Hibbert,  John  Hammond,  J.  D.  S.  Hardi- 
son,  H.  H.  Hunt,  James  Howard,  J.  J.  Heath,  Mark  Hattan,  Thomas  F. 
Howard,  Joseph  L.  Hunsaker,  Andrus  Harper,  Calvin  W.  Ish,  William 
Kirkquendall,  Ezekiel  Kennedy,  Thomas  Knight,  Henry  Knowland,  F. 
Ketchum,  Andrew  Layson,  Harrison  Linville,  Vanderpool  Linville,  Wilson 
Lee,  Thomas  Linklatcr,  Robert  Logan,  Geo.  C.  Lawton,  Thomas  Leggett, 
Lovelin,  J.  W.  Ladd,  D.  H.  liownsdale,  A.  R.  T.  Loeey,  Lord,  Long,  Luce, 
A.  R.  Lancetield,  F.  Martin,  W.  Mulkey,  S.  C.  Morris,  Joel  McKee,  Josiah 
Milorn,  H.  McDonald,  G.  V.  Motley,  Henry  Marliu,  Richard  Miller,  W.  R. 
Munkers,  McKissick,  J.  McCormick,  Josiah  Morin,  La'jan  Morin,  John 
McCord,  McGunigale,  William  C.  McClay,  T.  G.  Naylor,  Chauncy  Nye, 
Newton,  Nealy,  Franklin  Niuoll,  John  M.  Pugh,  William  Priugle,  Virgil  K. 
I'ringle,  Truman  P.  Powers,  George  C.  Preston,  William  Porter,  James 
Parkinson,  James  Porter,  Piper,  Eli  Perkins,  Charles  Putnam,  James  Nathan 
Putnam,  Thomas  Powell,  A.  Phillips,  H.  B.  Policy,  Tlioiuiis  Purvis,  J.  W. 
Pugh,  A.  Pugh,  William  Parker,  L.  C.  Rainey,  A.  B.  Rabbison,  Thomas 
M.  Read,  JoYin  Robinson,  William  Riley,  Robey,  J.  T.  Rainey,  Walter 
Ross,  Lewis  Rogers,  F.  R.  Smitli,  Henry  M.  Smith,  Towner  Savage,  .Tames 
Savage,  Cliarles  Stewart,  Sallee,  William  Stokes,  Allen  Sanders,  Levi  L. 
Smith,  Thomas  Stevens,  Felix  Scott,  Morgan  R.  Savage,  D.  E.  Savage, 
William  Sheldon,  D.  C  Smith,  H.  N.  Stephens,  G.  W.  Smith,  James  Smith, 
J.  S.  Scoggin,  D.  Shumake,  A.  Stewart,  Daniel  Stewart,  William  M.  Smith, 
John  Striethoff,  Reuben  StriethoflF,  .John  W.  Shrum,  N.  Shrum,  Asa  Stone, 
William  Sherley,  Carlos  W.  Shane,  R.  Sloeum,  St  Clair,  Rev.  Wm  Simpson, 
Benjamin  Simpson,  Sappington,  Sturgiss,  Joseph  S.  Smith,  John  Savage, 
Heni'y  Smith,  James  Stanley,  Sheltou,  R.  R.  Thompson,  J.  Quinu  Thornton, 
A.  11.  Thompson,  David  To.vnsend,  W.  P.  Tyrrell,  Towler,  Thomas  Towns- 
end,  Janes  Towusend,  Lazarus  Van  Bibber,  Martin  Vaughn,  Vanderpool, 
William  Webb,  William  Wlieeler,  C.  Wheeler,  J.  T.  WingKeld,  R.  Wliite, 
Whately,  Joseph  Waldo,  Cliarles  Wren,  A.  E.  Wait,  J.  M.  Wair,  John 
Williamson,  J.  B.  Walling,  Henry  Worden,  E.  Wask,  A.  C.  West,  Watkias, 
Rev.  Andrew  Zumwalt. 

Robert  Henderson  was  born  in  Green  County,  Tennessee,  on  February  14, 
180'J,  and  at  the  age  of  8  years  moved  with  his  father  to  Fleming  Co.,  Ky. 
In  18.30  he  immigrated  to  Mo.,  where  in  18.34  he  married  Rhoda  C.  Holmau, 
the  daughter  of  John  Holman  of  the  immigration  of  1843.  Here  he  lived 
until  184(),  engaged  in  farming  and  trading  in  stock,  when,  in  consequence 
of  losses  sustained  by  going  tecurity  for  friends,  he  determined  to  remove  to 
Oregon.  Well  provided  with  teams  and  supplies  of  food  and  clothing,  the 
first  part  f'f  Ihe  journey  was  comparatively  a  pleasant  one.  But  later  in  the 
season,  in  the  journey  over  what  is  known  as  tne  southern  or  Applegate  route, 
the  family  suffered  great  hardship.     Mr  Henderson  gave  away  his  flour  and 


THE   AFPLE(}ATE8. 


shortened  to  Yoncalla,  on  the  head  waters  of  Elk 
Creek,  near  wliich  a  railroad  now  passes.  His  brother 
Charles  settled  near  him;    and  Lindsey  Applegate 

Ijacon  to  those  in  the  train  who  were  in  want,  until,  when  lie  entered  tho 
Umpqua  caflon,  on  Oct.  28th,  he  was  reduced  to  two  pieces  of  tho  latter  ami 
ten  pounds  of  the  former.  They  were  five  days  struggling  through  tliis  then 
almost  impassable  gorge.  Much  of  the  way  they  toiled  over  and  along  the 
bed  of  tlie  cold,  rocky  stream  with  tho  rain  pouring  down  on  them  steadily. 
The  two  eldest  children  were  lying  sick  and  helpless  in  the  jolting  wagon, 
■with  a  babe  that  came  on  the  journey  only  a  few  weeks  before.  Soon  after 
they  got  through  the  canon  they  met  some  of  tho  Applegate  party,  with 
supplies,  from  whom  Mr  Henderson  and  Mr  Collins  bought  a  beef  weighing 
about  700  poun<ls  for  $60  in  c;ish.  This  left  Mr  Henderson  with  ^2  and  ono 
ox -team  and  wagon  to  begin  life  with  anew.  He  settled  on  tho  South  Yam- 
hill, wliere  in  due  time  lie  obtained  a  grant  of  a  section  of  land  under  the 
donation  act,  which  he  still  owns,  and  where  he  and  his  three  sotis  have 
made  the  handsomest  farm  in  Oregon.  Mr  and  Mrs  Henderson  are  still  living, 
surrouiuled  by  their  descendants  to  tlie  third  generation,  and  honored  and 
beloved  by  aU  who  know  them.  They  have  eight  surviving  children,  who 
are  all  married,  and  among  the  most  respectable  people  of  the  country.  Their 
oldest  child,  Lucy  Henderson,  was  married  to  Matthew  P.  Deady,  since 
United  States  district  judge,  on  June  24,  1852. 

Elijah  Bristow  migrated  from  Ky.  to  111.  after  the  war  of  181i-12,  in 
which  ho  was  a  soldier,  fighting  unilcr  Johnson  at  Talladega,  and  afterward 
in  Tenn.  He  came  to  Cal.  in  1845,  wintering  at  Sutter's  Fort.  In  184G  ho 
removed  to  Oregon,  and  took  a  land  claim  at  Pleasant  Hill,  in  liane  Co.,  being 
the  first  settler  in  that  co.  He  was  a  lii)eral  and  just  man,  respected  by  all. 
He  died  Sept.  1872,  aged  73.  P.  C.  Adwcute,  Oct.  3,  1872. 

Reason  B.  Hall,  born  in  Cla.  1794,  removed  to  Ky  1802,  to  Ind.  1811,  and 
to  Oregon  in  1840,  settling  where  Buena  Vista  now  stands,  of  which  town  ho 
■was  i>roprietor.     He  died  Dec.  13,  ISO'J,  Salem  SUilesimin,  Jan.  29,  1870. 

John  Williamson  settled  in  West  Chelialem,  Yamhill  County.  Mrs  Wil- 
liamson was  a  daughter  of  Nathaniel  M.  and  Mary  Martin,  and  was  born  in 
the  Slienandoah  Valley,  Virginia,  Aug.  29,  1825.  She  removed  with  her 
parents  to  Indiana,  and  from  there  to  Missouri,  ■while  still  a  child.  She  was 
married  April  30,  184(),  and  starte<l  soon  after  for  Oregon.  She  died  May 
18,  1872.  A/.,  May  30,  1872. 

F.  R.  Smitli,  born  in  liochester,  New  York,  in  lSi9,  went  to  Oregon  in 
1840,  and  settled  near  Salem.  He  was  a  virxorous  man  pliysically  anil  mcn- 
■tally;  and  was  a  mendjer  of  tlie  state  legislature  in  lS7o.  Salem  Statesman, 
Oct.  14,  187G. 

Smith  Collins  settled  near  the  Luckiamuto  River,  in  Polk  County,  and 
died  in  1870.  Mrs  Collins,  who  was  a  d;  ughter  of  Douglas  Wyatt,  an  early 
settler  in  Missouri,  was  born  near  Mount  Sterling,  Kentucky,  January  12, 
1812,  and  removed  to  Missouri  at  tho  ago  of  12.  She  married  Dec.  24,  1830, 
and  with  her  husband  went  to  Oregon  in  1846.  Excessive  grief  over  his  loss 
hastened  her  death,  which  occurred  April  29,  1872.  She  ■was  tlio  mother  of 
12  children,  10  surviving  her,  8  of  whom,  were  sons.  It  is  mentioned  as  an 
instance  of  filial  afiFection  that  all  tl'.i;se  children  cagreed  in  not  opuiiing  their 
father's  will  during  the  life-time  of  their  mother,  lest  they  fhould  deprive  her 
of  the  use  of  a  part  of  the  estate.  The  eldest  son  was  J.  L.  Collins  of  Polk 
County.  Portland  Advocate,  May  16,  1372;  Dalles  Jlepuhlicaii,  May  11,  1872. 
Smith  Collins  was  born  in  Virginia  in  December  1804,  emigrated  to  Missouri 
in  1828,  and  to  Oregon  in  1846.  Dalles  Republican,  March  20,  1870.  J,  L. 
Collins,  eldest  son  of  Smith  Collins,  was  15  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Oregon.  In  1855  ho  was  employed  as  repo'-ter  in  tho  legi:daturo  of  the  state. 
He  belonged  to  the  regiment  of  Colonel  Cornelius  in  the  Yakima  war  of  1856. 
In  1859  ho  Wfis  admitted  to  the  practice  of  law  at  tho  Dalles.  He  was  chiei 
clerk  of  the  house  of  representatives  in  18(51.  Stlem  Statesman,  May  7,  1866. 


m 


fi70 


THE  IMMIGRATION   OF   184G. 


somewhat  later  made  himself  a  iiomo  on  Ashland 
Creek,  where  the  town  of  Ashland  now  stands,  and 
directly  on  the  line  of  the  road  he  assisted  iu  open- 


John  Coats,  one  of  tlio  earliest  settlers  of  Dotiglas  fminty,  an<l  wlioso 
home  was  about  10  miles  from  Rf>8el)urg,  died  suddenly  wliilo  walking,  iu  tho 
summer  of  1876.  S.  F.  Call,  Juno  IS),  187G, 

Sanuiel  Davis  died  at  his  homo  in  Yamhill  County,  Feb.  28,  1875.  Mon- 
moxtlh  Chrlxtian  Mememjer,  March  G,  1875. 

D.  H.  Good  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  June  19,  1818.  On  arriving  in 
Oregon  in  184G,  ho  settled  near  Oregon  City,  where  ho  resided  till  his  deatli, 
September  18,  1871.  Oreuon  t'ity  h'ntci-pfise,  Sept.  22,  1871. 

John  Robinson  settled  in  Benton  County  in  184G.  Mrs  Robinson  was  born 
in  South  Carolina,  Feb.  14,  1792,  married  in  1815,  and  died  Aug.  27,  1878. 
Corvnllis  Gitzette,  Sept.  6,  1878. 

John  Baker  settled  in  Benton  County.  Mrs  Baker  was  born  in  East  Ten- 
nessee, in  1801;  married  in  1821,  and  removed  to  Missouri  iu  1843,  whence 
she  emigrated  with  her  husband  in  1846.  Mrs  Baker  died  Nov.  27,  1877,  at 
Corvallis,  where  her  son  William  R.  Baker  resided.  Id.,  Dec.  7,  1877. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Cornwall  was  born  in  Georgia  in  1798.  He  lived  in  the  south- 
ern and  western  states  till  184G,  when  ho  joined  the  Oregon  emigration,  taking 
tho  southern  route,  and  ■wintering  in  the  Unipqua  Valley.  In  181)5  he  removed 
to  Ventura  County,  California.  He  was  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  and  a 
minister  for  53  years.  He  died  January  2,  1879.  His  son,  Rev.  J.  H.  Corn- 
wall, is  a  resident  of  Eugene  City,  Oregon.  Eugene  State  Journal,  Saxi.  18,  1879. 

J.  T.  Rainey,  in  1851,  with  his  brother,  L.  C.  Rainey,  purchased  of  Wm 
Mosgrove,  for  a  horse,  a  squatter's  right  to  the  laud  on  which  the  town  of 
Roscburg  was  afterward  laid  out.  The  only  improvement  on  the  land  was  a 
pile  of  newly  cut  logs  ior  a  cabin.  The  brothers  erected  a  frame  house,  and 
sold  the  land  to  Aaron  Rose,  who  laid  it  ofiT  in  lots  and  blocks,  long  residing 
there.  J.  T.  Rainey  removed  to  the  Rogue  River  country,  where  he  settled 
on  a  farm  in  Sam  Valley,  lloselmrg  Western  Star,  Nov.  14,  1879. 

James  Campbell  was  born  in  Greenville,  Kentucky,  April  6,  1807.  He 
emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Missouri  at  an  early  age,  and  to  Oregon  in  1846, 
spending  the  early  part  of  the  winter  of  184G-7  iu  the  Umpqua  Valley  with 
the  belated  immigrants  of  that  season.  He  settled  near  Salem,  but  in  1859 
removed  to  Puget  Sound,  where  he  resided  7  years,  when  he  returned  to 
Salem.  Ho  died  on  the  31st  of  July,  1873,  leaving  the  memory  of  a  good 
man.  Salem  Statesman,  Aug.  5,  1873. 

Virgil  K.  Pringle  and  Pherne  T.  Pringlc  emigrated  from  Warren  County, 
Missouri,  to  Oregon  in  1846,  and  settled  in  Marion  County.  A  son,  Albra 
Mofiett  Pringle,  Dom  in  Missouri  in  18;?4,  died  at  Seattle,  Washington,  June 
21,  187C.  Virgiiia  E.  Pringle  Smith,  born  in  Missouri,  June  7,  1828,  married 
Fabritus  R.  Smith  of  Salem,  September  1,  1847,  and  died  December  3,  1875. 
Portland  Advocate,  Dec.  23,  1875;  Id.,  Sept.  21,  1876;  Salem  Farmer,  Dec. 
IG,  1875. 

Andrew  Zuniwalt  and  Elizabeth  Zumwalt,  his  wife,  settled  in  Polk  County 
in  1846,  where  their  son  Isaiic  contiimed  to  reside.  Andrew  Zumwalt  was  a 
tleacon  in  the  Methodist  church.  Mrs  Zumwalt's  maiden  name  was  Fraser. 
She  was  bom  July  17,  1792,  in  Kentucky,  and  died  September  10,  1878,  at 
her  sou's  home,  near  Lewisvillc,  Polk  County;  her  husband  preceded  her. 
Porllmd  P.  a  Advocate,  Sept.  26,  1878. 

Hugh  L.  Brown  emigrated  from  Tennessee,  and  settled  in  Linn  County. 
Tlio  to<vn  of  Brownsville  on  Calapooya  Creek  ia  named  after  him,  and  owes 
much  ot  its  prosperity  as  an  agricultural  and  manufacturing  place  to  Mr 
Brown's  ability  and  example.  Portland  Weekl;/  Standard,  Feb.  20,  1880. 

Alphouso  Boone,  a  great-grandson  of  Daniel  Boone  of  Kentucky,  with  his 
family,  wiis  a  member  of   aiis  emigration.     His  daughter,  Chloe  Donnely 


BIOORAPHICAL. 


071 


ing. 
the 


Their    children   are   many   of  them   living   in 
grass    valleys    of    the    Klamath    basin     which 
they  were  the  first  of  the  Anterioan  frontiersmen  to 

Booue,  married  (leorgo  L.  Curry,  afterward  governor  of  Oregoa  Territory. 
Curri/'s  BUxjraphy,  M.S.,  4. 

W.  P.  Breeding  settled  at  Salem,  and  put  xip  the  first  Macksmith's  forgo 
there.  He  served  iii  the  Cayuso  war  under  Colonel  Waters.  In  1850  ho  re- 
turned to  Missouri,  to  bring  to  Oregon  his  father  and  mother,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  was  married,  and  removed  to  a  farm  in  Lane  County,  near  the 
present  town  of  Junction  City.  In  1875  he  removed  to  Whitman  t'ounty  in 
vVashington,  where  he  erected  a  flouring  mill  an<l  made  other  improvements, 
at  the  same  time  laying  off  the  town  of  Falouso  City  on  his  land,  at  the  falltt 
of  Palouso  River.  Mr  Breeding  was  a  genial  man,  hia  head  as  white  as  snow, 
with  '  keen,  kindly  blue  eyes  anil  rugge<l  features  on  whijh  the  glow  of  health  ' 
was  stamped.  Nifkots  Indian  A ffcum,  MS.,  17,  18. 

George  William  Burnett  was  bom  in  Nashville,  Tennessee,  October  18, 
1811.  At  G  years  of  ago  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Missouri,  and  was  mar- 
ried in  that  stjite  to  Miss  Sidney  A.  Younger  in  1831.  Ho  settled  in  the 
autumn  of  1847  on  a  land  claim  in  Yamhill  County,  where  ho  resided  till  hia 
death  in  December  1877.  He  waa  a  brother  of  Peter  H.  Burnett,  a  religious- 
minded,  exemplary  man,  and  useful  citizen.  In  18G8  he  was  elected  to  the 
state  legislature.  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc,  Tram.,  1877,  p.  74;  Burnett' a  Rec,  182. 

Ezekiel  Kennedy  waa  born  in  Kentucky  in  December  1789,  but  removed 
to  Frankfort  at  an  early  age.  He  built  the  state-house  in  that  city  in  1817. 
His  wife  waa  I'anny  Thurston  of  Shelby ville,  Ky.,  whom  he  married  about 
this  time.  In  18.34  he  removed  to  Missouri,  and  in  1846  to  Orecon  in  the 
southern  branch  of  the  immigration,  being  one  of  those  who  were  detained  in 
the  Umpqua  Valley.  In  the  spring  of  1847  he  settled  in  Yamhill  County, 
where  for  a  number  of  years  ho  remained  and  occupied  offices  of  public  tnist 
and  honor.  He  finally  settled  at  Dallaa,  where  he  died  June  11,  18G9,  leaving 
a  widow  and  4  children.  Dallas  Times,  June  26,  1869. 

Frederick  W.  Cieer,  with  his  wife  Mary  Ann,  and  2  children,  settled 
on  the  west  bank  of  the  Willamette,  opposite  the  present  town  of  Butteville. 
The  family  was  increased  after  arriving  in  Oregon  to  10  children.  Like 
others  of  this  name  in  Oregon,  Mr  Geer  achieved  success  in  his  undertakings. 
Portland  Orei/onian,  May  20,  1876. 

Towner  Savage  was  born  in  the  state  of  New  York  in  1801.  He  removed 
to  Kalamazoo  Co. ,  Mich.,  and  thence  to  Oregon,  and  settled  iu  Marion  County. 
He  died  at  Salem,  March  3,  1871.  Salem  Stutesmnn,  March  4,  1871. 

David  Colver  settled  14  miles  east  of  Salem,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
until  his  death,  December  31,  1874,  at  the  age  of  80  years.  Salem  Sfatejtmnn, 
Jan.  9,  1875. 

James  Smith,  bom  in  Virginia  in  1802,  settled  in  Polk  County,  Oregon, 
in  1846,  where  he  died  March  25,  1872.  Dalles  Pepiiblican,  March  30,  1872. 

James  D.  Fay  came  to  Oregon,  an  orphan,  in  1846.  Hp  i-."sessed  good 
talents,  and  stuilied  law  under  A.  A.  Skinner  ami  Judge  T!  •  ■/  if  Corvallis. 
He  married  a  daughter  of  Jesse  Applegate;  but  his  politics  ii.  i  iiduct  being 
obnoxious  to  her  family,  there  was  unhappiness.  Slie  dieil,  and  ho  married 
Miss  Rosa  Young  of  Jacksonville.  He  had  a  son  l)y  his  first  and  a  daughter 
by  his  second  wife.  Ho  committed  suicide  at  Empire  City  in  Coos  County, 
June  4,  1879.  Portland  Oreijonian,  Juno  7,  1879. 

James  T.  Crump,  whoso  father  opened  the  first  store  in  Salem,  an*'  died 
about  1864,  waa  born  in  Missouri,  and  emigrated  with  hia  parents  in  1846. 
He  was  a  young  man  of  promise,  but  committed  suicide  in  February  1 870,  a 
few  months  after  his  marriage,  on  account  of  disappointment  in  not  securing 
a  business  situation.  He  had  two  brothers,  one  of  whom  is  William  R.  Crump, 
and  two  sisters,  living  in  Salem.  Or.  State.'nnan,  Feb.  25,  1870. 

Wilson  Lee  settled  on  the  Little  Luckiamute  in  Polk  County.   "Mrs  Lta 


UM 


IE 


572 


THE  IMMKJUATION  OF   184«. 


explore.  Levi  Scott  was  the  founder  of  Scottsburg, 
on  the  Umpqua  River,  He  died  in  1878,  in  Lane 
County,  at  the  age  of  eighty,  respected  for  his  many 
virtues  and  his  generous  character. 

was  marrioil  while  en  route  to  Oregon  in  June  184C.  She  died  July  14,  1872, 
at  Dallas,  aged  47  years.  Dnlk»  JiepuiiUani,  July  20,  1872. 

Rev.  A.  E.  Garrison  settled  in  Yamhill  County.  His  wife,  Margaret 
Oarrison,  died  at  Salem,  Auj^st  29,  1870.  8ho  was  bom  in  Pennsvlvania, 
March  26,  1813,  emigrated  with  her  parents  to  Indiana,  was  married  at  the 
age  of  17  to  Mr  Garrison,  and  in  184(3  accompanied  him  to  Oregon.  She  was 
the  motlier  of  14  children,  only  9  of  whom  outlived  her.  Portland  Advocate, 
Oct.  1,  1870. 

Rice  Dunl>ar  was  born  in  Ohio,  February  G,  1802.  While  a  young  man  ho 
removed  to  Illinois,  where  he  married  Jane  Miller  Bisbiu,  January  22,  18.30. 
Together  they  emigrated,  and  settled  in  the  Waldo  hills.  His  wife  died  in 
1808.     He  died  in  September  1870.  Id. 

Martin  Vaughn  emigrated  from  Indiana.  He  lived  on  the  Nachess  River, 
Washington;  one  of  his  daughters  married  a  Gibbs.  Id.,  March  27,  1873. 

Andrus  Harper  and  his  wife,  Eliza,  settled  in  the  Tualatin  plains.  A 
daughter  married  L.  P.  Pratt  in  1854,  removed  to  Wasco  County  in  1871, 
where  she  di<3d  April  17,  1873.  Id.,  May  1,  1873. 

Mrs  Cynthia  Howard  was  born  in  Kentucky,  October  19,  1810j  removed 
early  in  life  to  Illinois,  was  married  in  1828  to  R.  R.  Howard,  an<l  with  him 
crossed  the  plains  and  settled  in  Oregon  C'ity,  where  she  resided  tb  ■^main- 
<ler  of  her  lite.     She  was  the  mother  of  10  children,  two  of  whom  ■  *leth- 

odist  ministers.     She  died  August"  20,  1877.  Id.,  Aug.  30,  1877. 

Rev.  John  Howard,  son  of  R.  R.  and  Cynthia  Howard,  niv...  .  Miss 
Jane  E.  Wingfield,  daughter  of  J.  T.  Wingfield,  in  November  1854.  She 
was  bom  in  Missouri,  July  19,  1840,  and  died  January  1,  1876,  leaving  4 
children.  Id.,  Jan.  13,  1876. 

J.  W.  ami  A.  Pugh  lived  for  several  years  in  Yamhill  County,  but  after- 
ward settled  in  Linn,  where  they  married.  Mrs  John  Pugh,  their  mother, 
was  bom  in  Virginia,  October  1,  1791;  removed  with  her  parents  to  Ken- 
tucky, and  wa,«  there  married  to  John  Pugh,  about  1818  who  was  killed  hy 
lightning  2  or  3  years  afterward,  leaving  her  with  2  boys.  After  the  death  of 
her  husband  Mrs  Pugh  removed  with  her  children  first  to  Illinois  and  then  to 
Towa,  and  finally  they  brought  her  with  them  to  Oregon.  She  died  January 
23,  1872.  Id.,  March  21,  1872. 

Joseph  Waldo  was  born  March  19,  1805,  in  Harrison  County,  West  Vir- 
ginia. Thence  he  first  emigrated  to  St  Clair  County,  Missouri,  and  Ito\:\  tne 
latter  place  to  Oregon  in  1846.  He  was  a  brother  of  Daniel  Waldo,  but  un- 
like him  he  was  of  a  religious  turn  of  mind,  and  a  generous  supporter  of  the 
Willamette  university,  of  which  he  was  a  trustee,  and  other  M!ethodist  insti- 
tutions. He  died  whUe  on  a  visit  to  Clarksburg,  West  Va.,  Nov.  24,  1871. 
Id.,  Feb.  8,  1872. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 


THE  WAR  FEEUNO  IN  OREGON. 

1846. 

Social  Efforts  of  the  Crew  of  the  'Modeste' — Fir.st  Theatrical 
Entertainmenth  —  First  American  Newspaper  on  the  Pacific 
Coast — A  Military  Company — Arrival  in  the  Sound  of  H.  B.  M. 
.Ship  'Fisuard' — President  Polk's  Messaoe — Arrival  or  the  U.  S. 
Schooner  '  >Shark  ' — Horse-racinu — Howison  on  the  Situation  — 
Wreck  of  the  '  Shark  '—A  Flau  ani'  :uns  for  Oregon — Passaoe  of 
THE  Notice  Bill — Overland  Railwa  ^  The  Boundary  Determined — 
How  Tidings  of  the  Treaty  were  Received. 


While  the  events  just  narrated  were  taking  place 
the  political  condition  of  the  colony  remained  un- 
changed. From  the  newspapers  brought  by  the  im- 
migrants, and  occasional  news  received  by  way  of  the 
Hawaiian  Islands,  the  Oregon  question  still  threat- 
ened war.  Amonsr  other  rumors  was  one  that  the 
British  plenipotentiary  had  proposed  as  a  dernier  res- 
sort  to  leave  the  question  open  for  twenty  years,  to 
be  settled  finally  by  the  choice  of  the  people.  But 
this  was  believed  by  Americans  to  be  improbable, 
because  it  was  shown  by  Gallatin  in  1827  that  the 
country  must  be  settled  by  Americans,  and  the  late 
immigrations  had  demonstrated  it.^  British  subjects 
received  the  rumor  with  equal  incredulity,  believing 
that  England  would  not  consent  to  any  compromise 
by  which  the  country  north  of  the  Columbia  would 
be  endangered.^     So  uncertain  and  critical  seemed  the 

'  Honolulu  Polyneman,  Jan.  10  and  March  14,  1846. 

^Roberta'  Recollections,  MS.,  6;  Niles'  Reg.,  Ixix.  242;  Dunavan's  Great 
Divide,  330;  Yreka  UnUm,  June  28,  1871;  San  Bernardino  Guardian,  July 
29,  1871;  Aniioch  Ledger,  Aug.  5,  1871;  McKay,  in  his  Recollections,  MS.,  3, 

'573) 


Ill 


574 


THE   WAR  FEELING  IN   OREGON. 


iOint  to    ail 


position  of  affairs,  that  an  agent  was  sent  in  March, 
by  the  fur  company,  to  San  Francisco  and  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  to  make  arrangements  for  obtaining  sup- 
plies for  the  Hadson's  Bay  Company's  posts,  in  case 
their  farmhig  lands  should  be  seized.^  The  Kussians 
also,  who  depended  on  Oregon  for  the  larger  part  of 
tlieir  supplies,  anticipating  trouble,  forestalled  the 
action  of  the  British  company,  and  purchased,  early 
in  the  spring,  the  whole  tara  crop  of  the  Islands,  and 
large  quantities  of  sugar  and  rum,  for  Sitka, 
Evervthinjj  in  the  Pacific  seemed  to  p< 
early  collision.  The  Modeste,  as  a  British  man-of  war 
stationed  in  the  Columbia,  was  regarded  ominously, 
ai)d  to  soften  the  resentment  thus  created,  the  officers 
and  men,  following  the  advice  of  the  fur  company, 
gave  a  series  of  entertainments,  to  which  all  were  in- 
vited, which  served  the  purpose  of  diverting  the  minds 
of  many  from  that  strained  feeling  which  McKay 
says  obtained  between  the  rival  nations,  perceptible 
even  in  the  Sandwich  Islands.  A  better  acquaint- 
ance enabled  men  of  either  nation  to  express  political 
bias  freely,  and  wordy  encounters  were  harmless,  as 
there  were    no    offensive    exhibitions   of  patriotism.* 

says  the  officers  of  tlie  British  war  sliip  America  expressed  to  him  the  opinion 
that  the  country  between  the  Columbia  River  ami  Puget  Sound  must  be  held 
at  all  hazards — '  an  opinion  which  apparently  carried  no  weight  with  tlio  home 
government. ' 

^  This  was  J.  W.  McKay,  who  says  that  he  found  the  whole  population 
much  excited  over  the  prospect  of  annexation  to  the  United  States;  and  vari- 
ous rumors  were  afloat  concerning  Fremont's  intentions.  '  Such  of  my  cimn- 
trymen,'  he  says,  'as  I  had  a:i  opportunity  to  converse  with  during  my  stay 
in  San  Francisco  seemed  to  take  sides  with  the  Americans;  though  they 
blamed  the  English  government  for  not  taking  prompt  action  with  a  view  of 
securing  to  the  British  crown  a  colony  which  vould  certainly  prove  valuable 
in  the  future.'  Jii'colkrtion«,  MS.,  4,  f);  Marnh'x  Letter,  MS.,  14,  15. 

*  As  the  first  theatrical  representations  ever  produced  on  the  Pacific  coasi, 
the  performances  on  the  MwkMe  are  worthy  of  mention.  I  find  by  the 
li'ptrtiitor  of  Feb.  19,  184ii,  that  on  the  3d  of  tin  month,  under  the  patronage 
of  Captain  Bail'ie  and  the  officers  of  the  Mmlente,  and  before  a  full  and 
respectable  audience,  was  performed  the  comedy  of  T/irce  Weeks  after  Mar- 
riatje,  followed  by  The.  Deuce  is  in  Him,  and  The  Mayor  vf  Garratt.  The 
scenery  was  painted  by  the  crow.  The  prologue  was  composed  and  spoken 
by  Pettman,  and  e'ldcd  with  the  mot  referred  to  in  the  note,  '  Modei^te  is  our 
ship,'  etc.  The  young  ladies  who  took  part  in  the  play  were  the  daughters 
of  Oregon  settlers:  Miss  Allen,  Miss  lledjjecock.  Miss  Lloyd,  and  Miss  Rossi. 
These  were  the  earliest  pupils  of  the  mimic  art  on  the  Northwest  Coast.     At 


THE   'OREGON  SPECTATOR. 


576 


Little  of  all  this  would  have  heen  preserved  had  not 
the  printing  association,  just  previous  to  this  happy 
tliought  of  the  crew,  commenced  the  publication  of 
the  Oregon  Spectator,  the  first  American  newspaper  on 
the  Pacific  coast.^  This  publication  wtvs  begun  just 
in  time  to  record  the  occurrences  of  the  eventful  year 
of  1846. 

a  second  performance  in  May,  Low,  in  a  ViUa<jt,  The  Mvrk  Doctor,  and  Mayor 
of  Garratt  were  played.  Or.  Spectator,  May  12,  184(>;  Taylor  n  Spec.  Prexs, 
247. 

*  There  had  been  a  small  press  in  California  since  18.34,  but  no  newspaper 
was  published  until  a-'ter  the  American  conciuest,  6  mouths  later  than  the 
publication  of  the  Oregon  newspaper.  'Ihe  Spectator  was  a  semi-monthly 
journal  of  4  pages,  15  by  11  inches  in  size,  contauiing  4  columns  each,  printed 
in  clear  type  and  a  tasteful  style,  by  Jolin  Fleming,  a  practical  printer,  and 
an  immigrant  of  1844.  The  paj^cr  was  first  edited  by  the  president  of  the 
Oregon  printing  association,  W.  G.  T'Vault,  after  whom  several  other  editors 
were  employeil  and  removed  in  quick  succession  for  holding  opinions  atlverse 
to  the  controlling  power  in  the  association.  The  general  aim  of  the  Spectator 
waa,  wliile  advocating  good  morals,  temperance,  and  education,  to  pursue  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  with  unremitting,  if  often  covt.-t,  hostility;  and  in 
this  respect  it  might  be  considered  the  organ  of  the  American  merchant  class 
against  the  British  merchants.  T'V.ault  was  dismissed  at  the  end  of  10  weeks 
fur  being'  Loo  lenient.  H.  A.  G.  Lee  then  issued  9  numbers,  and  was  dis- 
missed for  publishing  sonie  articles  reflecting  with  good  reason  on  the  course 
of  the  "American  ^uerchants  toward  the  colonists;  and  several  numbers  ap- 
peared without  r.ny  ostensible  editor,  wiien  in  Octolier  184(3,  George  L.  ('uny, 
an  immigrant  oi  that  year,  took  the  chair.  Ho  pursued  the  plan  of  allowing 
both  sides  a  fair  hearin,'^,  and  aft(;r  successfully  conducting  the  paper  a  longer 
'  time  than  any  of  his  predecessors,  was  dismissed  for  publisliing  some  n  solu- 
tions of  the  house  of  representatives  of  1849,  reHectiug  on  the  Methodist 
candidate  for  the  important  office  of  Oregon  delegate  to  congress.  He 
waa  succeeded  by  A.  E.  Wait,  and  subsequently  by  Wil.'fon  Blain.  In 
18.50  the  paper  and  press  were  sold  to  Robert  Moore,  who  employed  Blain 
for  a  time  to  <Mlit  it,  but  displaced  him  by  D.  .T.  Schneliley,  who  soon  be- 
came proprietor,  and  associated  with  himself  C.  V.  Culver  as  editor.  In 
March  1854  the  paper  was  again  sold  to  (.'.  L.  Goodrich,  and  by  him  <liscon- 
tinued  in  March  18r)5.  It  waa  published  semi-montldy  until  September  18fi0, 
when  it  changed  to  a  weekly;  and  was  printed  on  one  of  Hoe  h  Washington 
presses.  Its  first  printer,  .John  Fleming,  went  from  Ohio  to  Oregon  in  184.5, 
and  continued  to  reside  in  Oregon  City  till  the  time  of  his  deatli,  Dec.  2, 
1872,  at  the  age  of  78  years.  Me  left  a  family  in  Ohio,  to  whom  he  never 
returned.  He  was  esteeme<l  in  his  adopted  homo  as  an  honorable  and  exem- 
plary man.  He  was  appointed  po.stmastor  in  185G.  Associatcil  witli  Fiona. ig 
tor  a  time  was  T.  F.  McElroy,  wlio  after  Fleming's  retirement  from  bu.siness 
formed  with  C  W.  Smith  a  partner.sliip  as  printers  and  publishers.  These 
were  succeeded  in  th^  puLlisliiiig  department  by  T.  D.  "iV-csou  and  G.  1).  II. 
Boyd,  and  they  by  Boyd  alone,  llaving  outlived  colonial  times  and  s  :en 
Oregon  City  dwindle  from  'lie  first  town  in  Oregon  to  the  rank  of  second  or 
third,  the  press  and  material  nf  the  Spectator  were  sold  in  1855  to  publish  a 
paper  ander  another  name,  and  for  political  purjtoses.  That  i)aper  became 
finally  merged  in  another  at  Salem,  and  the  old  Spectator  jircss  was  takiai 
to  Roseburg  to  start  a  paper  at  tliat  place,  and  finally  to  Eugene  City, 
where  it  remains.  The  typo  and  material  were  carried  to  Portland  to  be  used 
in  the  publication  of  the  Daili/  Union,  for  a  short  time,  after  which  it  waa 
taken  to  Astoria,  where  was  printed  on  it-tho  Marine  Gazette,  in  which  Gray'a 


B76 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


With  the  exception  of  drinking,  no  objection  seems 
to  have  been  made  to  the  Modeste's  officers  or  men.* 
Captain  BaiUie  rarely  left  his  ship ;  but  the  younger 
officers,  besides  giving  theatrical  entertainments,  horse- 
races, balls,  and  curling  matches,  visited  among  the 
settlers  wherever  invited,  and  attended  a  ball  given 
at  Oregon  City,  in  honor  of  Washington's  birthday, 
by  H.  M.  Knighton,  an  immigrant  of  1845,  who  was 
the  second  marshal  of  Oregon  under  Ihe  provisional 
government,  and  sergeant-at-arms  of  the  house  of 
representatives  in  the  winter  of  1846,  The  editorial 
notices  received  of  these  amusements  were  studiedly 

History  of  Oregon  first  appearerl.  On  the  termination  of  that  journal,  what 
was  left  of  the  material  of  the  Speclnlor  was  taken  back  to  Oregon  City.  The 
authorities  through  which  I  have  f  .Ilowed  the  course  of  Oregon's  first  press 
are  Portlmd  Oreyonian,  March  25,  1854;  OlympUi  Columbian,  Sept.  10,  1853; 
Olympia  Pioneer  and  Democrat,  March  18,  1854;  Parrish'n  Or.  Anecdotes,  MP., 
5,  G;  Lanes Nar.,  MS.,  5,  G;  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc.,  Trans.,  1875,  p.  72;  Portland 
Weekly  Oreqonian,  Dec.  26,  18G8;  Olympia  Transcript,  Dec.  2G,  1868;  Evans' 
J/itt.  Or.,  M.S.,  333;  Apple</ate's  Views  of  Hist.,  MS.,  50;  Broum's  Willamette 
Vallei),  MS.,  34;  Pickett's  Paris  Exposition,  10;  Or.  City  Weekly  Enterprise, 
Dec.  19,  1868;  Sol'iiio  (Col.)  Herald,  Jan.  9,  1869;  Ob/mpia  Wash.  Standard, 
Jan.  2,  1869;  Nikff' Reij.,  Ixx.  340-1;  S.  F.Alta,  March  15,  1855;  Sac.  Union, 
April  io,  1855;  Portland  West  Shore,  Nov.  1878.  The  general  news  chronicle 
in  the  Spectator  was  usually  at  least  G  months  old,  and  was  obtained  from 
papers  brought  out  by  the  annual  immigrations,  from  the  Sandwich  Island 
papers  brought  over  in  chance  sailing  vessels,  or  through  the  correspondence 
and  mail  of  the  fur  company,  winch  arriveil  once  or  twice  a  year  overland 
from  Canada,  or  by  the  annual  vessel  from  England.  But  the  intelligence 
conveyed  was  read  as  eagerly  as  if  the  events  had  but  just  transpired,  and  by 
the  extracts  published,  it  is  easy  to  gather  what  kind  of  news  was  considered 
most  important. 

"The  oHicers  of  the  Modeste  were  Thomas  BaiUie,  captain;  T.  M.  Rodney, 
T.  G.  Drake,  and  T.  P.  Coode,  lieutenants;  Ci.  J.  (Jibbou,  master;  John  (Tib- 
son,  surgeon;  J.  M.  Hobbs,  purser;  A.  A.  D.  Dundas,  mate;  A.  Gordon, 
a.sst.  surgeon;  A.  T.  Do  Horsey,  J.  Montgomerie,  Charles  Gi-aiit,  and  K.  T. 
Loggo,  miilshipincn;  Thomas  James  Clarke,  G.  Pearc  ,  miistur's  assistants; 
J.  White,  clerk "s  assistant;  J.  Hickman,  guuner;  J.  Stevens,  boatswain;  Vim. 
EUieott,  carpenter.  Or.  Sy.:ctator,  Feb.  5,  184G.  Roberts  says  these  officers 
wore  fine  fellows,  and  that  the  men  could  not  be  induced  to  desert  by  the 
temptation  of  640  acres  of  laud,  the  ship  losing  but  one  seaman  during  a 
stay  in  the  river  of  more  than  a  year.  McLoughlin  also  says:  'I  am  con- 
vinced that  it  was  owing  to  the  Modeste  being  at  Vancouver,  and  the  gcntle- 
maidike  coniluct  of  Capt/aiu  BaiUie  and  his  officers,  and  tlie  good  discipline 
and  good  l)ehavior  of  the  crow,  tliat  the  officers  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Conniany 
have  had  less  trouble  (though  thi;y  have  had  a  great  deal  more  than  I  sns- 
pectiwl)  tli.in  they  would  have  liad,  and  which  certainlj''  they  have  done 
nothing  to  incur,  but  everything  they  could  to  avoid.'  Prirate  Paper.%  MS., 
2d  scr.,  16,  17.  One  of  the  midshipmen  of  the  Modcttc  was  afterward  Admiral 
Do  Horsey.  Rodney,  1st  lieutenant,  was  grandson  of  Ailmiral  C.  R.  Rodney. 
I>rake,  2<l  lie\itonant,  was  the  author  of  Lines  to  Mary  and  other  similar 
effusions  published  in  the  Spectator.  Roberts'  Recollections,  MS.,  38-9. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  'MODESTE.' 


577 


inoffensive,  but  never  cordial.  The  ultra-American 
and  missionary  portion  of  the  inhabitants  regarded 
them  with  disfavor,  and  beneath  guarded  phrases  a 
covert  sneer  could  be  detected/ 

There  was  another  object  in  the  gayeties  of  the 
Modeste,  which  was  to  avert  the  temptation  on  the  part 
of  the  inferior  officers  and  seamen  to  desert  and  take 
up  a  section  of  land,  without  price,  under  the  Oregon 
land  law.  Though  the  legislature  of  1844  had  passed 
an  act  in  relation  to  deserting  seamen,  that  they  should 
be  returned  to  their  vessels,  there  to  be  dealt  with  by 
their  officers,  the  practice  of  abandoning  their  ships 
in  the  Columbia  River  was  one  that  gave  sea-captains 
much  trouble.  In  a  country  so  wild  and  free,  it  was 
useless  to  employ  severe  measures,  even  if  a  captain 
might  venture  it,  and  kindness  and  tact  were  judged 
by  the  officers  of  the  Modeste  and  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  as  more  effectual.  Roberts  remarks  that 
sufficient  importance  has  never  been  attached  to  the 
influence  of  the  good  order  Jiiaintainc  at  Fort  Van- 
couver in  preserving  the  peace  of  the  country;  and 
also  that  the  naval  service  gav<  them  more  trouble 
than  the  landsmen,  the  captains  of  vess<>ls  often  having 
to  appeal  to  the  authority  of  McLoughliii  or  Douglas 
to  keep  their  men  under  control.  Palmei',  who  visited 
Vancouver   during   the    Christmas   holidays,  one   of 


''  Rcrollectionn,  MS.,  5.  At  a  ball  held  in  McLoughlin's  mill,  one  of  the 
Mo<tto^K,'o  cfHcers  wagered  a  bottle  of  wine  that  the  niajiirity  of  the  men  jires- 
eiit  would  tight  on  the  Biitish  side  in  the  event  of  having  to  choose;  but  a 
count  being  made  ho  lo>t  hia  bet.  "He  then  singled  out  one  man  who  he 
offered  to  bet  would  figlit  on  England's  hide,  W.  H.  Rees.  On  the  ijuestion 
being  put,  'Sir,  which  Hag  would  you  support  in  the  event  of  warV'  Rees 
replied,  '  I  fight  under  the  stars  and  stripes,  sir  ! '  to  the  no  small  chagrin 
of  the  challenger.  Miiito'x  Eorlij  Dmjs,  MS.,  10;  'h\  Pioniir  Asunc,  Tnuig., 
1874,  2(5-7.  'At  one  of  the  plays,' says  Roberts,  'I  heard,  "Atodcxte  is  our 
ship,  and  modest  men  are  we — c»ne  Wfird  more,  and  up  shall  rise  the  scene; 
Ladies  and  gentlemen  all — ( rod  save  the  Queen  !  "  One  shnu;hed  hat  was  uu- 
removed  amongst  the  uncovered  crowd,  and  I  heanl  a,tar  say,  'TleaHO,  sir, 
tnay  I  pitch  that  chap  overboard?"'  IMwrUi  life,  MS.,  38.  On  the  other 
side:  d'eorge  W.  Jackson,  an  immigrant  of  1845,  being  at  an  entertainment 
m\  board  the  Mwle«te,  where  there  was  singing,  treated  the  aiulience  first  to 
the  'Star-spangled  Rinner,'  to  which  they  did  not  object,  and  afterward  to 
'  Vo  Parliaments  of  England '  of  1812  memory,  which  displeased  bis  ente  ■ 
tainers.  Qtinp-Jirc  Oriifiou.i,  MS.,  8,  9;  Palmer  a  Journal,  111. 
Hist.  Ob.,  Vol.  I.    37 


.4 

Si 


^i 


•uaj^,l^4j., 


678 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


those  rare  occasions,  as  aleady  mentioned,  on  which 
the  company's  servants  received  their  small  allowance 
of  spirits,  describes  a  grand  carouse,  ending  on  ship- 
board.^ 


The  subject  of  military  organization  had  been 
neglected  in  the  amended  organic  law,  through  a  wise 
forbearance,  as  its  existence  was  calculated  to  create 
suspicion  and  prevent  the  perfect  fusion  of  rival  ele- 
ments. The  apparently  critical  aspect  of  affairs  in 
the  spring  of  1846,  however,  induced  some  public- 
spirited  citizens  to  call  a  meeting  at  the  house  of 
.David  Waldo,  in  Champoeg  County,  and  organize  a 
company  of  mounted  riflemen.^  Charles  Bennett  was 
made  captain.     It  appears  to  have  been  a  revival  of 

*  '  This  was  holiday  with  the  servanta  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and 
such  ranting  and  frolicking  has  perhaps  seldom  been  seen  among  the  sons  of 
men.  Some  were  engaged  in  gambling,  some  singing,  some  running  horses, 
many  promenading  on  the  river-shore,  and  others  on  the  large  green  prairie 
above  the  fort.  H.  B.  M.  's  ship  of  war  Modexte  was  lying  at  anchor  about 
fifty  yards  from  the  shore.  The  sailors  also  seemed  to  be  enjoying  the  holi- 
days—many of  them  were  on  sho"e  promenading  and  casting  sheep's-eyes  at 
the  fair  native  damsels  as  they  strnlled  from  wigwam  to  liut,  and  from  hut  to 
wigwam,  intent  upon  seeking  for  themselves  the  greatest  amount  of  enjoy- 
ment. At  night  a  party  w;is  given  on  board  the  snip,  and  judging  from  the 
noise  kept  up  until  ten  at  night,  they  were  a  jolly  set  of  fellows.  About  t'.is 
time  a  boat  came  ashore  from  the  ship  with  a  few  landlubbers  most  gloriously 
drunk.  One  of  them  fell  out  of  the  boat  and  his  comrades  were  barely  able 
to  pull  him  ashore.'  Joiinuil,  111. 

•The  preamble  to  this  organization  reads:  '  Wliereas,  the  people  of  Oregon 
Territory  are  situated  remote  from,  and  without  the  protection  of,  any  gov- 
ernment, we  therefore,  as  members  of  a  free  find  enlightened  comnmnity, 
wishing  to  preserve  the  principles  of  a  free  and  repuolican  form  of  gov- 
ernment, and  being  well  aware  that  the  body  of  the  people  is  the  only  power 
capable  of  sustaining  such  institutions,  therefore,  wo  deem  it  advisable  to 
form  ourselves  into  military  bodies,  for  the  purpose  of  preserving  peace  and 
order  at  home,  and  preventing  aggressions  from  abroad.  Or.  Spectator,  Juno 
]1,  1846.  The  oflicers  of  the  company  were:  captain,  Charlies  Bennett;  1st 
lieut.,  A.  A.  Robinson;  'Jd  lieut.,  Isaac  llutchins;  3d  lieufc.,  Hiram  English; 
ord.  sergeant,  Thomas  Holt;  2d  sergeant,  Thomas  Howell;  3d  sergeant,  S. 
C.  Morris;  4th  sergeant,  William  Herring;  1st  corporal,  P.  C.  Kaisor;  2d 
corporal,  Robert  Walker;  3d  corporal,  B.  Frost;  4tn  corporal,  John  Rowe. 
The  privates  were  33  in  nundjer.  This  2ompany,  when  called  upon  to  pursue 
some  supposed  horse-thieves,  charged  upon  a  peaceal)le  native  village,  and 
shot  an  Indian  who  was  innocent  ot  any  offence.  It  soev^s  an  anomaly  that 
men  who  were  able  to  pen  sentiments  as  lofty  as  those  contained  in  their  pre- 
amble were  so  little  to  be  trusted  in  the  exooution  of  their  duty.  It  is  due, 
however,  to  Captain  Bennett  to  state  tliat  h;  was  not  in  command;  and  to 
the  company,  to  say  that  all  regretted  tlie  occurrence  which  happened  rather 
through  a  mistake  than  by  design.  Kaiser's  Emiurant  Road,  MS.,  0,  7;  Kaiser's 
iVor.,  12-14. 


THE   'FISGARD.' 


679 


Captain  Kaiser's  company  of  Oregon  Rangers,  as  they 
took  that  name,  some  of  the  same  members  being 
again  enrolled,  and  the  former  captain  acting  as  presi- 
dent of  the  meeting. 

On  the  very  day  that  Kaiser  sent  his  report  of  these 
proceedings  to  Oregon's  journal,  Ogden,  writing  from 
Fort  Vancouver  to  the  same,  announced  the  arrival 
at  Nisqually  of  H.  M.  frigate  Fisgard,  forty -two  guns, 
and  a  crew  of  three  hundred  and  fifty  men,  which  had 
come  to  remain  for  the  summer,  or  as  long  as  the  war- 
cloud  threatened.^"  The  news  brought  by  the  Fisgard^ 
as  late  as  December  from  England  and  January  from 
New  York,  was  rather  quieting  than  otherwise.  It 
was  thought  that  the  corn  laws  would  be  repealed  and 
free-trade  instituted,  which  would  open  British  ports 
to  American  bread-stuffs,  and  it  was  believed  greatly 
lessen  the  war  feeling  in  the  western  states,  where 
President  Polk's  supporters  were  strongest."  The 
president  had  also  made  proposals  for  altering  the 
tariff,  favorable  to  Great  Britain;  all  of  which  was 
reassuring.  At  the  same  time  it  was  evident  that 
the  French  government,  whose  officers  in  the  Hawai- 
ian Islands  courted  the  favor  <»f  the  officers  of  the 
English  fleet  in  the  Pacific,  would  support  the  claims 
of  Great  Britain ;  and  the  pretensions  of  the  French 
in  the  Pacific  were  tolerated  by  England  in  order  to 
obtain  this  support.' 


12 


'"The  Fiwjnrd  was  officered  as  follows:  captain,  J.  A.  Duntz;  lieutenants, 
.Tohii  Rodd,  Charles  Dyke,  (ieorge  Y.  Patterson,  Edward  W.  Lang,  Edward 
J).  Ashe;  marines,  Lieutenant  Hoary  H.  M'Cartliy,  and  Fleetwood  J.  Rich- 
ards; master,  Edmund  P.  Colo;  cliaplain,  Robert  Thompson;  surgeon,  Tlioinas 
R.  Durm;  purser,  Thomas  Rowe;  second  ?naster,  James  Crosby;  iustructor, 
Robert  AI.  Joship;  14  midshipmen.  Roberts  says:  '  A  small  building  erected 
for  a  miilshipmen'a  school  at  Nisqually  was  standing  only  a  ftiw  year.s  ago. 
It  was  known  to  us  as  the  "castle  of  indolence."  '  Rcrollertions,   M.S.,  78. 

"  Had  the  corn  laws  of  England  been  abolished  a  few  years  earlier,  so  that 
a  market  could  have  been  found  for  tlie  grain  raised  in  the  Mississippi  Valley, 
the  history  of  Oregon  might  now  be  read  difl'erently,  since  the  farmers  who 
emigrated  to  the  Pacific  coast  would  have  remained  at  home  to  raise  com 
and  wheat  for  (Jreat  Britain. 

'^Tho  N.  Y.  llvmld  of  Nov.  .30,  1845,  remarks:  'Tlie  accounts  from  Tahiti 
state  that  H.  B.  M.  shin  Volliiujwooii,  Admiral  Kir  George  Seymour,  had  arrived 
there  and  saluted  the'French  Protectorate  flag.  This  is  rather  singular,  and 
seems  to  indicate  that  the  English,  in  order  to  carry  some  point  in  the  Pacific, 


680 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


The  newspaper  mail  of  tlie  Fisgard,  however, 
revealed  the  fact  that  there  was  a  majority  of  the 
democratic  party  in  the  United  States  house  of  repre- 
sentatives of  nearly  two  to  one,  and  in  the  senate  a 
majority  of  six.  This  latter  circumstance  was  re- 
garded as  indicating  that  the  president's  policy  would 
be  carried  out  as  defined  in  his  message. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  1844,  said  President  Polk, 
the  negotiations  on  the  subject  of  the  Oregon  boun- 
dary, which  had  been  pending  in  London  since  October 
1843,  were  transferred  to  Washington.  The  proposi- 
tion of  the  British  plenipotentiary  was  to  divide  the 
Oregon  Territory  by  the  49th  parallel,  from  the  Rocky 
Mountains  to  the  point  of  its  intersection  with  the 
northernmost  branch  of  the  Columbia  River,  and 
thence  down  that  river  to  the  sea,  leaving  the  free 
navigation  of  the  river  to  be  enjoyed  by  both  parties; 
the  country  south  of  this  line  to  belong  to  the  United 
States,  and  that  north  to  Great  Britain.  In  addition 
to  this,  it  was  proposed  to  yield  a  strip  of  coast  north 
of  the  Columbia  extending  from  Bullfinch  Harbor  to 
the  Strait  of  Fuca,  and  from  the  Pacific  to  Hood 
Canal;  and  to  make  free  to  the  United  States  any 
ports  they  might  desire,  either  on  the  Mainland  or  on 
Vancouver  Island — a  proposition  identical  with  one 
offered  in  1826,  Vv^ith  the  exception  of  the  free  ports, 
and  which  was  promptly  rejected  by  the  United  States 
plenipotentiary.  A  request  was  then  made  that  the 
United  States  should  frame  a  proposal.  Nothing, 
however,  had  been  done  when  the  administration 
changed,  and  Polk  came  into  office. 

The  president  .said  that  though  he  held  the  opinion 
that  Great  Britain  had  no  title  to  the  Oregon  Terri- 
tory that  could  be  maintained  upon  any  principle  of 
public  law  recognized  by  nations,  he  had  felt  it 
his  duty  to  defer  to  the  opinions  and  acts  of  his  prede- 


have  concluded  to  recognize  and  tolerate  the  French  aggressions  in  that  sea. 
See  also  Mo/ras,  Explor.,  torn.  i.  294;  Id.,  torn.  ii.  254;  Orcenhoiv's  Hist.  Or., 
159,  341-3. 


OREGON  BEFORE  CONGRESS. 


681 


cessors,  who  had  oft'ered  to  adjust  the  boundary  on 
the  49th  parallel,  two  of  them  also  offering  the  free 
navigation  of  the  Columbia;  and  a  proposition  had 
accordingly  been  made,  repeating  the  offer  of  the  4*Jth 
parallel,  but  withdrawing  the  free  navigation  of  the 
Columbia ;  and  which  in  its  turn  had  been  indignantly 
rejected  by  the  British  plenipotentiary.  He  was  now 
of  opinion  that  the  year's  notice  required  by  the  con- 
vention of  1827  should  be  given,  and  the  treaty  of 
joint  occupancy  terminated,  before  which  neither  gov- 
ernment could  rightfully  assert  or  exercise  exclusive 
jurisdiction  over  any  portion  of  the  territory." 

In  the  mean  time  he  recommended  such  legislation 
by  congress  as  would  be  proper  under  the  existing 
treaty,  and  considered  it  beyond  question  that  the  pro- 
tection of  the  United  States  laws  and  jurisdiction  ought 
immediately  to  be  extended  over  Americans  in  Ore- 
gon, who  had  just  cause  to  complain  of  long  neglect, 
and  who  had  been  driven  to  organize  a  government 
for  themselves.  The  extent  to  which  jurisdiction 
might  be  extended  over  the  territory  should  be  in  full 
as  far  as  the  British  government  had  gone  in  the 
act  of  parliament  of  July  2,  1821,  by  which  the 
courts  of  Upper  Canada  were  empowered  to  take  cog- 
nizance of  civil  and  criminal  cases,"  and  to  appoint 
justices  of  the  peace  and  other  political  officers  in  Ore- 
gon. He  also  recommended  that  the  laws  of  the 
United  States  regulating  trade  and  intercourse  with 
the  natives  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  should  be 
extended  over  the  tribes  west  of  the  mountains ;  that 
a  suitable  number  of  military  posts  should  be  estab- 
lished on  the  route  to  Oregon,  to  give  protection  to 
emigrants ;  that  an  overland  mail,  as  often  as  once  a 
month,  should  also  be  established ;  and  in  addition  to 
these  proposed  measures,  congress  should  be  prepared. 


•I*  I- 


f-v^~ 


^^20t.h  Cont/.,  Ut  Sess.,  Sen.  Doc.  Xo.  1,  11-14;  London  Chronicle,  Dec.  24, 
1845;  Or.  Spectntor,  June  11,  184(). 

'*  Civil  cases,  not  exceeding  in  the  cause  of  action  the  sum  of  £200,  and 
criiuiual  cases,  where  the  punishment  was  not  capital.    Wt/se's  America,  ii.  304. 


682 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


as  soon  as  the  year's  notice  had  expired,  to  make  lib- 
eral grants  of  land  to  the  settlers  in  Oregon, 

The  president  closed  that  portion  of  his  message 
which  related  to  Oregon  with  the  avowal  of  his 
belief  in  the  Monroe  doctrine  of  non-interference  of 
foreign  powers  with  North  American  territories,  and 
the  assurance  that  should  any  such  interference  be 
attempted  it  would  be  resisted  at  all  hazards. ^'^ 

Notwithstanding  this  decided  policy  of  the  new 
administration,  it  was  generally  thought  by  the  lead- 
ing men  in  congress  that  tliere  would  be  no  war.  The 
senate  was  entirely  against  it,  and  it  was  ridiculed 
even  in  the  house,  though  the  propriety  of  increasing 
the  navy  was  considered,  as  a  peace  measure.  The 
house  would  probably  be  in  favor  of  giving  notice; 
but  in  the  senate  the  measure  was  opposed,  particu- 
larly by  southern  members.'* 

Such  was  the  intelligence  that  reached  Oregon  in 
May,  and  was  published  in  the  Spectator  in  June. 
News  of  a  few  weeks'  later  date,  received  from  the 
Islands,  informed  the  colonists  that  a  resolution  had 
passed  the  house  to  give  the  notice,  by  a  vote  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty-three  to  fifty-four ;  but  that  in  the 
senate,  the  vote,  if  taken,  it  was  believed  would  stand 
twenty-two  for  and   thirty-four  against  it.     Bv  the 


**The  president's  message  changei!  the  tone  of  the  French  press.  In  the 
Spectator  of  August  20th  was  a  quotation  from  the  Washington  Union,  taken 
from  the  Courrier  des  Etats  Unis,  cont^'-ining  these  comments  on  President 
Polk's  message:  'Not  that  the  message  does  not  bear  t!ie  impress,  in  all  the 
questions  to  which  it  refers,  of  a  frankness  and  vigor  which  invest  it  with  a 
powerful  interest  or  thrilling  importance,  but  Mr  Polk  has  displayed  an  ad- 
mirable skill  in  disguising'  the  energy  of  thoughts  and  the  boldness  of  inten- 
tions under  forms  full  of  moderation,  address,  and  courtesy.  It  has  been 
many  years  since  the  people  of  the  United  States  held  toward  foreign  nations 
a  language  so  proud  and  so  calm.  Upon  the  Oregon  Question  the  Courrier 
remarked  that  '  there  had  been  little  suspicion  of  the  extent  of  the  concessions 
which  had,  up  to  the  last  hour,  been  offered  to  Great  Britain,  and  which  are 
now  for  the  first  time  revealed.  Public  opinion  is  scandalized,  and  with 
great  reason,  at  the  blundering  obstinacy  which  England  has  shown  in  refusing 
these  concessions;  and  those  even  who  were  least  disposed  to  insist  on  the 
rights  of  the  United  States  are  of  opinion  that  concessions  were  carried  suf- 
fic'ently  far;  and  if  they  have  any  regrets,  they  are  not  dispose<l  to  blame  the 
rebolution  taken  by  Mr  Polk  to  yield  nothing  more  to  John  Bull,  whose  avid- 
ity is  insatiate.' 

"iV^.  Y.  Jour.  (/Commerce,  Jan.  21,  1846. 


THE  FOURTH  OP  JUL\. 


S88 


same  paper  they  learned  that  the  frigate  Cmigress, 
Commander  Dupont,  with  Commodore  Stockton  on 
board,  had  sailed  for  the  Pacific  coast,  hci  craiRing 
ground  supposed  to  be  the  Oregon  coast;  and  also 
that  it  was  rumored  that  the  whole  British  force  in 
the  Pacific  was  making  sail  for  the  Columbia  River. ^' 

There  was  always  something  to  protract  anxiety ; 
yet  the  colonists  continued  the  cultivation  of  their 
fields,  building,  and  road-making,  with  unceasing  faith 
that  their  claims  to  land  and  improvements  would  be 
protected.  In  this  spirit  preparations  were  made  for 
a  Fourth-of-July  celebration  in  Salem,  recently  so 
named,  and  in  Oregon  City.  At  the  latter  i)lace  was 
erected  a  liberty-pole  presented  to  the  committee  of 
arrangements  by  William  Holmes ;  a  round  of  thirty- 
one  guns  was  fired,  and  an  oration  delivered  by  Peter 
H.  Burnett,^^  which  was  followed  by  a  dinner  and 
toasts,  with  cheering  and  firing  of  guns,  the  festivities 
being  concluded  by  a  ball  in  the  evening. 

At  Salem  the  management  of  the  celebration  was 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  newly  organized  military 
company,  the  Oregon  flangers.  It  was  on  this  occa- 
sion that  the  company  was  presented  with  a  flag  made 
by    Mrs    Horace    Holden   and   Miss   Locmey.     The 

^''  Honolulu  Frieml,  May  1,  1846;  PolyneMan,  April  25,  1846. 

'*  As  this  was  the  first  public  celebration  by  the  coloiusts  of  the  Fourth  of 
July,  the  following  facts  concerning  its  observance  inay  iiot  be  without 
interest.  The  procession  was  formed  under  the  mana^e.neat  of  Wm  Finley, 
marshal  of  the  day,  at  the  City  Hotel,  kept  by  H.  M.  Knl^;hton,  and  marched 
to  the  Methodist  church,  the  flag  of  the  Uniteil  States  being  borne  at  the 
head.  The  ceremonies  opened  with  prayer  by  J.  L.  Parrish;  the  declaration 
of  independence  was  read  by  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  after  which  followed  the  oration 
of  Judge  Burnett.  The  assembly  then  marched  back  to  the  hotel,  where  a 
public  dinner  was  served,  after  which  the  usual  toasts  were  road,  with  cheer- 
nig  and  firing  of  guns,  but  without  the  use  of  wmes  or  liquors.  There  were 
13  regular  toasts,  full  of  the  spirit  of  1776,  and  a  number  of  others,  all 
more  or  less  colored  by  the  peculiar  situation  of  the  country.  The  toast, 
'Oregon  belonging  to  the  United  States  and  rightfully  claiming  1  cr  protec- 
tion, and  ever  ready  to  repel  any  insult  offered  in  seducing  her  from  that 
path  by  hired  emissaries,  come  from  what  source  they  may,'  was  received 
with  10  cheers  and  3  guns.  'The  United  States  of  America,  an  example 
for  the  world,  a  bone  of  jealousy  to  tyrants,  the  home  of  the  free,  the  land  of 
the  brave,  and  an  asylum  of  the  oppressed,'  ^eceiv^.d  13  cheers  and  5  guns. 
Among  the  volunteer  toasts  was  one  by  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  '  May  the  time  soon 
come  when  ;he  lion  and  unicorn  may  cease  to  ^o  about  the  North  American 
continent  seeking  whom  they  may  bite  ! '  Oreyo/i  Spectator,  July  9,  1846. 


584 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


oration  was  delivered  by  W.  G.  T'Vault,  after  which  a 
barbecue  and  pubHc  dinner  was  served,  followed,  not 
by  a  ball,  but  by  a  sermon,  as  was  considered  prf)per 
in  a  missionary  town,^"  delivered  by  Harvey  Clark. 

It  had  been  a  subject  of  annoyance  to  the  colonists 
that  two  well-equipped  British  men-of-war  should  bu 
stationed  in  Oregon  waters,  and  that  while  a  fleet  of 
American  vessels  sported  in  the  Pacific,  not  one  was  in 
the  Columbia.  But  this  grievance  was  removed  when 
there  entered  on  the  1 8th  of  July  the  schooner  Shark, 
twelve  guns,  Neil  M.  Howison,  commander,^"  which 
had  been  repairing  at  the  Islands  since  the  month  of 
April,  and  left  Honolulu  on  the  23d  of  June.  Reach- 
ing the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  she  anchored,  and  fired 
guns  signalling  for  a  pilot,  but  no  pilot  appearing, 
Lieutenant  Howison,  with  the  master,  pulled  in  be- 
tween the  breakers  and  sounded  the  channel,  after 
which  he  brought  the  vessel  in.  On  rounding  Cape 
Disappointment  he  was  hailed  by  a  boat  which  con- 
tained A.  L.  Lovejoy,  H.  H. ,  Spalding,  and  W.  H. 
Gray.  The  negro  pilot,  already  mentioned,  was  recom- 
mended, but  in  twenty  minutes  he  ran  the  schooner 
hard  aground  on  Chinook  shoal.  Lovejoy  and  Gray 
immediately  put  vjiT  to  Astoria  for  assistance,  and  in 
the  morning  Mr  Latta,  the  pilot  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  wap  brought  on  board,  who  took  the 
Shark  to  her  anchorage  off  Astoria,  the  vessel  having 
worked  off  the  sands  during  the  night.  Howison 
then  proceeded  with  his  ship  to  Vancouver,  where  he 
was  received  July  24th  with  the  utmost  cordiality  by 
the  ofl^icers  of  the  Modeste  and  the  fort.  On  the 
2Gth  he  made  an  attempt  to  cross  the  bar  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Willamette,  with  the  intention  of  as- 

"  The  ceremonies  took  place  where  the  house  of  Asahel  Bush  now  stands. 
K(iMer-i  Nnr.,  MS.,  11-12. 

''''The  Sliark'n  officers  were  Neil  M.  Howison,  lieut.  commanding;  W.  S. 
Scheuck,  acting  fmaster;  James  D.  Bullock,  lieut.  ;  Wni  S.  HoUis,  purser; 
Edward  Hudson,  assist,  surgeon;  T.  McLanahan,  T.  J.  Simes,  an  I  H.  David- 
son, midshipmen;  J.  M.  Maury,  passed  midshipman,  captaiu's  clerk.  Oreijon 
Spectator,  Aug.  G,  1840. 


OTHER  VESSELS  OF  WAR. 


585 


cending  that  river  as  far  as  possible ;  but  not  being 
able  to  get  the  schooner  over,  was  forced  to  return  to 
Vancouver,  while  a  party  of  the  ^Shark^s  officers  pro- 
ceeded in  a  boat  to  Oregon  City.'* 

Howison  arrived  at  Vancouver  in  time  to  ])artici- 
pate  in  the  first  formal  horse-races  on  record,"'  which 
occurred  on  the  25th  of  July,  and  which,  together 
with  the  advent  of  a  United  States  war  vessel,  drew 
together  an  unusual  number  of  people,  and  furnished 
the  American  officers  an  opportunity  to  become 
acquainted  with  the  prevailing  state  of  feeling.  Every 
courtesy  was  extended  to  the  commander  of  the  Shark, 
which  attentions  were  received  as  courteously  as  ren- 
dered ;  but,  as  in  the  case  of  Wilkes,  the  independent 
American  settler  would  have  preferred  that  the  U  nited 
States  officers  should  not  have  been  thus  placed  under 
obligations. 

Howison's  report  is  probably  the  best  authority 
extant  upon  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Oregon  at  this 
time.  He  came  as  an  observer,  had  good  opportunities 
of  hearing  both  sides  of  the  question,  and  appears  to 
have  written  fairly,  and  without  prejudice.  There 
was  no  motive  for  him  to  conceal  anything  from  the 
eyes  of  government.  He  affirms  that  he  found  pre- 
vailing an  intense  excitement  on  the  boundary  question 
among  all  classes ;  and  that  he  enjoined  his  officers  in 
writing  to  refrain  from  arguments  touching  the  owner- 
ship of  the  soil,  but  to  allay  instead  of  increase  the 
excitement,  while  at  the  same  time  they  were  to  seek 
all  the  information  they  could  gather  respecting  the 
country.  ^-^ 

But  it  would  have  been  impossible,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, to  prevent  the  marines  and  sailois  from 
mixing  with  the  people,  and  becoming  inspired  with 

^'  Ifowlmn's  Coast  and  Coiintn/,  1-.3. 

^Oi-eijon  Spectator,  Aug.  20,  Oct.  1,  29,  1846. 

^'  Coiuit  and  Country,  .3.  The  excitement  was  kept  up  by  the  surmiaee  of 
the  Sandwich  Islands  papers  concerning  the  destination  of  the  English  fltet, 
the  Poli/nenian  of  the  6tn  of  June  reporting  that  the  Collimjirood  was  goil^g 
to  Puget  Sound,  to  deposit  uaval  stores  and  to  fortify.  Or.  Spectator,  Aug.  20, 
1846. 


it.j.i\t;ij.j, 


888 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


much  of  their  intolorancu  of  foreign  intrusion ;  for  in 
that  spirit,  notwithstanding  the  facts  in  the  case,  they 
insisted  on  viewing  the  presence  of  the  British  nien- 
cf-war,  the  Modente,  hmjurd,  and  Cormorant,  which 
Litter  strongly  armed  vessel  was  stationed  at  the 
entrance  to  Puget  Sonnd.^^ 

The  presence  of  the  British  flag,  which  had  been  a 
source  of  ill-suppressed  ire,  was  rendered  more  openly 
obnoxious  by  the  appearance  of  the  United  States 
colors,"  and  the  intelligence  brought  by  the  Shark 
that  the  United  States  squadron,  ct>nsiHting  of  the 
frigates  Congress  and  Savarinah,  and  the  sloops  of  war 
Cyane,  Portsmouth,  lA'vaid,  and  Warren,  were  on  tlie 
coast  of  Mexico  and  California,  while  the  store-ship 
Erie  was  at  the  Islands  [irovisioning  for  the  fleet. 
Thus  sustained,  the  belligerent  feelings  of  the  ultra- 
patriotic  were  privileged  to  exhibit  themselves.  Nor 
was  the  feeling  of  hostility  with  which  many  of  the 
colonists  regarded  the  officers  of  the  British  vessels 
entirely  of  a  national  chaiacter.  In  the  eyes  of  the 
free  and  independent  emigrants  from  the  border  of  the 
United  States,  anything  so  cultivated,  disciplined,  and 
formal  as  a  British  military  officer  was  an  offence. 
They  were  not  inspired  with  awe,  like  an  Englishman, 
but  with  dislike  and  envious  contempt. '^^ 

After  ascertaining  that  the  Shark  could  not  be 
taken  into  the  Willamette,  Howison  visited  Oregon 
City,  where  the  people  received  him  with  a  salute 
fired  from  a  hole  drilled  in  an  anvil,  probably  the  same 
which  had  done  service  on  the  4th  of  July,  and  where 

'■'■• '  The  Shark  people  had  said  they  would  take  the  Mwleste  out  of  the 
river  any  time  they  were  ordc-ed. '  Jackson,  in  Cainp-Jire  Omtiom,  MS.,  9. 

'■'•'' '  Any  future  Martin  who  may  write  from  the  British  side  will  say  we  got 
on  smoothly,  even  lovingly,  with  the  early  immigrants,  until  after  the  advent 
of  the  U.  S.  8chr.  Shark,  Capt.  Howison.  She  came  to  show  tlie  flag.  There 
was,  we  found,  a  noticeable  change  after  that.'  Roberts'  Rec,  MS.,  49. 

"^ '  The  English  officers  used  every  gentlemanly  caution  to  reconcile  our 
countrymen  to  their  presence,  but  no  really  good  feeling  existed.  Indeed, 
there  could  never  be  congeniality  between  porsons  so  entirely  dissimilar  as  an 
American  frontier  man  and  a  British  naval  officer.  But  the  officers  never,  to 
my  knowledge,  had  to  complain  of  rude  treatment.'  Howinonia  Coant  and 
Country,  4;  Gibbs,  in  Pacific  R.  Rept.,  i.  421. 


SHIPWRECK  OF  THE  'SHAIIK.' 


087 


he  became  the  guest  of  Abeniethy.  Accompanied 
by  the  governor,  he  made  a  tour  of  tlie  Willamette 
Valley,  after  which  Abernethy  returned  with  him  to 
Vancouver,  where  foi*  tw<j  duvs  he  was  enterttiined  on 
board  the  Shark.  A  v  arm  intimacy  sprung  up  be- 
tween the  commander  and  the  governor,  and  every 
opportunity  was  aff'onhxl  the  former  for  becoming 
acquainted  with  the  social  interests  of  the  country. 
While  the  commander  was  thus  engaged,  tlie  other 
officers  were  visiting  j)oints  on  the  Columbia  with  the 
same  object,  Howisoa  being  under  orders  to  leave  the 
river  by  the  1st  of  September.  Meanwhile  ten  of 
his  m/n  deserted,  tempted  by  the  high  price  of  labor 
and  the  prospect  of  owning  land,"  always  a  great  allure- 
ment to  sailors.  Two  of  the  deserters  were  returned 
to  the  vessel,  but  the  others  succeeded  in  escaping 
arrest.  Howison  perceived  that  to  retain  his  crew  he 
must  shorten  his  stay,  and  on  the  23d  of  August  took 
his  departure  from  Vancouver.  Passing  slowly  down 
the  river,  in  going  out  on  the  1 0th  of  October  the 
Shark  was  carried  on  the  south  spit,  and  became  a 
total  wreck. 

This  disaster,  the  second  to  a  United  States  vessel  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Columbia,  was  most  complete.  Offi- 
cers and  men  were  cast  ashore  without  food  or  cloth- 
ing, helpless  and  miserable.  Leaving  his  crew  poorly 
sheltered  at  Astoria,  Howison  returned  to  Vancouver, 
meeting  by  the  way  the  cutter  of  the  Modesfe  loaded 
with  provisions,  clothing,  and  such  articles  as  were 
likely  to  be  needed,  which  had  been  sent  from  the 
fort  where  the  news  of  the  wreck  was  received  on  the 
1 4th.  Purchasing  the  necessary  supplies  on  the  most 
favorable  terms  at  Vancouver,^  Howison  returned  to 

'•"  '  The  few  American  merchant  vessela  whicli  had  visited  the  Columbia, 
suffered  the  greatest  inconvenience  from  the  loss  of  their  men  in  this  way,  and 
it  ia  now  customary  for  them  to  procure  a  reenforcument  of  kanakas,  in 
passing  the  Sandwich  Islands,  to  meet  this  exigency.'  J/owi>ion'8  Count  and 
Oonntry,  4. 

'■•^Cash,  at  Oregon  City,  and  with  the  American  merchants,  was  worth  12 
per  cent  more  than  bills;  yet  the  company  furnished  all  Howison 's  requisi- 
tions, whether  for  cash  or  clothing,  taking  bills  on  Baring  Brothers  at  par. 
Coast  and  Country,  5. 


'•-.JlUJi, 


688 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


Astoria,  where  three  houses  were  erected  for  the 
winter  quarters  of  the  crow,  there  being  then  no  ex- 
pectation of  leaving  the  country  for  some  time.-^  The 
United  States  flag  was  planted  on  shore,  the  place 
taking  on  quite  an  air  of  military  life.^"  Alwut  the 
end  of  October  the  fur  company's  vessel  Cadhoro 
was  chartered  for  the  removal  of  tlie  SharFs  crew  to 
San  Francisco,''^  and  the  16th  of  November  they  went 
on  board,  but  the  winter  storms  prevented  the  vessel 
from  crossing  the  bar  before  the  18th  of  January. 

On  the  breaking-up  of  the  8harFs  quarters  at 
Astoria,  Howison  presented  to  the  government  of 
Oregon  the  colors  of  the  wrecked  schooner,  and  also 
as  many  of  the  vessel's  guns  as  could  be  recovered. 
This  was  the  first  flag  owned  by  the  territory ; "'  and 
the  only  gun  they  had  hitherto  was  a  twelve-pounder 
which  had  been  presented  to  the  corporation  of  Ore- 
gon City  by  Benjamin  Stai'k,  Jr.,  who  arrived  in 
Oregon  as  supercargo  of  the  American  b^rk  Toulon 
in  June  previous.'^* 

The  loss  of  the  Hharh  was  especially  regretted  by  the 


^'The  houses  were  two  log  structures,  30  hy  24  feet,  IJ  stories,  well  floored 
and  boarded,  with  kitchen  and  hake-ovon,  and  a  large,  square,  2-stoiy  frame 
building,  intended  for  otiicers'  quartern,  but  wliich  was  never  finislied.  Tlie 
latter,  long  known  as  tlie  Shark  House,  was  left  in  charge  of  Colonel  John 
McClure.  It  was  afterward  put  to  a  variety  of  uwes,  and  served  at  one  time 
as  a  eustom-liouse;  but  was  finally  taken  as  a  residence  l)y  W.  II.  Gray;  and 
later  turned  to  account  as  a  cheap  tenement-house.  Scannnon,  in  Ovi'rliiid 
Motithlji,  Dee.  18(51),  4%;  Crairfonrn  Xai:,  MS.,  130. 

•'"Howison  says  the  flag  was  hoisted  on  the  "very  spot  which  was  first 
settled  by  tlio  white  men  on  the  banks  of  the  Columbia; '  seeming  unaware  of 
the  settlement  made  by  the  ^Vinsllip  1)rothers  at  Oak  Point. 

^'  Tlie  price  asked  for  tlie  vessel's  charter  was  f.'iOO,  which  Howi.son  says 
in  his  opinion  was  an  extravagant  one.  Corixt  «ml  Count nj,  i\.  Tlie  compi'.iy 
in  this  way,  perhaps,  reimbursed  themselves  for  a  jiart  of  their  adv^m-.s  to 
American  citizens;  or  considering  the  risk  of  crossing  the  bar  .".t  that  season, 
the  amount  charged  may  not  have  lieen  exorbitant. 

•';^0r.  Sjxrfafor,  Dec.  24,  I84t). 

•''^ Three  of  t\ie  S/iin;':'ti  earronades  t'lme  ashore  iit  Tillamook  with  apart 
of  the  hull,  but  only  one  of  them  could  be  dragged  above  hiuh-water  mark 
))y  the  party  sent  by  Howison  to  recover  tliem  He  notified  Abernethy  of 
tlie  position,  hoping  tliat  during  the  smooth  seas  lif  summer  they  might  be 
taken  on  board  a  lioat  But  there  is  no  account  of  their  recover}'.  Howison 
remarks  the  singular  fact  that  all  tlie  articles  recovered  were  c'.'  metal,  and 
heavy;  and  was  evidenti}  ignoriint  of  the  current  setting  into  tliis  Strait  of 
Fuel,  which  would  have  carried  northward  all  the  ligliter  portions  of  the 
wreck. 


THE  NOTICE  BILL. 


689 


colonists,  as  damaging  to  the  character  of  the  Colum- 
bia's en*"i'ance.  They  chafed  under  the  fact  that  the 
United  States  had  lost  two  men-of-war  on  the  sands 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  that  the  I'eports  of 
government  officers  were  of  a  nature  to  alarm  ship- 
masters and  keep  commerce  away.^^  The  occasion 
was  seized  upon  to  discuss  this  subject  in  all  its  bear- 
ings in  the  colunms  of  the  Spectator,  and,  what  was 
of  mort  importance,  the  legislature  of  1840  was  im- 
])elled  ,o  pass  a  pilotage  liiw,  authorizing  the  governor 
to  appoint  co..imissioners  t )  examine  and  license  pilots 
for  the  bur  and  river,  wh ;  should  give  bonds,  keep 
suitable  boats,  and  collect  fees,  according  to  law. 
Under  this  act,  in  Apri'  1847,  S.  C.  Ileeves  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  pilot  'or  the  Colutnbia  River  bar, 
wliicli  oftice  he  retained  until  the  gold  discovery  in 
California.^''  Thus  .ittle  by  little,  as  necessity  de- 
manded, were  added  those  menus  of  safe  passage  to 
and  from  the  colony,  by  land  ana  sea,  which  the  means 
at  hand  afforded. 


While  Lieutenant  Howison  was  yet  at  Vancouver, 
intellicjence  arrived  that  conuress  had  at  length  ])assed 
tlie  notice  bill — that  is  to  say,  the  year's  notice  which 
should  lawfully  terminate  the  treaty— recommended 
by  the  ])resident,  and  whicli  the  colonists  had  so  long 
desired."'"  This  aijfreeabl'j  news  was  brouuht  bv  Selim 
}tj.    Wood  worth,"*'    bearer  of  the    despatches   to   the 

^*  HowisoK  in  liis  report  saiil  that  tlio  d  mgors  of  the  har  wi-ri'  not  only 
really  groat,  hut  wcro  nkagnitioil  for  politiui'l  jmrjiosi's  liy  the  Hudson's  IJiiy 
t'onipany,  it  not  heing  to  tluir  interest  to  remove  tlie  faneieil  ditlieulties  of 
tile  entrance.  If  Howison  hail  said  for  eoiimiereial  puriiosi^s,  lie  woidd  iiavo 
heen  riglit;  lie  was  right  in  saying  tln^y  hail  no  ehai'ts,  and  wanted  none. 

■'•''>/'.  S}iirfii/nr,  April  l.">,  1847.  H(  eves  was  a  good  pihit  ami  daring 
sailor.  He  went  to  California  m  the  autuinii  of  1848  in  a  ship's  long-hoa^ 
carrying  two  sjtars  to  he  thrown  over  in  a  tri, ingle  a.s  outriggers  in  ea.se  of  a, 
storm.  Two  men  from  Astoria  aeeoii)]ianiei'  him.  He  retunii>d  ;i.s  ])ilot  f)f  a 
ship  in  the  winter  of  1848  it,  and  again  sailed  for  California,  where  he  sailed 
a  small  .sloop,  the  Flnrc,  m  the  hay,  whicli  was  capsized  in  a  .sfpiall  in  tlio 
mouth  of  Nl.ay,  drowning  lieeves  and  a  son  of  .lame!)  LonmiB  of  Oregon. 
Cnnr/onrn  yor.,  MS.,  1!»1. 

2"  Or.  .Syfrtntnr,  Sept.  'A,  184();  A/.,  Oct.  1,  184G. 

^' Son  of  the  author  of  ''1  he  Old  Oaken  Hueket.'  While  in  California,  in 
Felirnary  1847,  he  went  to  the  assistance  of  the  California  immigrants  who 
took  the  Hastings  cut-ofl',  and  were  snow-bound  in  the  Sierra. 


'«j-uaa*,^ 


690 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  ORECiON. 


t-^  i 


^!!-ImS- 

11 

li 

'  iii''' 

i||| 

United  States  squadron  in  the  Pacific,  including  the 
commander  of  the  Shark.  No  special  communication 
was  made  to  the  government  of  Oregon,  bat  a  bundle 
of  newspapers  contained  sufficient  good  tidings  in  the 
notice  bill,  and  a  bill  requiring  the  president  to  estab- 
lish military  posts  between  the  Missouri  and  the 
Columbia,  at  suitable  distances,  and  autliorizing  the 
raising  of  a  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen  for  service 
along  the  line  of  travel  and  in  Oregon ;  with  the 
promise  also  of  a  mall  route  to  the  Pacific,  and  talk 
of  a  railroad  to  the  Columbia  River.  A  pamphlet  by 
George  Wilkes  was  received,  containing  a  memorial 
to  congress,  praying  for  the  construction  of  such  a 
road,  appended  to  which  was  a  memorial  to  the 
speaker  and  representatives  of  tlie  legislature  of  Ore- 
gon, asking  for  an  expression  from  them  to  the  con- 
gress of  the  United  States  on  the  subject  of  a 
national  railroad  to  the  Pacific  Ocean,  in  the  hope 
that  their  prayer,  joined  to  his  own,  might  procure 
the  passage  of  a  bill  then  before  congress  for  this 
purpose.^ 

These  subjects,  so  full,  of  interest  to  the  colonists, 
promising  the  fulfilment  of  their  loftiest  dreams,  dulled 
their  appreciation  of  the  acct)mpanying  intelligenct; 
that  the  United  States  was  actually  at  war  with 
Mexico,  and  that,  therefore,  since  England  still  main- 
tained a  belligerent  tone,  there  was  prospect  of  serious 
work  for  the  government.  Nor  did  the  fact  create 
any  obvious  dissatisfaction  that  Benton,  Oregon's 
ch  .mpion  for  more  tlian  two  decades,  as  well  as  Web- 
ster, Calhoun,  and  other  distinguished  statesmen,  now 
advocated  the  firial  settlement  of  the  question  on  the 
49th  parallel  instead  of  the  popular  'fifty-four  forty' 
boundary.  A.  salute  was  fired,  and  the  American  flag 
hoisted,  while  a  general  (.xpression  of  cheerfulness  and 

*■  This  BchoiTie  was  for  a  free  natiniial  road  to  be  supported  hy  tolls  suffi- 
cient to  i)ay  its  expenses,  and  not  a  corporate  monopoly.  Wilkes  was  in 
advance  of  his  tunes;  hut  the  principle  Im  advocated  is  undoubtedly  the  cor- 
rect one  for  developing  the  great  interior  of  the  continent.  See  Cong.  Oiobe, 
J845~G,  414,  445,  1171,  1206;  Or.  Spectator,  Sept.  17,  184G. 


THE  BOUNDARY   ESTABLISHED. 


591 


animation  prevaded  the  entire  community,*'  inspired  by 
the  thought  of  a  glorious  future  as  a  part  of  a  federal 
union  extending  from  ""'e  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific.  In 
this  hopeful  humor,  .wid  occupied  by  the  changes 
occurring  on  the  influx  of  a  large  immigration,  two 
montlis  passed  rapidly  by,  and  then  came  the  grand 
announcement  of  the  settlement  of  the  Oregon  boun- 
dary. The  gratifying  intelligence  was  found  in  Hono- 
lulu papers  brought  from  the  Islands  by  the  bark 
Toulon.'^  The  British  consul  at  the  Islands  sent 
other  papers  to  McLoughlin,  in  one  of  which,  contain- 
ing the  announcement  that  the  Oregon  Question  was 
settled,  was  an  extract  from  a  letter  by  A.  Forbes, 
consul  at  Tepic,  to  Sir  George  Seymour,  connnanding 
the  English  squadron  in  the  Pacific. 

The  Oregon  government  received  no  official  notifi- 
cation ;  this  chance  information  was  all ;  but  eroded 
with  care  which  threatened  to  wear  away  its  fecunda- 
tion, the  colony  now  threw  off  anxiety,  assured  that 
congress  would  establish  the  Territory  of  Oregon  with 
a  proper  government  at  once ;  that  without  war  and 
with  no  further  trouble,  this  great  boon  was  theirs; 
and  such  a  country,  broad,  beautiful,  majestic !  Again 
the  clifls  round  Oregon  City  fling  back  the  jubilant 
boom  of  cannon,  and  from  a  tall  flag-staff  on  the  banks 
of  the  Willamette,  over  the  newly  captured  wilderness, 
proudly  wave  the  stars  and  stripes,  promise  of  happy 
homes  and  lofty  endeavor.  Men  grasp  each  other 
by  the  hand,  and  the  organ  of  a  free  people  spreads  in 
broad  capitals  across  its  front  the  stirring  words  '  Hail 
Columbia,  ha})py  land!'*' 

Sucli  was  the  statii  of  feeling  when  it  was  only 
known  in  general  terms  that  the  l)oundary  was  fixed 
at  the  49th  para.iel,  that  Vancouver  Island  was  ex- 
cluded from  the  possession  of  the  United  States,  and 

»<);•.  Spectator,  Sept.  3,  17,  1846. 

*«  Poli/nenian,  Aug.  29,  1846;  New  York  Giiectt.e  and  Times,  June  19,  1846; 
S.  /.  NficH,  AugMst  1846. 

*^  ()re<fonian  S\H'etator;  Victor  n  River  of  the  WeM,  .T80-1;  Evans,  in  CV. 
Pioneer  Ah»oc.,  Tram,,  1877,  ti7;  Emnn  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  288-1)3. 


I  ^ 


it.uai|'i4t,; 


592 


TH3  WAE   FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


that  the  navigation  of  the  Strait  of  Fuca  and  neigh- 
boring waters  was  left  open,  while  the  Columbia 
remained  free  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  till  the 
exi)irati()n  of  its  charter.  But  when  the  treaty  itself 
reached  Oregon  the  disapproval  of  the  Americans  was 
general ;  not  because  of  failure  to  secure  tlie  whole  of 
Oregon,  but  because  in  the  territory  claimed  by  and 
relinquished  to  the  United  States,  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company  were  confirmed  in  the  })ossession  of  land  or 
other  property  occupied  by  them  in  the  territory,*'" 
and  promised  payment  for  the  same  in  case  they  re- 
linquished it  to  the  United  States. 

Man  is  a  preposterous  pig ;  probably  the  greediest 
animal  that  crawls  upon  this  planet.  Here  were 
fertile  lands  and  temperate  airs;  meadows,  forests, 
and  mountains ;  bright  rivers  and  a  broad  ocea,n  sea- 
board, enough  of  earth  for  half  a  dozen  empires ;  and 
all  for  nothing — all  stolen  from  the  savages,  and  never 
yet  a  struggle,  never  yet  a  dollar  in  r-^turn,  only 
fevers,  syphilis,  and  the  like  by  way  of  compensa- 
tion; and  yet  these  colonial  representatives  of  the 
great  American  nation  grudge  their  brethren,  but 
little  later  than  themselves  from  Great  Britain,  a  few 
squares  of  land  round  the  posts  which  they  had  buih 
and  occupied  so  long,  and  that  when  they  could  not 
positively  say  with  truth  that  these  same  British 
brethren  had  not  as  good  a  right  as  they  to  the  whole 
of  it,  And  they  fell  to  cursing;  they  cursed  the 
British,  and  particularly  Presideiit  Polk  for  failing  to 
cai-ry  out  his  policy  avowed  before  election.    Believing 

"  Articles  III.  and  IV.  of  the  treaty  ran  as  follows:  '  In  the  future  appro- 
priation of  the  territory  ;\outh  of  the  49tli  parallel  of  north  latitude,  as  pro- 
vided in  the  first  artiele  oj'  this  treaty,  the  possessory  rights  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  and  all  British  suhjeets  who  may  ho  already  in  the  oecupatioii 
iif  land  or  tither  property  lawfully  ae(juired  within  said  territory,  shall  be 
respected.  The  farm,  lands,  and  other  property  of  every  descriptiou,  belong- 
ing to  I'uget's  Sound  Agrieulturai  ("onipaiiy,  on  the  north  side  of  the  (.'olum- 
liia  River,  shall  l)e  cnfirnied  to  the  t^aid  coM\pany.  In  case,  however,  the 
hituation  of  those  farms  and  lands  should  be  considered  l)y  the  United  Sfcvtes 
to  I'd  of  public  and  political  importance,  and  the  United  States  government 
ii);ou]'l  signify  a  desire  t.)  (d)tain  possession  of  the  whole  or  any  part  thereof, 
the  property  so  required  shall  be  transferred  to  the  said  government  at  a 
proper  valuation,  to  be  agreed  upon  between  the  parties. ' 


DISSATISFACTION.  598 

in  that  promise,  they  had  inscribed  on  their  wagon- 
covers  "54°  40',  all  or  none,"  and  poverty-stricken 
and  piggish,  had  wended  their  way  to  the  Pacific  in 
the  faith  that  they  were  helping  to  accomplish  this 
high  destiny  for  the  United  States,  this  broad  des- 
tiny for  themselves;  when  lo  !  here  was  a  treaty  which 
not  only  gave  up  nearly  five  degrees  of  latitude,  but 
actually  granted  to  the  British  company  in  possession 
south  of  the  boundary  all  the  lands  occupied  by 
them,  the  same  being  several  of  the  choicest  portions 
of  the  now  undisputed  American  territory.  "Eng- 
land," said  the  {Spectator,  "could  have  expected  noth- 
ing more.  We  can  say  nothing  for  and  mucli  against 
the  document.  It  can  never  be  popular  with  the 
great  body  of  Americans  in  Oregon.  We  shall  wait 
anxiously  to  see  how  this  singular  circumstance  can 
be  accounted  for  at  home,  and  how  this  surprising  and 
unconditional  surrender  of  right  will  be  justified."*' 

The  people  of  Oregon  were  unable  to  do  justice  to 
Mr  Polk  on  the  Oregon  Question,  though  the  bril- 
liancy of  his  administration  could  not  be  denied.  Nor 
can  we  fail  now  to  see  that  he  displayed  great  tact  in 
the  management  and  final  settlem^^nt  of  the  long-dis- 
puted Oregon  affairs.  He  began  Jiis  administration 
by  informing  the  world  in  his  message  of  the  long 
controversy  as  to  title,  the  concessions  oft'ered  and 
rejected  by  Great  Britain,  his  determination  to  insist 
at  last  upon  the  United  States  claim  to  the  whole  of 
Oregon,  and  with  advice  to  congress  to  give  the  twelve 
months'  notice  required  of  the  termination  of  the  con- 
vention of  1818. 

Tlius  (Ireat  Britain  was  made  to  understand  that 
instead  of  gaining  greater  concessions  by  delay  she  waa 
in  danger  of  losing  all.  Her  rtetjt  repaired  to  the  Pa- 
cific, buu  so  did  Mr  Polk's,  and  there  was  no  material 
difference  in  number  of  tiie  guns  that  were  carried  on 
either  side;  while  >n  the  soil  of  Oregon  itself  the  citi- 
zens  of  the   republic  greatly  outnumbered  those  of 

"Or   Spivtator,  April  1,  15,  1847. 
IiiHT.  Ok.,  Vol.  1.    S8 


694 


THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OREGON. 


Great  Britain.  England  sent  her  spies  to  report 
upon  these  facts,  and  they  found  nothing  to  encourage 
them  to  expect  a  victory.  The  United  States  a[)i)eared 
quite  as  wilhng  to  maintain  their  rights  as  Sir  Robert 
Peel.  So  far  Polk  had  redeemed  his  pledge  to  the 
people.  But  in  May  184G  Buchanan,  secretary  of 
state,  aften'  the  passage  of  tlie  notice  bill,  received  a 
proposition  from  the  British  plenipotentiary  embody- 
ing the  main  points  of  a  treaty  which  would  be  agree- 
able to  the  English  government;  namely,  the  40th 
l^arallel  and  the  Strait  of  Fuca  for  the  northern  boun- 
dary of  the  United  States;  security  to  British  sub- 
jects north  of  the  Columbia  River  and  south  of  the 
41)tli  parallel,  of  a  perpetual  title  to  their  lands  and 
stations  oi  which  they  were  in  actual  occupation,  in 
all  respects  the  same  as  to  citizens  of  the  United 
States;  arid  lastly,  the  present  free  navigation  of  the 
Columbia  River,  on  the  same  footing  as  United  States 
citizens. 

But  in  reference  to  the  lands  occupied  by  the  sub- 
jects of  Great  Britain,  it  was  represented  that  their 
settlements  north  of  the  Columbia  were  not  numerous ; 
but  consisted  of  "a  few  private  farms,  and  two  or  three 
forts  and  stations;"  and  Buchanan  was  reminded  that 
by  their  charter  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  were 
prohibited  from  acquiring  title  to  lands,  and  that 
only  the  lands  of  these  few  private  settlers,  or  the 
Puget  Sound  Company,  would  be  required  to  be  se- 
cured to  them.  As  to  the  actual  extent  of  the  Puget 
Sound  Company's  lands  the  negotiators  on  both  sides 
seemed  equally  ignorant,  as  well  as  the  senate,  when 
called  upon  for  advice.  It  was  also  suggested  to 
Buchanan  that  as  there  was  impending  a  change  in 
the  British  ministry,  which  was  likely  to  take  place 
before  the  end  of  June,  it  might  be  well  for  the  presi- 
dent to  make  such  modifications  of  the  proposition 
offered  as  might  be  deemed  necessary  in  case  of  its 
acceptance,  in  the  hope  that  the  whig  minister,  when 
he  came  into  power,  would  not  meddle  with  that  which 


AS  TO  THE  TREATY. 


S96 


*uget 


if  left  entirely  to  them  might  be  more  objectionable 
than  the  present  offer. 

These  considerations  were  certainly  not  without 
weight,  and  President  Polk  hastened  to  lay  the  mat- 
ter before  the  senate,  and  to  seek  its  advice.  In  his 
message  on  this  occasion  he  declared:  "My  opinions 
and  my  action  on  the  Oregon  Question  were  fully 
made  known  to  congress  in  my  annual  message  of  the 
2d  of  December  last,  and  the  ophiions  therein  ex- 
pressed remain  unchanged.  Should  the  senate,  by 
the  constitutional  majority  required  for  the  ratifica- 
tion of  treaties,  advise  the  acceptance  of  this  proposi- 
tion, or  advise  it  with  such  modifications  as  they  may, 
upon  full  deliberation,  deem  proper,  I  shall  conform 
my  action  to  their  advice.  Should  the  senate,  how- 
ever, decline  by  such  constitutional  majority  to  give 
such  advice,  or  to  express  an  opinion  on  tlie  subject, 
I  shall  consider  it  my  duty  to  reject  the  offer."** 

In  asking  the  advice  of  the  senate  on  a  matter  of 
so  nmch  importance  as  a  war  with  Great  Britain,  the 
president  only  discharged  his  duty;  in  taking  its  ad- 
vice he  was  relieved,  not  only  from  the  responsibility 
of  war,  hut  also  from  the  tei'ms  of  the  treaty  to  which 
no  important  alterations  were  proposed  by  the  presi- 
dent's advisers. 

There  were  many,  indeed,  outside  of  Oregon,  who 
shared  the  somewhat  unintelligent  and  extremely 
partisan  feelings  of  the  late  immigrants,  who  thought 
the  president  had  l)etra3'ed  the  pai'ty  which  elected 
him.  It  was,  besides,  the  general  impression  that 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Compan}'^  arranged  the  terms  of 
the  treaty,  which  was  another  affront  to  those  who 
had  ever  regarded  that  company  with  hatred  and  dis- 
trust. There  was  at  once  trutli  and  error  in  the  sur- 
mise.    The  governor  *^  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company, 


ill 


**Cong.  Globe,  1845-6,  Apt).  1168. 

*^  Roherls  Kecollectionii,  MS.,  80;  Nikx'  Pfg.,  Ixx.  ."Ml;  Ajrplegate's  Vii-ws 
of  Hint.,  MS.,  43.  No  member  of  the  company  Wiia  ever  in  tlie  British  cabinet. 
Sir  Henry  Felly,  governor  in  1846,  waa  an  iutiuential  man.     He  afterward 


1 


warn 


IJ 


696  THE  WAR  FEELING  IN  OIIEGON. 

while  not  a  member  of  the  government  council  of 
England,  was  consulted  as  to  the  third  and  fourth 
articles  of  the  treaty,  which  were  for  a  long  time  in 
contemplation  by  the  company  in  Oregon,  and  in  an- 
ticipation of  which  the  posts  south  of  the  Columbia 
were  not  withdrawn,  as  the  directors  at  one  time 
ordered,  to  the  north  side  of  the  river.  From  the 
Oregon- American  standpoint,  the  United  States  had 
been  overreached  in  the  matter  of  these  two  articles; 
and  instead  of  the  treaty  making  an  end  of  the  fur 
company's  monopoly,  it  seemed  to  fix  it  upon  the  ter- 
ritory more  firmly  than  ever. 

There  was,  however,  a  weak  spot  in  the  treaty 
which  was  overlooked  by  the  British  plenipotentiary, 
and  by  the  company  itself;  and  that  was  in  the 
second  article,  wliich  left  the  Columbia  River  free  to 
British  traders,  but  placed  them  "  on  the  same  footing 
as  citizens  'f  the  United  States."  Citizens  of  the 
United  States  paid  duties  on  imported  goods ;  and  so 
hereafter  must  the  fur  company  on  the  Columbia  and 
on  the  Sound.  This  point,  on  the  other  hand,  was 
not  overlooked  by  Benton  while  the  treaty  was  under 
discussion  in  the  senate,  but  was  pointed  out  to  the 
objecting  members  by  that  avaricious  but  astute  states- 
man.*^ In  Oregon  this  point  was  not  at  first  perceived 
by  either  side,  and  it  was  only  when  a  United  States 
collector  of  customs  appeared  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  that  the  company  itself  awoke  to  its  true 
position. 

As  to  the  boundary,  the  company  in  Oregon  held 
that  England  had  made  a  concession,  but  that  it  had 
been  wise  to  do  so;  and  that  in  the  settlement  the 
United  States  had  been  treated  by  England,  whose 
people  could  afford  it,  nmch  as  a  kind  parent  treats  a 

waa  a  director  of  the  Bank  of  England,  and  also  a  director  of  the  East  India 
Company,  and  had  the  ear  of  government'. 

*^Con(j.  Ololie,  1845-6,  App.,  8()8.  Roberts  says:  'Most  certainly,  in  my 
opinion,  the  having  to  pay  duties  on  importations  did  not  occur  to  them;  and 
no  provision  for  supplying  the  interior  posts  (in  advance)  was  made  on  that 
account.  The  company's  own  stores  at  Vancouver  were,  for  a  time,  con- 
structive bonded  warehouses.'  Jiecolkctions,  MS.,  80. 


THE  UNIIED  STATES  RAMPANT. 


597 


1  my 
and 
that 

con- 


wayward  child.  And  in  this  they  were  right ;  for  had 
England  been  as  unreasonable,  overbearing,  and  insult- 
ing as  the  people  of  the  United  States,  there  assuredl}' 
would  have  been  war.  Yet,  after  all,  in  regard  to  the 
opposing  views  of  the  British  and  American  inhab- 
itants of  Oregon,  I  would  not  say  that  either  was 
wrong.  Bt)th  were  educated  to  a  belief  in  the  views 
they  professed,  and  to  see  in  every  circumstance  con- 
firmation of  their  belief  That  which  in  the  eyes  of 
a  disinterested  spectator  might  appear  as  an  exhibition 
of  the  crudest  selfishness  was  in  their  estimation  only 
insisting  in  a  manly  spirit  on  their  rights.  That  the 
Americans  were  most  demonstrative  in  this  display 
of  feeling  was  natural.  England  in  her  dealings  with 
the  American  colonies,  and  her  behavior  toward  the 
young  United  States,  had  been  far  from  reputable. 
The  greed  and  selfishness  of  that  nation  has  ever 
grown  with  its  increasing  strength.  This  the  people 
of  Oregon  knew;  and  they  would  gladly  have  pre- 
vented Great  Britain  from  occupying  a  rood  of  terri- 
tory on  the  American  continent,  and  esteemed  it  a 
privilege  as  well  as  a  duty  to  defend  from  her  grasp 
any  portion  of  it  that  by  the  most  liberal  construction 
might  be  claimed  as  territory  of  the  United  States. 
Maintaining  this  position,  they  felt  that  they  were 
not  only  doing  their  duty  to  themselves,  but  serving 
posterity  and  enlarging  free  institutions.*^ 

But  while,  as  I  have  elsewhere  shown,  many 
statesman  were  as  opposed  as  ever  to  the  division  of 
the  Northwest  Coast  with  Great  Britain,  the  time 
had  come  when  a  settlement  nmst  be  made.  It  had 
<  >me,  too,  at  a  juncture  when  the  hands  of  the  govern- 
ment were  filled  by  the  acquisition  of  new  territory 
south  of  the  southern  limits  of  Oregon,  extending  to 

"  Even  tlie  most  temperate  Amerieaus  in  Oregon  felt  sore  over  the  relin- 
quishment of  so  much  territory.  Mr  Apple^ate,  who  labored  so  wisely  and 
well  to  keep  the  peace,  remarked  later:  'If  we  had  then  as  now  a  railroad 
across  the  continent,  and  had  taken  possession  with  an  army  of  100,000  .nen 
months  before  a  British  fleet  could  reach  the  coast,  British  arrogance  would 
have  taken  a  much  lower  key,  and  Mr  Polk's  administration  would  not 
have  dared  to  yield  an  inch  of  Oregon,'    Views  q/'  Jlintori/,  MS.,  48. 


iii.-wai^i„, 


698 


THE  WAR  FKELINt}  IN  ORECION. 


K 


the  gulf  of  Mexico ;  and  whon  Great  Britain,  pe*'ceiv- 
ing  the  rapidly  growing  strength  of  the  republir ,  was 
betfinnintf  to  consider  whether  it  was  not  bf.-st  to 
defer  somewhat  to  its  demands  for  more  favorable 
commercial  treaties.  To  involve  the  nation  in  a  war 
at  a  moment  so  favorable  to  its  })rosperity  would  have 
been  poor  statesmanship.  The  treaty  secured  the 
better  portion  of  the  disputed  territory  to  the  United 
States,  and  made  their  northern  boundary  one  con- 
tinuous line  westward  from  the  Lake  of  the  Woods 
to  the  gulf  of  Georgia,  where  alone  it  deflected  south 
and  continued  throuijh  the  Strait  of  Fvca  to  the  ocean. 

As  to  Oregon  itself,  the  boundary  left  it  in  the  best 
possible  shape,  with  the  Columbia  River,  Puget  Sound, 
and  all  the  harbors  of  the  mainland  belonging  to  it. 
But  notwithstanding  its  apparent  merits,  the  treaty 
was  not  a  popular  one  in  Oregon.  Instead  of  healing 
all  wounds,  and  establishing  peace  by  removing  causes 
of  contention,  it  confirmed  the  hostility  of  the  anti- 
British  monopoly  and  missionary  party,  and  set  them 
to  devisinyf  methods  of  doini;  for  themselves  what  the 
treaty  had  not  done  for  them— that  is,  to  providing 
for  the  ejectment  from  the  lands  occupied  by  them 
of  the  members  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,''^ 

The  year  of  184G,  the  most  exciting  and  eventful 
of  any  since  the  settlement  of  the  country,  witnessed 
a  great  change  at  Fort  Vancouver.  John  McLough- 
lin  was  no  longer  at  the  head  of  affairs,  having  retired 
to  private  life  in  Oregon  City.  James  Douglas  had 
removed  to  Vancouver  Island,  where  a  post  had  been 
established  at  Victoria,  which  became  the  company's 
headquarters,  and  Peter  Skeen  Ogden  *^  was  in  con- 
mand  on  the  Columbia.  Mr  Roberts,  a  clerk  in  the 
company's  service,  who  had  been  fifteen  years  at  Van- 

**  I  have  before  quoted  a  remark  by  Roberts,  that  it  was  the  appearance 
(if  the  American  flag  in  the  C'ohimbia  which  first  occasioned  the  colonists  to 
show  openly  their  dislike  of  the  compary.  It  was  not,  however,  the  flag,  it 
was  the  treaty  which  immediately  followed  it,  which  brought  out  the  apparent 
change. 

*•  The  factors  at  Vancouver  after  Ogden  were  Balleudeu  and  McTavish. 


EXIT  FORT  VANCOUVER. 


sn 


couver,  and  was  factotum  of  the  establishment,  had 
been  sent  to  the  Cowlitz  farm  to  superintend  the 
affairs  of  the  Pu^et  Sound  Comjiany. 

The  an.  lent  glory  was  de[)arting  from  Vancouver. 
The  Modeste  remained  through  the  winter,  her  offi- 
cers amusing  themselves  as  best  they  could.  To  add 
to  their  entertainment,  they  had  the  society  of  Paul 
Kane,  a  painter  whom  Sir  (ieorgc  ^-^impson  patron- 
ized;  who  studied  Indian  character,  i  ustoms,  and  cos- 
tumes, and  wrote  a  book  entitled  Wandcririr/s  of  an 
Artist,  which  contains  nmch  diversion  and  some  in- 
struction, though  for  the  most  part  superficial.  His 
visit  was  preceded  by  that  of  the  Prussian  naturalist, 
Teck,  who  sailed  from  Oregon  to  the  Hawaiian  Isl- 
ands,'"" in  the  autunm  of  1845.  In  the  latter  part  of 
April  1847  the  Modeste  took  her  departure,  and  the 
company  she  came  to  protect  were  left,  at  a  time 
when  they  were  most  assailed,  to  care  for  themselves, 
their  rights  under  the  former  convention  being  at  an 
end.  , 

How  the  adventurers  of  England  trading  into  Hud- 
son's Bay  succeeded  in  defending  themselves  from  +he 
disasters  consequent  on  the  inexorable  outsproa(  nig 
of  the  great  republic,  the  pages  which  follow  uill 
reveal. 

^Hinea'Or.  Hkt.,  248. 


1  ^ 


{I 


it-\ 


m'^ 


\  41 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

POLITICS  AND  PROCrRESS. 
1840-1847. 

WaITTNO  fob  a  TeKTIITORIAL  fioVEKNMK.NT — TltE  Ql'ESTION  OF  A  DELE- 
GATE TO  Washinoton — Attemi'ts  to  Pkovide  for  the  Hik(  i.ment  of 
British  Subjects  from  their  Land — Leoislative  Prdcek.dinos— 
Memorial  to  Conoresh — PriiLio  KErnooF  to  Tresi-asseus— Reelec- 
tion of  Amernetiiy — DoriiLAs'  Bill  for  Establishi.no  a  Terkitoiiy, 
AND  ITS  Failure — Action  of  the  People — Private  Deleoatb  to 
Congress — Biographical  Notices — ^Tiie  Immigration  of  1847. 

With  the  news  that  the  notice  bill  liad  been  passed, 
and  before  it  was  known  that  a  treaty  had  been  con- 
cluded, the  subject  of  sending  a  delegate  at  once  to 
Wasliington  to  make  known  to  congress  the  wants  of 
Oreifon  bewail  to  be  agitated ;  for  it  was  not  doubted 
that  immediate  action  would  be  taken  to  adopt  the 
colony  as  a  territory,  and  there  were  those  who  were 
solicitous  as  to  the  changes  which  must  follow,  and 
for  official  positions  for  themselves  or  friends.  They 
said  that  thousands  of  people  had  been  induced  to 
emigrate  to  Oregon  by  a  j)romise  of  land,  which  had 
been  selected  and  located  under  the  land  law  of  the 
provisional  government;  and  they  wanted  these  claims 
confirmed  as  they  weie^  before  any  United  States 
surveyor  should  arrive  with  power  to  alter  their 
boundaries  in  conformity  to  section  lines  and  subdi- 
visions. 

They  needed  a  delegate  to  represent  the  matter  in 
congress,  and  to  give  the  cooperation  asked  for  to 
the  scheme  of  a  national  railroad  to  the  Pacific ;  an 
agent  who  should  go  armed  with  a  memorial  signed 

( (JOO ) 


r*^^!, 


DELEGATE  TO  CONORESS. 


601 


hy  liuiulretlH  of  unm  who  had  travelled  the  road  to 
Oregon,  and  could  .sj)eak  intelligently  of  its  facilities 
for  railroad  Imilding.  This  delegate  should  also  ])ro- 
niote  th'.;  mail  servi»e  to  Oregon.  It  was  nientionod 
with  regret  that  the  bill  before  conijress  for  orvranizint; 
a  territ«)ry  would  allow  a  delegate  to  be  seiit  only 
when  there  were  5,000  voters  or  25,000  irdiahitants 
in  the  country,  and  this  could  not  be  expected  for 
three  or  four  years.  The  present  population  could 
not  afford  to  wait;  they  were  not  numerous,  but  tliey 
were  far  advanced  beyond  political  infancy,  anil  were 
in  favor  of  demanding,  if  need  be,  the  rights  of  men.* 

Oil  llie  26th  of  September  a  public  meeting  was 
held  at  Oregon  City  to  take  into  consideration  matters 
relating  to  the  interests  of  the  country.  At  this  meet- 
ing McCarver  offered  a  resolution  in  favor  of  holding 
primaries  in  each  of  the  counties,  which  should  send 
delegates  to  a  general  convention  to  meet  at  Oregon 
City,  which  convention  should  elect  a  delegate  to  con- 
gress. The  resolution  also  provided  for  as  many 
delegates  to  the  convention  from  eacli  county  as  the 
law  of  apportionment  would  give  them  members  in 
the  legislature. 

In  tlie  apportionment  of  the  legislature,  Cliampoeg 
had  five  members,  or  two  more  than  any  other  coun- 
ty, and  would  probably  secure  the  election.  There- 
fore the  resolution  was  not  cordially  received  by  the 
citizens  of  Clackamas  County,  who  chieffy  composed 
the  meeting ;  and  it  became  evident  at  once  that  party 
spirit  would  be  developed  in  colonial  politics  as  it  had 
never  been  before.  The  resolution  of  McCarver  was 
amended  by  P.  G.  Stewart,  who  wished  the  delegates 
instructed  to  draught  a  memorial  to  congress ;  and  Mr 
T' Vault  embodied  the  several  sugfSfestions  in  one  reso- 
lution,  to  the  effect  that  it  was  the  duty  of  the  colonists 
to  petition  congress  to  relieve  their  wants,  and  that 
in  order  to  obtain  unanimity,  a  convention  sliould  be 
held  at  Oregon  City  on  the  2d  of  November  for  the 

^Or.  Spectator,  Sept.  17,  1846. 


fiOtJ 


POLITICS  AND  PKOCJRESS. 


purpose  of  draughting  nieiuorials,  which  shoinldbe  circa- 
lated  for  the  people  to  sign,  and  to  devise  means  of 
forwarding  the  isame,  whether  by  delegate  or  other- 
wise; the  inhabitants  of  the  several  counties  being 
requested  to  hold  uieetings  therein  for  that  purpose. 
They  then  adjourned  to  the  lOth  of  October. 

At  the  appointed  time  it  was  a[)parent  why  a  dele- 
gate to  congress  was  so  much  desired  by  certain 
persons,  and  what  certain  other  persons  would  require 
him  to  do  in  their  interest,  /.fter  resolvinof  that 
Clackamas  County  should  have  five  delegates  in  the 
convention^  D.  Stewart  broaclied  the  subject  that 
congress  should  bo  asked  to  make  reservations,  first 
of  the  falls  of  the  \Villamette,  with  the  land  one  mile 
in  extent  on  every  s'.de  of  this  water  power ;  together 
with  Fort  Vancouver,  Fort  Nisqually,  Cape  ])isap- 
pointment,^  and  the  Cascade  Falls  of  the  Columbia; 
thereby  preventing  British  subjects  who  held  land  at 
these  places  under  the  colonial  land  law,  which  con- 
gress would  be  asked  to  approve,  from  deriving  any 
benefit  from  their  claims.  The  resolution  wat'  so 
modified,  however,  as  to  partially  obscure  their  inten- 
tion, and  congress  was  requested  to  reserve  all  water- 
falls, capes,  and  town  sites,  the  proceeds  to  be  a})plied 
to  the  improvement  of  the  bays,  rivers,  and  roads  in 
the  territ  )ry ;  thus  making  a  benefit  apparently  accrue 
from  it  to  the  country.  In  this  form  the  resolution 
was  adopted  by  the  meeting ;  and  after  discussing  the 
[tr-oposal  t)f  a  delegate,  the  meeting  again  adjourned  to 
the  1 5th. 

The  subject  <»f  this  resclution  coming  up  at  the 
meeting  of  tlie  iijtli,  it  was  sc  amended  as  to  make 
the  proceeds  of  each  town  site  produce  a  fund  for  the 
benefit  of  [)ublic  schools  and  local  improvements, 
when  P.  ^T.  Stewart  proposed  to  insert  "  so  far  as  they 
can  do  the  same  without  interfering  with  ])rivate 
rights,"  which  excited  warm  discussii  i..     The  amend- 

^The  land  at  Cape  Disappointineiit  was  ownc'  oy  Ogden,  wUn  purchased 
it  of     previous  cJainmnt  ill  bebruary  1840.  Or    )>jK.'-'for,  Feb.  19,  184G. 


CONVENTION  CALLED. 


inent  being  finally  adopted  and  Mie  resolution  put  to 
vote,  it  was  lost  by  fourteen  to  twenty-two.  Six  del- 
egates to  the  convention  were  then  chosen,  and  the 
meeting  adjourned  amidst  excitement  and  efforts  by 
the  minority  t-j  obtain  a  hearing.'* 

When  the  convention  met  according  to  a))})ointment 
at  Oregon  City,  three  counties  only  were  represented, 
Champoeg  by  W.  J.  Bailey,  J.  Sanders,  Joseph 
Barnaby,  and  Y.  Bernia,  all  from  French  Prairie; 
Tualatin  by  HugJi  Burni-  uid  Robert  Moore,  each 
ov/ners  of  town  sites ;  Clackamas  by  Samuel  McSwain, 
Philip  Foster,  H.  Wright,  H.  M.  Knighton,  S.  S. 
W  hite,  and  J.  McCormick,  eacli  wanting  a  slice  of 
(3regon  City.  The  first  resolution  offered  was  by 
Pailey,  and  declared  that  the  meeting  viewed  with 
indignation  and  contempt  tlie  unwarrantable,  unjust, 
and  obnoxious  efforts  of  certain  individuals,  at  a  pre- 
vious meeting  in  Oregon  City,  to  deprive  citizens  of 
their  rights,  through  a  memorial  to  cf)ngress  to  reserve 
town  sites,  water-falls,  and  capes  that  had  been  settled 
for  years,  and  were  at  that  time  rapidly  advancing  in 
value  by  improvement. 

This  was  followed  by  another  from  Mr  Burns,  who 
resolved  that  the  convention  had  full  confidence  in  the 
constituted  authority,  the  legislature,  as  tlio  proper 
body  to  ipemoriajize  congress  on  matters  touching  the 
wants  ot  ii  e  territory,  and  recommended  the  legisla- 
ture to  petition  the  government  of  the  United  States 
to  allow  the  land  law  to  remain  under  its  preseiit  form, 
according  to  the  organic  com])act  of  Oregon. 

At  this  stage  of  the  })roceedings  a  motion  to  f,djoiU'n 
sine  die  was  made  by  one  of  the  Oregon  City  delegates, 
which  was  rejected,  and  Robert  Mo(jre  offered  a  resolu- 
tion declaring  tliat  it  was  the  sense  of  the  convention 
that  it  was  highly  imj>ro[)er  to  me<ld!e  with  the  rights 


■^: 


'  A.S  nearly  as  can  be  gathered  from  the  resolutions  anil  anienduK^ntH  fiffcred 
at  these  f-everal  meetings  in  Oregon  City,  D.  Stewart,  James  Taylor,  S.  S. 
xV'liite,  .ind  M.  M.  McCarver  were  rcsjion.sihle  for  the  resolution  eoii(;orniii({ 
government  reservations,  thimgh  how  much  they  wore  inHnenced  can  imly  bo 
conjectured.     P.  U.  Stewart  earnestly  resisted  the  movement. 


'  'I 


G04 


pouTics  AND  progress;. 


or  locations  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  territory,  such 
interference  being  detrimental  to  the  growth,  pros- 
perity, and  interests  of  the  country.  Bailey  followed 
with  another,  recommending  the  legislature  to  em- 
body in  its  memorial  that  claim-jumpers,  or  persons 
interfering  with  the  rights  of  others  touching  land 
clahns,  should  be  debarred  from  receiving  any  land  or 
donation  in  the  territory. 

Once  more  one  of  the  Oregon  City  delegation  made 
a  motion  to  adjourn,  which  was  rejected;  and  Moore 
again  resolved  that  the  con\  cntion  considered  it  un- 
necessary to  obey  the  mandates  of  the  agitators  of  the 
late  movement  to  memorialize  congress,  or  to  send  a 
delegate  or  messenger  to  that  body ;  after  which  Burns 
moved  that  the  proceedings  of  the  convention  be  signed 
by  the  president  and  secretary,  and  published  in  the 
Spectator,  the  motion  lieing  carried.^  The  adoption  r^ 
each  of  these  resolutions,  so  opposite  to  the  intentio-i 
of  the  movers  of  the  convention,  was  effected  by  the 
deleu;ates  of  the  other  counties  voting  solidly  against 
the  Oreg(Mi  City  delegates,  whose  nund)er,  six,  was 
reduced  to  fi\  e  i)y  making  one  of  themselves,  P.  Foster, 
chairman  of  tlie  convention.  Thus  ingloriously  enc'ed 
the  first  attemi)t  to  devise  means  to  evict  British 
claimants  under  the  organic  law  Two  days  later  came 
the  news  of  tlio  settlement  of  the  boundary  question, 
in  antici})ati()n  of  which  these  measures  had  been  taken, 
but  the  full  tenor  of  which  was  unknown  for  several 
months  afterward. 

In  the  n)ean  while  the  legislature  met,""'  and  con- 
dor. Spcrtator,  Nov.  2(),  184(). 

*  The  iiieinbersi  of  the  house  of  representatives  for  1840  were,  for  Clackamas, 
A.  L.  Lovejoy,  W.  (I.  T'Vault,  Hiram  Straight;  Tualatin,  Joseph  L.  Meek, 
I).  H.  Lownsdale,  Lawrence  Hall;  Yamhill,  A.  .1.  Henibree;  Clatsop,  (ieorge 
Summers;  Vancouver,  Henry  N.  Peers;  Lewis,  W.  F.  Tolmie;  Cliampoeg, 
Angus  McDonalil,  Jesse  Looney,  A.  Chamberlain,  Robert  Newell;  I'olk,  Boone, 
Williams.  There  were  several  of  the  name  of  Boone  or  Boon  in  the  territory, 
and  I  can  Hncl  nothing  to  guide  nie  in  determining  which  of  either  family  this 
was,  for  his  name  is  spelled  without  the  final  e  in  the  house  journal, and  with  it  in 
the  tS]ii'C/(itor,  and  in  neither  place  are  the  initials  given.  The  same  concern- 
ing Williams,  to  whose  identity  there  is  no  clew.  Tolmie  was  from  Fort  Nis- 
tjually,  and  Peers  from  Vanco'ver.  Angus  McDonald  was  another  British 
subject.     A.  L,  Lovejoy  was  elected  speaker. 


i^*^: 


JUDICIARY  COMMITTEE. 


605 


con- 


gress was  memorialized,  the  governor  liaving  left  it 
to  the  members  of  the  legislature  whether,  in  view  of 
the  probability  that  the  laws  of  the  United  States 
would  soon  be  extended  over  the  territory,  they 
should  attempt  legislation  any  further  than  to  confirm 
appointments,  fill  vacancies,  and  make  necessary  ap- 
propriations." They  preferred  to  continue  the  regular 
business  of  the  session,  during  which  they  passed  sev- 
eral important  laws.  Among  others,  one  reorganizing 
the  judicial  system,  by  which  the  several  counties  were 
formed  into  one  circuit  that  should  bu  presided  over 
by  a  judge  commissioned  by  the  governor,  and  who 
should  hold  his  office  twi  years,  with  a  salary  of  eight 
hundred  dollars,  to  be  paid  quarterly  out  of  the  t(T- 
ritorial  treasury.  These  circuit  courts  were  given 
original  jurisdiction  of  civ'l  suits  of  whatever  nature, 
and  of  criminal  cases  occumng  in  their  respective 
counties,  and  were  to  exercise  the  same  conti'ol  over 
all  matters  of  law  and  equity  that  the  county  courts 
liad  done ;  the  criminal  court  was  abolished ;  county 
judges  were  to  be  elected  by  the  people,  the  appoint- 
ing power  being  taken  away  from  the  governor,  except 
in  case  of  vacancies;  a  probate  court  was  provided 
for  the  several  counties,  to  be  presided  over  by  the 
president  of  the  county  courts;  and  several  minor 
chani»es  eflfectcd. 

The  committee  on  judiciary  consisted  of  T' Vault, 
Tolmie,  and  Looney.  Tolmie  was  opposed  to  altering 
the  judiciary  organization,  in  view  of  the  exj)ected 
change  in  territorial  atiairs,  but  was  overruled  l)y  the 
legislature,  which  was  not  to  be  dc[>iivcd  of  the  glory 
of  making  laws  to  govern,  even  for  a  brief  period, 
the  conduct  of  colonial  affairs,  noi-  was  their  work  k^ss 
creditable  than  that  of  tiieir  predecessors.'  A.  A. 
Skinner,  an  innnigrant  of  1845,  was  elected  circuit 
judge  by  the  legislature;  and  the  office  of  territorial 
secretar}',  vacated  by  the  death  of  John  E.  Long,  was 


r^ 


B"i.     1.  Il 


*(h-(nvr's  Or.  Arrhire-i,  159. 
'  Or.  .Spectator,  Doc.  24,  1846. 


G0() 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


filled  by  Frederick  Prigg ;  H,  M.  Knighton  was  elected 
marshal ;  John  H.  Couch,  treasurer  ;*  George  W.  Bell, 
auditor;  and  Theophilus  McGruder,  territorial  re- 
corder. The  organic  law  concerning  partnerslnps  in 
land  or  "two  or  more  persons"  was  amended  by  re- 
pealing the  words  "or  more;"  a  measure  which  had 
been  much  discussed  previously,  as  a  means  of  break- 
ing the  monopoly  of  the  fur  company  and  the  missions, 
as  well  as  of  other  speculators.  By  an  act  regulating 
weights  and  measures  the  imperial  bushel  of  the  Hud- 
son's Bay  Company,  so  much  complained  of,  was 
abolished. 

All  these  acts,  though  good  and  proper,  did  not  in- 
terest the  people  as  did  the  memorial,  about  which  so 
much  had  been  said.  The  conmiittee  first  chosen  by 
the  legislature  to  frame  this  important  document  was 
comjHJsed  of  Hall,  Peers,  Summers,  McDonald,  and 
Boone.  Their  joint  production  was  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  revisory  committee  consisting  of  T' Vault, 
Summers,  and  Peers;  and  finally  was  remodelled  by 
Peers,  who  was  a  man  of  good  parts,  and  a  writer  of 
considerable  ability,  whose  verses  sometimes  graced 
the  columns  of  the  Sjiectatnr,  so  that  at  the  last  the 
American  petition  totlie  congress  of  the  United  States- 
was  penned  by  a  British  subject."  That  the  colonists' 
interests  were  not  less  happily  represented  the  memo- 
rial sliows  for  itself. 

After  respectfully  soliciting  the  attention  of  con- 
gress to  their  wants,  the  proud  position  which  Oregon 
would  soon  occupy  before  the  world  was  briefly  men- 
tioned, and  reference  made  to  the  flattering  report  of 
the  congressional  connnittee  on  post-oflSces  and  roads 
for  184G,  in  which  the  climate,  soil,  and  other  advan- 
tages of  the  country  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
were  said  to  be  correctly  set  forth;  from  which  it 
would  seem  that  Oregon  was  "destined  soon  to  be- 
come a  central  point  of  commerce  and  happiness." 

*  Couch  soon  resigned  and  W.  K.  Kilbom  was  appointed. 
*0r.  Spectator,  Dec.  '24,  1846. 


MEMORIAL  TO  CONGRESS. 


607 


Proceeding  to  the  expression  of  their  wants,  the  state- 
ment was  made  that  bread-stufis  couid  on  short  notice 
be  supphed  to  the  amount  of  five  thousai'd  barrels  of 
Hour,  and  should  a  demand  arise,  salt  beef  and  pork 
could  be  furnished  to  the  amount  of  two  thousand 
barrels — low  estimates,  it  was  declared,  especially  Avith 
regard  to  flour,  which,  were  a  market  opened,  conld 
be  greatly  increased  in  quantity.  Lumber  could  be 
furnished  in  abundance,  and  tar  and  jntch  manu- 
factured if  required.  Flax  and  hemp  had  been  suc- 
cessfully cultivated  in  small  quantities,  and  could  be 
made  articles  of  ex})ort. 

This  paragraph  was  a  bid  for  contracts  to  furnish 
the  vessels  of  the  United  States,  and  all  American 
vessels  in  the  Pacific;  the  purchasing  of  supplies  at 
Vancouver  by  the  con^niander  of  the  Shark  having 
been  a  subject  of  ccmiplaint  on  the  part  of  the  colonists, 
who  thought  it  the  duiy  of  the  government  to  patron- 
ize and  encourage  Oregon  industry,  in  spite  of  the  fact 
tliat  American  merchants  required  twelve  per  cent 
more  for  their  goods  than  British  merchants. 

Congress  was  next  deferentially  reminded  that  the 
settlers  of  Oregon  had  been  induced  to  make  the  diffi- 
cult journey  to  Oregon  and  cultiAate  its  fertile  fields 
by  the  promise  of  the  govermnent  that  their  homes 
should  be  secured  to  them ;  and  tliey  therefore  thought 
tliey  had  a  right  to  expect  a  grant  of  land ;  and  not 
only  they,  but  those  who  should  come  after  them  for 
the  next  few  years.  Their  claims  already  taken  were 
made  under  the  organic  law  of  the  territory,  and  pro- 
vided that  any  person  might  hold  six  hundred  and 
forty  acres  of  land.  These  claims  they  asked  t(  >  have 
confirmed  to  them,  in  the  same  sliape  in  which  tliey 
were  located. 

They  asked  also  that  the  insui-mountable  f-arriers 
wliich  in  new  countries  always  jiresented  themselves 
to  the  general  diffusion  of  education,  upon  which  were 
founded  the  princij>les  of  the  republican  government 
of  the   United  States  (whose  extension  over  them- 


:f  :'  1 


MS 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


solves  they  prayerfully  awaited),  might  be  in  part  re- 
moved by  the  liberality  and  wisdom  of  the  government 
in  making  grants  of  land  for  that  purpose. 

The  navigation  of  the  Columbia  and  the  risk  to 
merchant  vessels  in  crossing  the  bar  were  next  alluded 
to,  and  congress  was  petitioned  for  a  steam  tow-boat 
which  would  remove  these  difficulties  and  dangers,  at 
all  seasons  of  the  year;  and  of  information  on  the 
subject  of  the  intricacies  of  the  river-channels,  the 
[)revailing  winds,  and  strength  of  the  current  and 
tides,  it  was  politely  presumed  that  congress  was  in- 
formed, though  that  was  far  enough  from  the  truth. 

And  finally  an  expression  of  wonder  and  admiration 
was  indulged  in,  that  a  project  so  grand  as  that  of 
the  national  railroad  to  the  Pacific  should  have  been 
proposed  to  congress.  That  such  a  road  should  be 
built  they  declared  was  obvious,  particularly  to  those 
who  had  travelled  from  the  United  States  to  Oregon. 
And  although  it  might  be  years  before  the  great  high- 
way would  be  completed,  yet  they  would  look  with 
anxiety  for  its  commencement. 

These  subjects,  the  memorial  declared,  were  the 
most  important  to  the  well-being  of  Oiegon,  and  they 
prayed  that  congress  would  mct^t  their  wishes  in  a 
manner  which  should  redound  to  the  peace  and  pros- 
perity of  all  interested,  and  the  furtherance  of  an 
attachment  t->  the  government  of  the  United  States 
which  should  cease  only  uith  their  existence.'" 

In  this  rather  tame  but  pe.tectly  proper  manner 
was  congress  memorialized  by  its  chosen  representa- 
tives. They  wanted  a  market,  j,  donation  of  land,  a 
tug-boat,  schools,  and  a  highway  to  the  Pacific;  and 
solicited  the  help  of  the  governnient  to  j)rocure  these 
things.  No  provision  was  made  for  sending  a  dele- 
gate to  congress;  but  the  addres>s  was  prepared  in 
triplicate,  one  copy  to  be  sent  to  California  and  one 
to  the  Islands  by  the  bark  Toiihin  to  await  the  first 
opport^aty  of  l>eing  fWwarded  to  Washington,  while 

"  Or.  Sipututor,  Dec.  24,  IMIiS. 


NEWS  OF  THE  TREATY. 


COO 


the  third  was  reserved  to  be  carried  overland  in  tlie 
spring-  by  W.  Finley,  who  was  returning  to  the  States. 

Months  passed  away  after  the  first  news  of  tlie 
treaty  without  bringing  any  niessage  from  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States  to  eagerly  ex})ectant  Ore- 
gon. In  February  the  Spectator  gave  expression  to 
the  disappointment  of  the  people,  who  it  said  had 
"expected  and  expected  until  thoy  were  heart-sick." 
There  was  indeed  a  feverish  state  of  anxiety,  for 
which  there  was  no  very  justifiable  cause,  which  arose 
chiefly  from  the  desire  of  every  man  to  receive  some 
direct  benefit  from  the  change  so  long  desired.  There 
was  now  no  fear  of  war  with  England;  California 
was  secured,"  and  was  already  seeking  supplies  from 
Oregcm;^'"  the  crop  of  1846  had  been  abundant,  and 
there  was  promise  of  still  greater  abundance  in  the 
coming  harvest.  The  healtli  of  the  colony  was  excel- 
lent, and  improvements  were  being  made  on  every 
side  witli  ceouraging  rapidity.  But  many  persons 
were  dissatisfied  at  the  tardiness  of  the  govermnent 
in  furnishing  them  with  titles  to  their  land  claims; 
many  were  covetous  of  the  possessions  of  others,  and 
some  had  trouble  to  dc-ft^nd  their  rights  against  asr- 
gression,  for  there  wert  those  holding  themselves  in 
readiness  to  seize  the  ands  of  the  Hudson's  J3ay  and 
Piiget  Sound  companies  as  soon  as  the  terms  of  the 
treaty  should  be  made  known. 

When  the  terms  became  known,  what  a  falling  of 
high  hopes  was  th«re!  The  government  confinncd 
the  company  in  tlieiv  possi'ssory  rights;  there  was  no 
need  to  memorialize  congres-s  to  reserve  town  sites  and 

"  About  .'>0  persona  eini."'atoil  from  Oregon  to  California  in  the  spring  of 
1847,  iiiid  among  thim  .lai  s  Marsliall.  the  tUscovurer  of  gold  in  iH48,  Cap- 
tain Charlfs  Bennett,  who  tloo  worked  with  liini  at  Sutter's  mill,  and  Stephen 
Staats.      Bennett  ami  Staats  returned  to  Oregon.   Or.  Syfit'itnr,  June  10,  1847. 

'MJ.  E.  F'ekett  wrote  from  California  tu  Burnett,  MuCarver,  Ford,  and 
Waldo,  tliat  '20, (HK)  harrel-  uf  flour  and  several  thousajul  huslu^ls  of  seed- 
wheat,  bustides  lumber,  ])o'atoes.  ami  butter,  were  wanted  in  that  country, 
all  of  which  w  >uid  bri'ijj  1  xh  i«-iee8;  lumber  SiW  per  M. ;  butter  .'Mle.  to  62c. 
per  lb. ;  potatoes  $2  5(>  j>er  uushel,  and  flour  $lu  to  $17  per  barrel,  Id. 

Hist.  Ok.,  Vol.  I.    ;«) 


Ml 

m 

^|H|}$v}| 

■HK  !>'< '  ^  • 

^HKi*^' 

^B '' ' 

m 

id 

wm^'SK 

^BfJ'' 

^^Si- 

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1  ' 

1    l^ 


\ 


mI^ 


1 


610 


POLITICS  AND  PRO(iRESS. 


water-falls  now;  their  disappointment  was  complete; 
the  indignation  of  the  schemers  knew  no  bounds. 
Ajid  tJien  began  an  ill-suppressed  rebellion  which 
vaunted  itself  in  threats  of  an  independent  empire  to 
be  made  out  of  California  and  Oregon,''  which  never 
could  be  more  than  idle  threats — for  opposed  to  them 
was  always  the  wise  and  Ic^yal  majority. 

And  while  all  this  seething  discontent  arose  from 
not  being  able  to  get  rid  of  the  possessory  rights  of 
the  British  conij)anies,  the  Canadian  settlers  of  the 
Cowlitz  Valley,  to  the  disturbance  of  good  discipline, 
were  imitating  the  ways  of  loyal  Americans  and  pray- 
ing to  be  made  citizens  of  the  United  States,  for  by 
this  means  only  they  could  secure  their  claims."  On 
the  23d  of  March,  while  the  Modeste  was  still  in  the 
river,  the  Canadians  of  Lewis  County  raised  the 
American  Hag,  made  by  Canadian  women,  at  a  public 
meeting,  and  resolutions  were  passed  declaring  their 
joy  at  being  permitted  to  Hing  to  the  breeze  tlie  star- 
spangled  banner  of  their  adopted  country,  which  they 
promised  to  protect  from  harm  as  long  as  they  should 
live,  and  to  gladly  perform  any  service  which  the 
United  States  might  require  of  good  naturalized 
citizen  s.^'' 

Finding  themselves  prevented  by  the  treaty  from 
invading  the  lands  of  the  two  British  cor[)oration8, 
the  disaffected  made  themselves  amends  by  trespass- 
ing uj)on  the  private  claim  of  McLoughlin,  who 
brought  suit  in  the  circuit  court  of  Clackamas  County 
against  the  corporation  of  Oregon  City,  and  published 
a  notice  forbidding  trespassers  upon  his  land.  Much 
excitement  grew  out  of  the  proceedings,  and  a  public 
meeting  was  held  at  this  place  te  denounce  the  prac- 

"  Home  Missiounri/,  xx.  20. 

'■•Koherts  complains  of  the  vlemoralizing  effect  on  the  Canadians  of  the 
donation  law,  both  in  fact  and  in  expectancy.  It  made  the  servants  of  the 
company  restless  and  independent,  auil  destroyed  thcnr  former  systematic 
obe<lience.  Tliis,  he  says,  with  the  duties  on  imported  goods,  and  the  dis- 
covery of  gold,  ruined  the  coinpany'i^  business  lu  Oregon  long  before  the 
expiration  of  their  charter.   Recolkct'ons,  MS.,  81. 

^■' Or.  Spectator,  April  1,  1847. 


-f 


ELECTION  OF  GOVERNOR. 


611 


tice  of  claim-jumping,  as  this  form  of  trespass  was 
]>opularly  designated,  at  which  ovei-  a  hundred  and 
fifty  persons  signed  a  strong  protest.  The  resolutions 
declared  that  the  meeting  regarded  any  action  calcu- 
lated to  prejudice  the  claim  of  any  cititzen  who  had 
complied  with  the  laws,  as  a  violation  of  the  good 
faith  of  tlie  comnmnity  and  deserving  the  re})rol)ation 
of  all  honorable  men  ;  that  the  organic  compact,  though 
it  might  be  avoided  by  some  technicality,  was  made 
to  secure  the  rights  of  every  citizen  "  not  incompatible 
or  incongruous  with  the  rights  of  reservation  of  the 
United  States  gcjvernment ;  "  that  every  man  engaged 
in  the  movement  assailing  the  rights  of  citizens  was 
to  be  regarded  as  a  clisorganizer,  whose  conduct 
weakened  the  golden  bond  of  society,  and  gave  occa- 
sion to  mob  violence ;  that  all  persons  who,  upon  small 
points,  advised  trespassing,  should  be  held  equally 
guilty  with  the  offenders :  that  in  view^  of  the  approach- 
ing jurisdiction,  of  the  United  States  they  pledged 
themselves  to  maintain  the  supremacy  of  the  existing 
laws  until  that  time;  and  that  they  would  vote  for 
no  man  for  any  public  ofHco  who  should  be  directly 
or  indirectly  connected  with  the  form  of  trespass  called 
claim-jumping. 

Other  meetings  followed,  at  which  speeches  were 
made  against  trespass,  and  more  names  appended  to 
the  pledge,  botli  in  Oregon  City  and  elsewhere.  Among 
others,  Lewis  County  sent  over  fift}'  names.  To  the 
ordinary  judgment  appearances  indicated  that  the 
spirit  as  well  as  the  letter  of  the  law  was  to  be  ob- 
served, and  that  no  one's  rights  would  be  infringed. 
But  the  cunning  brain  framing  the  resolutions  had 
saved  his  honor  by  the  introduction  of  the  imiocent- 
looking  proviso  which  promised  not  to  interfere  with 
the  right  of  the  government  to  reserve. 


1       ^1 


I  ^^   ! 


Notwithstanding  the  expected  territorial  organiza- 
tion, canvassing  Tor  the  different  candidates  for  offices 
under  the  provisional  government  went  on  with  more 


:m 


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C12 


POLITICS  AND  PR(XJRESS. 


than  ordinary  spirit.  Abernetliy  and  Lovojoy  wore 
the  popular  candidates  for  governor."' 

The  June  election  came  round,  and  still  no  news 
from  the  United  States  except  a  few  excerpts  from 
newspapers  copied  first  into  the  Polynesian,  and  from 
that  into  the  Spectator.  Congress  had  evidently  for- 
gotten them,  or  was  treating  them  with  silent  con- 
tempt. They  would  go  on  with  their  own  affairs  as 
if  congress  did  not  exist.  The  contest  for  the  guber- 
natorial office  was  close.  In  the  Willamette  Valley 
Lovejoy  had  a  small  majority,  but  when  the  returns 
from  Lewis  County  came  in,  Abernethy  had  sixteen 
votes  over  his  opponent,  and  was  really  elected  by  the 
Canadian  voters." 

Governor  Abernethy  was  a  native  of  Aberdeen, 
Scotland,  though  reared  under  American  institutions. 
He  has  been  called  a  good  governor  by  men  of  all 
parties;  and  so  far  as  being  discreet,  temperate  in 
speech,  and  careful  not  to  oft'end  the  popular  opinion, 
whether  religious  or  political,  he  is  deserving  of  this 
judgment.  Perhaps  it  was  impossible  to  avoid  censure 
in  excitingf  times  without  being  secretive  and  desiijn- 
ing;  Abernethy  was  both.  The  most  odious  word 
that  could  be  a})plied  to  a  Protestant  in  those  days 
was  that  of  Jesuit;  yet  Protestant  and  Methodist 
Abernethy  jiossessed  all  the  traits  usually  ascribed  by 
a  Protestant  to  a  Jesuit.     He  was  courteous,  smooth, 

•*  Ur  Prealey  Welch  announced  himself  as  a  candidate,  but  received  no 
votes. 

''The  representatives  elected  were:  from  Clackamas,  .1.  M.  Wair,  S.  S. 
White;  Champoeg,  Robert  Newell,  A.  Chamberlain,  W.  H.  Rees,  W.  H. 
Rector,  Anderson  Cox;  Tualatin,  Ralph  Wilcox,  J.  L.  Meek,  David  Hill; 
Yamhill,  L.  A.  Rice,  Lewis  Rogers,  A.  J.  Hembree;  Polk,  J.  W.  Nesmith, 
M.  A.  Ford,  St  Clair;  Vancouver,  Henry  N.  Peers;  Lewis  County,  S.  Plo- 
mondon;  Clatsop,  .John  Robinson.  .Justices  of  the  peace  elected  in  the  sev- 
eral counties  south  of  the  Columbia  were:  Joseph  Hull,  Columbus  Wheeler, 
F.  X.  Matthieu,  Morgan  Keyes,  Rice  Dunbar,  Barton  Lee,  I>.  T.  Lennox, 
C.  D.  Smith,  .Fohn  Rowland,  William  Dawson,  D.  T).  Bailey,  John  Rounds, 
James  Howanl,  James  Taylor,  David  Ingalls,  A.  H.  Thompson;  north  of  the 
Columbia:  Ricliard  Lane,  R.  R.  Thompson,  John  White,  Jacob  Wooley,  S.  B. 
Crockett,  J.  R.  Jackson.  County  assessors:  E.  B.  Comfort,  S.  C.  Morris, 
Thomas  Leggett,  John  W.  Champ,  William  Ryan,  M.  Brock.  County 
treasurers:  .John  H.  Couch,  David  Waldo,  Amos  Harvey,  N.  Ford,  R.  W. 
Morrison,  A.  L.  Lewis,  James  Birnie.  Or.  Spectator,  July  22,  1847. 


THE  AMERICAN  AND  MISSIONARY   I'ARTIES. 


U13 


and  silent,  but  iniplacablo.  He  could  treat  with  scjeni 
ing  o[)enness  a  man  who  differed  from  liim  in  opinion, 
or  wlio  competed  with  iiim  for  tlie  j)ui)lic  money  or 
favor,  while  scheming  against  him,  and  entertaining 
for  him  a  holy  hatred.  Withal  he  hated  Catholics; 
and  it  was  through  these  combined  qualities  that  he 
was  reelected,  while  the  majority  of  American  voters 
preferred  Ijovejoy. 

Abernethy  was  nominally  the  head  of  the  Amer- 
ican party  as  it  had  been  when  there  was  a  Hudson's 
Bay  party.  No  such  association  as  the  latter  now 
existed,  because  the  British  inhabitants  were  polit- 
ically fused  with  the  Americans,  and  most  of  them 
were  only  waiting  for  an  opj/ortunity  to  become  citi- 
zens of  the  United  States.  But  the  real  American 
party  was  now,  what  it  had  been  in  the  first  days  of 
the  provisional  government,  opposed  both  to  the  for- 
<'ign  corporations  and  the  Methodist  ^lission.  That 
he  could  be  elected,  entertaining  sentiments  adverse 
to  the  free  American  as  well  as  the  foreign  corpora- 
tions, was  owing  to  the  (jualities  named.  From  this 
time  for  several  years,  the  only  par'ties  in  Oregon  were 
the  American  and  missionary,  the  uovernor  belon<'ini>' 
to  the  latter. 

The  summer  rolled  round,  and  Septend)er  came — 
more  than  a  year  after  the  settlement  of  the  boun- 
dary— before  any  information  was  received  of  the 
doings  of  the  national  legislature  in  tlie  matter  of 
Oregon's  establishment  as  a  territory,  and  then  it  was 
only  to  inffict  further  disappointment.  The  president 
had  indeed  recommended  the  establishment  of  a  ter- 
ritorial government  in  Oregon,  and  a  bill  had  been 
reported  by  Douglas  of  Illinois  in  J^ecendier,  which 
had  passed  the  house  the  1  (ith  of  January ;  but  there 
southern  jealousy  of  free  soil  nipped  it. 

Other  rumors  reached  Oregon  City  of  the  inten- 
tions of  congress  and  the  [)resident.  Private  advices 
i>ave  it  as  certain  that  an  Oregon  reyfimcntof  mounted 
riflemen  was    being   raised;  a    splendid    regiment,  it 


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614 


POUTICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


I  :  f  H   f 

■!    !  ii 


was  said,  commanded  by  Persifer  F.  Smith  of  New 
Orleans. ^^  The  only  definite  intelligence  was  that  an 
act  had  been  passed  establisliing  certain  post-routes, 
including  one  from  Oregon  City  by  way  of  Fort  Van- 
couver and  Fort  Nisqually  to  the  mouth  of  Admiralty 
Inlet,  and  another  from  Oregon  City  up  the  Willa- 
mette Valley  to  the  Klamath  River,  said  routes  to  go 
into  operation  on  the  1st  of  July,  1847,  or  sooner  if 
practicable,  or  if  any  one  could  be  found  to  conti'act 
for  transporting  the  mails  over  these  routes  for  the 
revenues  to  be  derived  from  them.  As  the  greater 
portion  of  both  routes  lay  through  an  uninhabited 
country,  and  as  the  correspondence  of  the  savages 
was  not  great,  the  matter  rested.  The  postmaster- 
general  was  empowered  to  contract  for  transporting  a 
mail  from  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  touching  at 
St  Augustine,  Key  West,  and  Havana,  across  the 
Isthmus  of  Pananiil  to  Astoria;  the  mail  to  be  car- 
ried each  way  once  in  two  months,  or  oftener  should 
the  public  interest  require  it,  provided  the  expendi- 
ture should  not  exceed  $100,000  per  animm.  In  case 
of  the  route  bein'  in  operation  he  could  establish 

a  post-office  at  ^\  la,  and  such  other  places  on  the 
Pacific  coast  as  miglit  be  required  by  public  necessity. 
The  same  act  fixed  tlie  postage  on  letters  from  Oregon 
or  California  to  the  States  at  forty  cents. 

In  accordance  with  this  act,  post-offices  v/ere  estab- 
lished at  Astoria  and  Oregon  City.  Cornelius  Gilliam 
was  appointed  superintenderit  of  postal  matters  in 
Oregon,  David  Hill  postmaster  at  Oregon  City,  and 
John  M.  Shivcly  postmaster  at  Astoria.  ^"^  An  Indian 
agent  had  also  been  ap})ointed  namely,  Charles  E. 
Pickett,  a  man  ill  suited  to  any  office,  if  the  ^Sj)cctator 
may  be  believed.     "  Who  can  credit  the  appointment," 


"Oc.  Sprctdtor,  July  22,  1847. 

'*  '  Mr  Sliively,'  says  Burnett,  '  is  an  engineer,  a  plain,  unassuming  man,  but 

{lossessetl  of  mueii  greater  genuine  ability  than  most  people  supposed.  Justice 
las  never  been  done  him.  He  was  in  Washington  in  the  winter  of  184.5-6, 
and  was  the  originator  of  the  project  of  a  steamship  line  from  New  York  to 
this  coast,  by  way  of  Pauamd.    liccoi,  141. 


NEGLECT  OF  GOVERNMENT. 


615 


it  asked,  "or  believe  that  the  United  States  govern- 
ment could  have  made  its  appearance  in  such  a  shape  ?" 
At  a  time,  too,  when  the  Indians  were  becoming 
alarmingly  insolent,  requiring  tlie  utmost  wisdom  to 
deal  with  or  restrain  them.'""  In  what  way  liad  the 
peo[)le  of  Oregon  displeased  the  president  that  he 
should  afflict  them  thus? 

The  people  of  Oregon  found  it  indeed  difficult  to 
perceive  any  benefit  tliat  they  had  received  from  con- 
gress, or  the  presidential  appointments.  They  were 
still  without  a  proper  government ;  they  had  no  troops, 
no  shipping,  no  light-houses,  no  pilot-boats,  no  api)ro- 
priations — nothing,-^  if  they  excepted  two  post-routes 
to  places  where  there  were  no  settlers,  and  two  p.,!st- 
offices — the  distributing  office  being  at  the  mouth  of 
the  Columbia,  a  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  Ore- 
gon City,  with  no  other  conveyance  for  the  mails 
between  the  two  places  than  Indian  canoes.  To  add 
to  their  indignation,  a  leading  eastern  paper  (^t)n- 
gratulated  its  readers  that  nothing  had  been  done  for 
Oregon,  because  it  was  a  saving  of  expense  at  a  time 
when  the  government  was  overburdened  by  the  Mexi- 
can war,"  and  regretted  that  congress  had  not  estab- 
lised  a  port  of  entry  at  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia, 
and  appointed  a  collector  to  increase  the  revenue  from 
the  imports  of  the  British  fur  company,  adding  insult 
to  injury  by  complimenting  the  inhabitants  of  the  ter- 
ritory on  their  good  sense,  good  order,  and  good  laws. 

'^  A  writer  in  the  Sppetnfor,  Sept.  2,  1847,  says  that  I'ickett  was  not  in 
Oregon,  but  was  absent  at  tlie  Islands;  and  alleges  that  he  liad  advised  emi- 
grants on  the  road  to  California  to  '  kill  all  the  Indians  you  may  find  from 
Oregon  to  California.'  What  Pickett  did  say  w;us:  'Tieat  tlie  Indians  kindly 
along  the  road,  but  trust  them  not.  After  you  get  to  the  Siskiyou  Mountains, 
use  your  pleasure  in  spilling  blood,  but  were  I  travelling  with  you,  from  tluH 
on  to  the  first  sight  of  the  Sacramento  A'alley  my  only  communication  with 
these  treacherous,  cowardly,  untamable  rascals  wouhl  be  through  my  ritle. 
The  character  of  their  country  precludes  the  idea  of  making  peace  with  them, 
or  ever  maintaining  treaties  it  made;  so  that  pliilanthropy  must  be  set  aside 
in  cases  of  necessity,  while  self-preservation  here  dictates  these  savages 
being  killed  off  as  soon  as  possible.    Sp<'rt(itnr,  April  21(,  1847. 

■■"  The  citizens  of  Clatsop  County,  becoming  impatient,  in  Novend)er  started 
a  subscription  for  a  ten.porary  light-ho-..se  to  be  erected  ou  Cape  Disappoint- 
ment;  but  it  was  never  established. 

"Xtw  York  Tribune,  Aug.  20,  1840 


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616 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


IT 


Somewliat  ashamed  of  it  all,  Secretary  Buchanan 
wrote  Shively,  on  his  departure  for  Oregon,  express- 
ing the  sympathy  of  the  president,  and  his  regret  at 
the  failure  of  the  Oregon  bill."'^  He  assured  the  peo- 
ple of  Oregon  that  the  president  would  reiterate  his 
recommendations  to  congress  in  regard  to  Oregon,  and 
assured  him  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  a  near  relief 

He  referred  to  the  act  establishing  post  routes  and 
offices,  and  the  act  of  the  19th  of  May,  1846,  provid- 
ing for  a  regiment  of  mounted  riflemen,  to  protect 
travellers^*  on  the  road  to  Oregon.  Stronjj  assurance 
was  given  that  the  United  States  would  never  aban- 
don or  prove  unmindful  of  the  welfare  of  Oregon, 
but  that  everything  possible  should  be  done  for  the 
welfare  of  that  country.'^^  Thomas  H.  Benton  also 
wrote  a  letter  of  condolence.'^ 


**  '  It  failed  in  the  senate,  not,  as  I  am  firmly  convinced,  from  any  want  of 
disijositiou  on  tlio  part  of  the  majority  to  proviile  a  government  for  that 
interesting  portion  of  the  republic,  but  because  other  urgent  and  important 
business  connected  with  the  Mexican  war  did  not  allow  tlie  necessary  time, 
before  the  close  of  their  sliort  discussion,  to  discuss  and  perfect  its  details.' 
Or.  Spvclator,  Extni,  Sept.  8,  1847. 

'•"It  Wiia  a«kiiig  a  good  deal  of  the  Oregon  people  to  appreciate  that  act, 
since  the  regiment  was  no  sooner  raised  than  it  was  sent  to  Mexico.  Steck's 
liijiv  /h'<)t.,US.,  1. 

■'■'Voti,/.  Globe,  App.  1847-8,  40. 

■"'He  .said:  'Tlie  house  of  representatives,  as  early  as  the  middle  of  Jan- 
uary, passed  a  l)ill  to  give  you  a  territorial  government,  and  in  tliat  bill  had 
sanctioned  and  legalized  your  provisional  organic  act,  one  of  the  clauses  of 
which  forever  proliibited  the  existence  of  slavery  in  Oregon.  An  amendment 
from  the  senate's  committee,  to  wliich  this  bill  was  referred,  proposed  to  abro- 
gate that  prohibition;  and  in  the  delays  aiul  vexations  to  whicli  that  amend- 
ment j,'ave  rise,  the  whole  bill  was  lai<l  u))on  the  table  and  lost  for  the  session. 
Thi:f  will  be  a  great  disa[)pointmont  to  you,  and  a  real  calamity;  alnuidy  5  years 
with<)\tt  law  or  legal  institution  for  the  protection  of  life,  liberty,  and  property, 
and  now  doomed  to  wait  a  year  longer.  This  is  a  strange  and  anoinalou.s  con- 
dition, almost  incredible  to  contemplate,  and  most  critical  to  endure,  a  colony 
of  freemen  4,000  miles  from  the  metropolitan  government,  and  without  law  or 
government  to  preserve  them.  But  (to  not  be  alarmed  or  desperate.  You 
will  not  be  outlawed  for  not  admitting  slavery.  Your  funchimental  act 
against  tliat  institution,  copied  from  the  ordinance  of  1787,  the  work  of  the 
great  men  of  the  south  in  tlie  great  day  of  the  south,  prohibiting  slavery  in 
a  territory  far  less  northern  than  yours,  will  not  be  abrogatedYnor  is  that  the 
intention  of  the  prime  mover  of  the  amendment.  Upon  the  record  of  the 
judiciary  committee  of  the  senate  is  the  author  of  that  amendm.ent;  but  not 
Ro  the  fact.  It  is  only  midwife  to  it.  Its  author,  Mr  Calhoun,  is  the  same 
mind  that  "  generated  the  firebrand  "  resolutions,  of  which  I  send  you  a  copy, 
and  of  which  tlio  amendment  is  the  legitimate  derivation.  Oregon  is  not  the 
object.  The  most  rabid  propagamliat  of  slavery  caniKit  expect  to  plant  it  on 
the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  in  the  latitude  of  Wiscousui  and  the  Lake  of  the 


YET  ANOTHER  MEMORIAL. 


617 


According  to  eastern  journals,  the  president  had  in 
readiness  a  full  rcsj^ister  of  officials  in  case  the  Ores»;on 
bill  passed  the  senate."  But  there  were  those  in 
Oregon  who  thou<,dit  the  colony  too  far  advanced  in 
self-government  to  be  treated  like  a  new  territoiy, 
and  that  they  were  entitled  to  select  their  own  offi- 
cers. A  convention  at  Lafayette  was  proposed  for 
the  purpose  of  memorializing  the  president  as  to 
appointing  Oregon  men  to  offices  in  the  territory; 
but  local  jealousies  defeated  the  scheme.  However, 
the  convention  appointed  a  committee,  consisting  of 
Burnett,  George  L.  Curry,  then  editor  of  the  >S^>er- 
tator,  and  L.  A.  Rice,  to  draught  a  memorial  to  congress 
upon  the  wants  of  Oregon,  to  be  submitted  to  the 
people  for  their  signatures.  The  memorialists  com- 
plained of  neglect.  They  declared  that  they  did  not 
leave  their  homes  to  traverse,  with  wives  and  children, 
uninhabited  wastes  to  reach  their  present  abode  from 
ignoble  motives ;  they  had  been  animated  by  a  desire 
not  only  to  benefit  themselves  and  their  children,  but 
to  aid  their  conmion  country  in  sustaining  her  rights 
on  the  Pacific,  and  to  brino;  to  a  satisfactorv  close  the 
long  and  harassing  controversy  with  a  foreign  rival; 

Woods.  A  home  agitation  for  election  and  disunion  purposes  is  all  that  is 
intended  by  thrusting  this  firebrand  question  into  your  bill,  and  at  tlie  next 
session,  when  it  is  thrust  in  again,  M'e  will  scourge  it  out,  and  pass  your  bill  as 
it  ought  to  be.  I  promise  you  this  in  the  luime  of  the  sfmth  as  well  as  of  the 
north;  and  the  event  will  not  deceive  me.  In  the  mean  time  the  president 
will  give  you  all  the  protection  which  existing  laws  and  detachments  of  the 
armj  and  navy  can  enable  him  to  extend  to  you;  and  until  congress  has  time 
to  act,  your  friendi--  nmst  rely  upon  you  to  govern  yourselves  as  y(m  have 
heretofore  done,  under  the  provi.sions  of  your  own  voluntary  compact,  and 
with  the  justice,  harmony,  and  moderation  which  is  due  to  your  own  character 
and  to  the  honor  of  the  American  name.'  Tlie  letter  concluded  witli  the 
a.ssuran('e  that  the  writer  was  the  sfvme  friend  to  Oregon  tiiat  lie  had  ))een  for 
30  years,  that  he  was  when  he  opposed  the  joint  occupation  treaty  in 
1818,  and  that  he  was  when  he  wrote  his  articles  on  the  grand  ilestiny  of 
that  country,  which  he  hope<l  to  live  long  enough  to  witness.  (>/•.  SpccUitor, 
Sept.  8,  1847;  Cowj.  Olohe,  I84r)-(),  0'21-'->;  Or.  An/n^,  March  'J8,  \8»1;  St 
Loim  Republican,  April  1847;  Orcijon  ArrhiriK,  MS.,  01;  A'//<w'  /fi'ij.,  l.xxii. 
148.  His  letter  is  preserved  in  tlie  archives  of  the  state  of  Oregon.  Tuthill, 
in  his  J/iH.  ('ill.,  'J.")4,  remarks  that  it  was  said  of  Douglas  that  he  had  a 
special  miijsion  to  give  California  a  government.  The  same  migiit  be  said  of 
Benton  concerning  Oregon  from  1842-8. 

^'  Judge  Semple  of  Illinois  was  mentioned  by  some  as  the  future  governor. 
Rowan  of  Kentucky  waa  said  to  be  the  president's  choice;  and  Richard  M. 
Johnson  was  recommendod  by  the  Tnlmne  o^  Aug.  12(5,  1840. 


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-t-i^ 


618 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


as  also  to  extend  the  area  of  freedom  and  Christianity, 
by  which  they  hoped  to  confer  a  lasting  benefit  upon 
mankind. 

Neither  did  they  intend  to  expatriate  themselves 
by  emigrating  to  Oregon.  But  when  they  had  reached 
this  distant  country  they  found  themselves  in  embar- 
rassing circumstances — in  the  midst  of  a  jealous  and 
predatory  Indian  population,  among  the  subjects  of 
Great  Britain  in  the  height  of  the  excitement  over  the 
boundary  question ;  without  law  or  protection,  except 
as  they  governed  and  defended  themselves,  which 
they  had  done  amid  many  trials ;  it  being  much  more 
difficult  to  administer  temporar}  laws  than  a  fixed 
system  of  government. 

While  their  means  were  slender,  their  taxes  were 
high,  owing  to  the  necessity  of  impro\ing  the  country, 
opening  roads,  building  bridges,  and  erecting  school- 
houses  and  churches.  They  could  not  raise  money  to 
pay  the  members  of  their  legislature  for  more  than 
two  weeks'  service  at  a  time,  and  were  compelled  to 
adopt  the  laws  of  Iowa,  modified  by  a  few  local  acts. 
They  had  no  printing-press,  and  no  books  on  law  to 
refer  to ;  nor  any  means  of  making  the  laws  known 
to  the  people  until  the  Spectator  was  established,  in 
whose  colunms  only  the  local  laws  were  published. 

The  memorialists  declared  that  they  had  been 
grieved  at  being  debarred  from  enjoying  the  protec- 
tion which  the  subjects  of  Great  Britain  received  in 
their  very  midst ;  but  comforted  themselves  that  the 
omission  of  their  jrovernment  to  afford  it  was  out  of 
regard  to  the  sacredness  of  treaty  obligations;  but 
that  when  the  boundary  question  was  settled  they 
could  see  no  reason  for  the  studied  neglect  of  con- 
gress. They  had  acted  uv,der  the  conviction  that  the 
duties  of  citizens  and  government  were  nmtual.  "  Our 
forefathers,"  said  they,  "complained  that  they  were 
oppressed  by  the  mother  country,  and  they  had  a 
just  right  to  complain.  We  do  not  complain  of  op- 
pression, but  of  neglect.     Even  the   tyrant  has  his 


DONATION  OF   LANDS. 


619 


moments  of  relaxation  and  kindness,  but  neglect  never 
wears  a  smile." 

The  particular  injuries  of  which  mention  was  made 
as  arising  from  the  condition  of  affairs  were  aside 
from  the  discomfort  of  uncertainty,  of  sus{)ension  of 
enterprise,  and  the  inability  of  the  colonial  govern- 
ment to  treat  with  the  surrounding  natives,  who 
were  every  day  becoming  more  aggressive,  owing  to 
the  non-fulfilment  of  promises  of  payment  for  their 
lands.  They  could  not  tell  when  war  would  be  upon 
them,  and  the  coming  of  their  friends  to  Oregon  cut 
oft'.  Their  position  with  regard  to  criminals  was 
equally  embarrassing.  They  had  no  prison  ^  and  no 
money,  nor  means  of  punishing  offences  without  re- 
turning to  the  branding-iron,  cropping-knife,  and 
whipping-post. 

The  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter  was  the  usual 
reference  to  the  donation  of  land  which  the  settlers 
expected  from  congress,  and  which  they  insisted  they 
had  justly  earned  in  the  aid  they  had  given  the  gov- 
ernment in  settling  the  vexed  question  of  title.  "  We 
think  we  merit  the  respectful  consideration  of  our 
government.  It  is  with  our  country,  whether  she  will 
hear  us  or  not."  With  this  parting  note  of  warning 
the  address  concluded.  It  was  the  threat  so  often 
covertly,  and  sometimes  openly,  made,  that  loyal  as 
were  the  settlers  of  Oregon,  they  were  independent 
enough  to  disregard  a  government  which  had  no  care 
for  them. 

By  common  consent  the  subject  of  a  delegate  seems 
to  have  been  avoided,  for  it  was  well  known  that  no 
choice  could  be  made  wholly  satisfactory  to  all  parties; 
and  since  as  yet  they  had  no  right  to  one,  for  any 
clique  to  insist  on  sending  a  man  of  their  choice  to 
represent  the  colony  would  only  lead  to  protests  and 
confusion.     The  memorial,  after  being  circulated  for 


r  4' 


t    1 


: 


v4     I] 

'       II 


'^^  The  jail  erected  at  Oregon  City  with  furiils  from  the  estate  of  Ewing 
Young  in  1844  was  burned  by  an  incendiary  in  August  184G.  Or.  Spectator, 
Sept.  .3,  184G. 


-  —   -   ^1 


620 


POLITICS  AND  P''.OGRES.s. 


Signatures,  was  placed  in  the  mail  of  the  bark  Whiton, 
Captain  Galston,  to  sail  on  the  IDth  of  October  for 
San  Francisco  and  Pananid,  in  the  expectation  tliat 
it  would  be  received  and  read  in  congress  in  time  to 
influence  the  legislation  for  Oregon  at  the  session  of 
1847-8.-'' 

But  the  power  in  Oregon  behind  the  throne  had 
settled  the  matter  of  a  delegate  without  consulting 
the  people :  and  when  the  Whito7i  sailed,  it  carried  J. 
Quinn  Thornton,  the  private  agent  of  Abernethy,  to 
reprecient  in  a  general  way  the  wants  of  the  territory, 
but  in  a  more  particular  manner  the  views  of  the 
Methodist  missionaries  with  regfard  to  those  sections 
in  the  Oregon  treaty  which  related  to  the  possessory 
rights  of  British  subjects.^" 

Thornton  endeavors  to  explain  away  the  odium 
attaching  to  his  position  as  a  delegate  not  chosen  by 
the  people,  by  implying  that  the  general  desire  for 
office  was  likely  to  frustrate  the  wishes  and  wants  of 
the  community;  therefore,  he  took  it  upon  him  to 
become  the  savior  of  the  people  by  appropriating  the 
best  paying  position  for  himself;  but  professes  to  have 
feared  that  letters  would  be  written  to  Washington 
in  revenge,  which  would  damage  his  power  with  the 
government.  This  becomes  the  logical  reason  of  his 
secret  departure,  his  going  on  board  the  Whito7i  at 
night  after  the  bark  had  already  weighed  her  anchor, 
and  the  general  mystery  surrounding  the  transaction. 

He  succeeded  in  getting  to  sea  without  any  inter- 
ruption, and  arrived  in  San   Francisco  on  the   10th 

^  Thornton  erroneously  says  the  memorial  was  addressed  to  Thomas  H. 
Benton.  He  also  says  that  '  it  was  proposed  to  elect  a  itl^gate,  but  that  it 
was  decided  to  be  impracticable.'  Or.  and  Cal.,  ii.  37-S. 

^  That  the  discovery  of  Abernethy 's  action  in  this  mat  er  resulted  in  unfa- 
vorable comment  may  be  gathered  from  Curry's  remarks  in  the  Spectator, 
which,  though  an  Abernethy  organ,  was  not  taken  into  th?  secret  of  the  pri- 
vate delegate.  Some  will  have  honors,  said  the  editor,  whether  or  no,  and  we 
understand  that  one  of  our  distinguished  functionaries  has  ^one  to  the  States, 
that  another  started  in  the  height  of  desperation  in  a  Chiiook  canoe  to  go 
around  along  the  coast  in  order  to  head  off  the  first  one,  and  that  one  of  the 
members  of  the  late  Yamhill  convention  intends  crossing  the  mountains  on 
snow-shoes  to  be  in  at  the  death,  etc.  Or.  Spectator,  Nov,  II,  1847;  Deady't 
Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  3-4. 


THORNTON'S  ADVENTURES. 


G21 


of  November,  wliere  the  bark  reniaineJ  till  the  12th 
of  December.  While  at  this  port,  where  the  progress- 
ive American  was  inakinjjf  a  <jreat  stir  and  business 
was  extremely  brisk,  Thornton  dis})osed  of  a  quantity 
of  flour  which  constituted  a  part  of  the  cargo  of  the 
IVfiiton,  loaned  to  him  by  Xoyes  Smith,  one  of  those 
who  came  in  1844,^^  as  a  means  of  raising  money  for 
his  expenses.  He  had  received  from  Kev.  George 
Gary  a  draft  on  the  treasury  of  the  Methodist  society 
in  the  east,  and  from  Abernethy  whatever  more  it 
required  to  furnish  him  with  means  for  his  journey. 

At  San  Josd  in  Lower  California  was  found  the 
sloop  of  war  Portsmouth,  Captain  J.  B.  Montgomery, 
to  which  Thornton  was  transferred  on  invitation  of 
the  commander,  and  was  carried  to  Boston,  where  he 
arrived  May  5,  1848.^'^ 

When  the  legislature  met  in  December,  a  set  of 
resolutions  were  introduced  in  the  house  l)y  Nesmith, 
remonstrating  against  the  a[)pointment  of  Thornton 
to  any  office  in  the  territory,  which  were  at  first 
adopted,  afterward  reconsidered,  and  finally  lost  by 
the    speaker's   vote.^^     It   is    but  just   to   Thornton, 


:?i3 


.  Hi 

f 


''The  career  of  Noyes  Smith  is  given  as  follows:  'Over  a  quarter  of  a 
century  since,  tlie  world  was  astonished  at  hearing  of  the  defalcation  and  dis- 
appearance of  an  Albany  bank  officer.  Having  made  the  circuit  of  the 
world,  he  some  years  afterwards  appeared  in  Oregon  under  this  name,  became 
a  merchants  clerk,  then  himself  a  merchant,  and  was  rich  and  prospering 
when  he  was  recognized  by  an  officer  of  the  U.  S.  army.  E.xposure  drove 
him  to  dissipation  and  ruin.  His  friends  at  the  east  seem  to  have  finally 
compromised  his  case,  and  his  family  sent  for  1dm  to  return  home,  which  ho 
did  to  find  his  children  grown  up,  ami  everytliing  mucli  changed  during 
his  long  al).sence.'  8.  A.  Clarke,  in  Oirrlinul  Moii/Jil;/,  x.  410-15.  Noye's  real 
name  was  said  to  be  Egbert  Olcott.   Biirk's  Eiitarprwx,  MS.,  13. 

"'■'  Thornton's  Or.  and  Cal.,  ii.  247-8.  I  think  it  not  uidikely  that  tlie 
117/ /tort  was  looking  for  a  vessel  of  tlie  U.  S.  navy  for  this  very  purpose;  since 
Benton  in  his  letter  to  the  people  of  Oregon  had  assured  them  that  iletiich- 
ments  of  the  army  and  navy  should  give  them  all  the  assistance  in  their 
power,  while  waiting  the  action  of  tlie  government;  on  which  liint  the  gov- 
ernor seems  promptly  to  have  acted. 

'^■^Or.  Spect,Uor,licc.  25,  1847;  Ororer.i  Or.  Archmi.'*,  2.S2,  242.  So  well 
had  the  secret  of  Thornton's  agency  been  kept  that  the  preamble  to  the 
resolutions  declares  only  that  it  is  '  g(!Uerally  believed '  that  Thornton  had 
been  secretly  despatched  to  Washington  City  with  recommendations,  peti- 
tions, and  memorials  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  for  himself  and  friends  the 
moat  important  offices  in  the  territory. 


G22 


POLITICS  AND  PROCiRESS. 


i 


whose  position  was  sufficiently  odious,  to  remind  the 
reader  tluit  the  author  of  tlie  resokitions  was  a  son- 
in-law  of  David  Goff,  whom  Thornton  had  mercilessly 
abused  in  the  ISjwctator  for  his  share  in  inducing  the 
immigration  to  take  the  southern  route.  For-  the 
same  reason,  however,  the  selection  of  Thornton  for 
the  position  of  delegate  was  an  unfortunate  one.  P\)r 
allowing  the  resolutions  to  he  printed  i:^  the  Spectator 
the  directors  of  the  printing  association  dismissed 
Curry  frcmi  the  editorship."^* 

Trusting  to  time's  obliteration  of  the  evidences  of  in- 
trigue, Thornton  says  in  his  manuscript  History  oj 
Oregon,  that  he  was  "  sent  by  the  provisional  govern- 
ment of  Oregon "  to  Washington ;  in  which  case  the 
governor,  and  not  the  legislature,  was  the  government. 
He  also  says  in  an  address  before  the  pioneer  associa- 
tion of  1874,  that  he  obeyed  the  desire  of  Whitman, 
who  in  the  spring  of  1847  urged  him  to  yield  to  the 
solicitations  he  had  received  to  go  to  Washington  on 
behalf  of  the  people  and  the  provisional  government. 
There  were  some  persons  besides  the  governor  who 
were  willing  Thornton  should  go  to  Washington ;  and 
there  were  strong  reasons  why  Whitman  should  be 
one  of  them,  in  the  yearly  increasing  danger  of  his 
situation  among  the  Cayuses,  which  nothing  could 
avert  but  the  sword  or  the  purse  of  the  United 
States. 

Of  this  fact  the  authors  of  the  memorial  were  well 
advised  when  they  said  that  they  did  not  know  how 
soon  they  might  be  involved  in  an  Indian  war.  For 
reasons  connected  with  the  speedy  settlement  of  Ore- 
gon by  a  po])ulation  which  would  entitle  them  to  elect 
a  delegate,  and  to  enjoy  other  privileges  dependent  on 
numbers,  they  had  touched  but  lightly  upon  those 
facts  which  if  known  in  the  States  might  retard  immi- 

"*  In  his  remarks  on  his  dismissal,  Curry  referred  bitterly  to  the  attempt 
to  muzzle  the  press,  on  the  part  of  (leorge  Abernethy,  Rev.  W.  Roberts, 
J.  R.  Robb,  and  Robert  Newell,  '  who  constitute  a  bare  n)ajority  of  the  board 
of  directors.'  Or.  Spectaf^yr,  Jan.  6  and  20,  1848;  Honolulu  Polynesian,  iv. 
206;  Friend,  vi.  47  68:  Pickett's  Paris  Exjmitian,  10. 


IMMIC.RATION   CF   1847. 


823 


^ration,  tlio  still  existin«jf  liardsliips  of  tho  journey, 
and  tlio  tlireatuniii!''  attitude  of  the  Indians. 


Owing  to  the  wettlenient  of  the  boundary  question, 
and  the  prospect  tliat  a  donation  law  would  soon  he 
j)assed,  between  four  and  five  thousand  persons  eanie 
to  Oregon  in  1847,  most  of  them  ;>eoj)le  of  comforta- 
ble means."''''  They  commenced  arriving  at  the  Dalles 
as  early  as  the  22d  of  August,  and  continued  to  arrive 
until  November,  when  two  hundred  wagons  were  still 
on  the  eastern  side  of  the  mountains. 

Every  expedition  by  wagon  had  been  attended  by 
suffering  and  loss;  nor  was  this  one  an  exception.  Its 
immber  was  the  princi})al  cause  of  its  misfortunes;  the 
foremost  companies  exhausting  the  grass,  compelling 
the  rear  to  delay  in  order  to  recruit  their  cattle,  which 
brought  them  in  late,  with  great  loss  and  in  a  starv- 
ing condition.  For  the  same  cause,  sickness  attacked 
the  trains,  an  epidemic  called  he  black  measles  pre- 
vailing, from  which  many  died  on  the  latter  part  of 
the  journey  or  after  arrival.  The  caravan  of  wagons 
was  also  a  cause  of  hostility  on  the  part  of  the  sav- 
ages, from  the  Blue  Mountains  to  the  Dalles,  who 
attacked  seveial  small  compcmies,  robbing  the  wagons, 
and  in  some  instances  tearing  the  clothing  from  the 
persons  of  the  women,  leaving  them  naked  in  the  wil- 
derness, and  connnitting  other  outrages. 

There  being  now  two  routes  opened,  there  should 
have  been  a  division  of  the  travel ;  but  this  was  pre- 
vented by  the  efforts  of  some  who  had  met  with  losses 


Ifi 


>        If  I 


I  \   (I. 


I*     1 


*■'* '"  vna  said  that  not  one  wagon  was  hound  for  California  this  year;  an 
evil',  ^iit  niiatake,  as  is  shown  hy  tlie  account  of  the  'Wiggins  party,' which 
attampted  to  pass  through  the  mountains  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Sacra- 
mento, and  failing,  turned  hack  to  the  southern  Oregon  road.  This  party 
arrived  in  California  in  the  spring  of  1848,  hy  the  hrig  Henri/.  S.  F.  C'ali- 
J\)rnian,  April  19,  1848.  A  correspondent  of  the  Pohjnc'inn,  iv.  123,  137, 
writing  from  California,  says  that  1,000  wagons  were  destineil  for  tliat  country, 
hut  that  Oregon  agents  met  them  on  the  road  an('  turned  them  to  the  Wil- 
lamette Valley,  hy  representations  of  the  disordered  state  of  California,  ami 
the  insecurity  of  property  and  life.  Erpositor,  Independence,  Mo.,  May  17, 
1847;  NUes"  Reg.,  Ixxiii.  6;  JohnsoiiA  Cal  and  Or.,  202-3;  Findlai/'n  State- 
meat,  MS.,  2;    Victor's  Jiiver  o/ the  We^l,  394. 


•  lK 


il'Ii 


roLiTic'S  AND  riuxaiKss. 


oil  tho  lU'W  route,  hy  others  intorcHted  in  liavin*^  the 
travcillcrs  hrouji^ht  to  the  Dalles  and  Orej^on  City, 
and  hy  the  owners  of  tlie  Mount  Hood  road.  Letters 
were  sent  to  Careen  Kiver  to  meet  them,  in  which 
tliey  wore  counselled  to  starve,  whip,  and  even  kill 
any  person  advisins^  them  to  take  the  southern  road. 
A  circular  was  distributed  containin<:^  an  exaj^j^erated 
account  of  the  calamities  suffered  the  previous  year, 
and  rcconnnending  the  Barlow  road.  As  the  circular 
made  no  mention  of  the  hardships  and  losses  of  trav- 
ellers hy  the  Mount  Hood  pase  of  the  Cascade  Moun- 
tains, and  as  it  was  signed  by  the  govenor,  all  but 
forty-five  of  the  wagons  took  the  route  by  way  of 
the  Snake  and  Columbia  rivers,  with  the  results  be- 
fore mentioned."''^ 

From  a  manuscript  narrative  of  the  overland  jour- 
ney called  the  Southern  Route,  by  Thomas  L.  David- 
son,^' it  appears  that  the  natives  on  the  Humboldt 
and  about  the  lake  county  of  southern  Oregon  were 
troublesome,  shooting  cattle,  and  wounding  a  herder 
named  Henry  Williamson.  They  soon  after  attacked 
a  train  as  it  was  ])assing  under  a  rocky  point  on 
the  border  of  lodoo  or  Tule  Lake,  which  was  saved 
by  a  dash  of  two  savage  dogs  putting  the  natives  to 
flight.** 

One  of  the  men  who  accompanied  Levi  Scott  to 
and  from  Fort  Hall,  named  Garrison,  was  killed  near 
Granite  Ridge,  and  Scott  himself  was  wounded,  but 
with  one  arm  pinned  to  his  side  by  an  arrow,  shot  one 
Indian,  and  put  another  to  flight.     Had  this  been  the 

3«Lovi  Scott,  in  Or.  Spectator,  Nov.  11,  1847;  Hats'  Nnr.,  MS.,  4-8;  Cfrim's 
Ernii/niiit  Aiiealotes,  MS.,  1-G;  Or.  Spectator,  Nov.  25,  1847. 

•"  T.  L.  Davidson,  sou  of  James  IXividson,  sen.,  was  boni  in  Illinois  in  1833. 
When  he  was  12  years  old  his  brothers  Albert  and  James  went  to  Oregon.  In 
184()  Albert  retnrned  to  +he  States,  and  by  his  enthusiastic  iliscriptions  of 
the  Oregon  co'uitry  induced  liis  fatlier  and  many  persons  in  Iowa,  Illinois, 
and  Missouri  to  emigrate.  Southern  Route,  MS.,  1,  2.  Davidson  mentions  tho 
death  in  tlie  Klamatli  country  of  Mrs  Benj.  F.  Burch,  of  consumption.  She 
was  going  to  join  her  husband. 

'''In  III.  Ajf.  Jiept.,  1873,  mention  is  mailc  of  a  massacre  at  this  place  in 
1847,  which  ia  an  error.  No  massacre  was  effected  at  this  jjass  until  after  the 
year  1850. 


NAMKS   OF   IM.MKi  HANTS. 


(iW 


Grhn'a 


worst  roiisoqiu'iirt'  ot'tlu;  hirij^e  iiinnl)er"'''this  ywii"  [xnn-- 
ing  into  and  through  the  Indian  country,  disregard ing 

"•  Of  tlic  5,000  pcrsoiiH  added  to  tlio  population  of  the  country  at  tliiH  jiim-- 
turo  few  naiuo^i  liavi'  liouii  prenervcil.  'llieso  arc  Hiiltjoiticcl,  and  with  tlicin 
sonii!  hiograjiiiical  notes  showing  tin;  cliaraeter  of  ♦'le  settli-rs. 

K.  S.  Allen,  Sunniel  Athouwe,  Kphraiin  Adaiim,  Charhis  AilairiH,  A.  J. 
AdaniH,  .laiiie.H  Anderson,  .fohn  \V.  Allen,  Sanuud  Allen,  T.  II.  Allen,  Hi'nry 
L.  Aikin,  Williun  Allphin,  Ariui,  J).  Avorson,  ThoniaM  Alli)hin,  .Inlin  Aikin, 
lloliert  Alexander,  llieliard  Andrews,  .lohn  T.  Apiierson,  .lanies  Aikin,  Tho.s. 
N.  Auhrey,  Elias  Huell,  ('.  B.  Belliniier,  .lohn  Bultou,  Wdliani  Iktekntan, 
John  1*.  IJrooks,  ISenjaniin  .f.  IJnreh,  WiNon  i'.laln,  Klias  Hrown,  Dain.-utcus 
Brown,  .1.  Henry  Brown,  .1.  H.  Bellinger,  lli  ■  '  aw,  AVilliani  Barey,  Stenhen 
Bonner,  William  S.  Barker,  J.  C.  Braly,  .John  t'  y,  I'aniel  Rushinel,  Oliver 
IhiMhinel,  John  W.  Hewley,  Isaac  W.  IJewley,  I  (ickott  Bewlcy,  .James  F. 
Bewloy,  r„eander  Hurkhart,  ('.  O.  Hurkart,  All  or  Briggs,  Hilt.  Bonser,  .John 
Boii.st^r,  Nathaniel  liownian,  IJenjaniin  Urn**  mi,  W'i'liani  Bcry  '  ;.)ies  Bae!  an, 
■f.  Bntler,  A.  (,'.  Brown,  'I'.  M.  liiiekn  A.  .M.  iJixter.  iaekstui  Beattie, 
I).  I).  Burroughs,  Cliarles  Blair,  T.  R.  Bi.iir,  Heni-y  B' i  iier,  .J.  H.  Blanken- 
sliip,  .Janies  A.  Brown,  K.  Bidwell.  .Ii.im  Bird,  I^.  ...  Bird,  William  Brisbane, 
Burpee,  tJlen  O.  Burnett,  Sanuiel  T.  Burch.  riv  ..  ■■■  Burnett,  William  }f. 
Beimett,  .J.  A.  Baker,  vN'illiam  Blackston  ,  R.  Uin  L.  Belknap,  Belknap, 
.lohn  Blain,  R.  A.  Barker,  I'iram  BuUuin,  V.  illiam  S.  W.  Brooks,  .John 
Baum,  Thomas  Carter,  Lafayette  Cartel,  Jeffer>*"n  Carter,  C.  M.  Carter, 
Jvlward  Cartwriglit,  .John  ( '.  Cartwright,  Henry  \V.  Coe,  Ster)hen  Cum- 
iriings,  C.  M.  Cook,  W.  W.  Cliapinan,  Jo.seph  Ci.amherlain,  \\  .  n.  C'anf'eld, 
llohert  Cantield,  Thomas  Cox,  .Joseph  •  o.x,  William  Cox,  Tliomas  H.  Cox, 
Hugh' Coagrovc,  Churchill,  Turner  Crump,  C.  B.  ('roslty,  Steplien  CoHiu, 
I'eter  W.  Crawford,  .John  Davis  Crawford,  (ieorgc  Cline,  .Joseph  ('line,  Ijewis 
('line,  .Jiison  8.  Clark,  (J.  A.  Ccme,  O.  H.  Cone,  J.  11.  Crain,  Chandler  Cooper, 
Jaither  Collins,  Nehuzarden  Coli'ey,  Jacoh  Coinegys,  Robert  Cowan,  J.  T. 
Crooks,  Finico  Caruthers,  James  Coleman,  (Jeorge  W.  Ca.ev,  Core,  Cay  wood, 
A.  R.  Dimiek,  William  H.  Dillon,  J.  T.  Dillon,  VAi  D.-ivis^j  Albert  (t.  Davis, 
Leander  L.  Davis,  C.  Davis,  Henry  W.  l)avi.s,  John  C  Danforth,  C.  H.  Dev- 
endorf,  John  Dise,  John  N.  Donnie,  Manly  Danforth,  James  Dickson,  D.  D. 
Dostins,  S.  T.  Duffield,  Dunbar,  Thonuis  L.  Dividson,  (Ireen  C.  Davidson, 
James  Davidson,  Albert  Davidson,  Doane,  Dyer,  John  Downing,  .J.  S.  Dunlap, 
K.  Douglas,  Joseph  W.  Downee,  H.  H.  Everts,  Abel  Endy,  W.  W.  Eng, 
J.  Ij.  Eotf,  (reorge  EofF,  Rev.  St  Al.  Fackler,  Sanniel  Faekler,  Franklin,  Janies 
Fulton,  James  Fields,  Fox,  Sanniel  Fields,  William  Fellows,  Albert  H.  Fish, 
Rezin  D.  Foster,  John  Foster,  Isaac  W.  Foster,  Wallace  Foster,  ( leorge  Z. 
Frazer,  John  Feat,  Edward  F.  Folger,  John  Farley,  .Tames  R.  Friedley,  .John 
Fisher,  Ford,  William  Glover,  Cal.  (leer,  L.  C  (Jeer,  .Jolin  W.  (Jrini,  Ralph 

C.  (leer,  (Jeorge  T.  (leer,  Joseph  Carey  Geer,  William  Graham,  G.  W.  Graves, 
Bernard  Genoise,  Isaac  Gillilland,  John  G.  Gibson,  Samuel  ( rethard,  J.  N. 
(ireen,  (}.  N.  Gilbert,  Daniel  O.  (Jarland,  Andrew  (Jribble,  J.  J.  (Jarrish, 
Jacob  (iracer,  .Tames  A.  Graham,  Leonard  GofF,  B.  B.  Griffin,  Peter  (!ill, 
S.  H.  Goodhue,  S.  J.  (Jardner,  Dr  D.  Gardner,  Albert  (Jaines,  V,.  (ieinlis, 
Samuel  (lordney,  Benjamin  Gordon,  Harvey  Gordon,  JohnC.  Holgate,  H.  D. 
Huntington,  Hoffman,  John  Hiner,  Robert  Hou.ston,  J.   D.  Holman,  Frank 

D.  Holman,  D.  Hari)er,  S.  A.  Holcond),  John  P.  Hibbler,  Joseph  Hull,  Rich- 
mond Hayes,  Cliarles  Hubb  nl,  Hugh  Harrison,  Horace  Hart,  (ioalmaii 
Hubbanl,  William  Hawkins,  \,  illiam  Hock,  G.  H.  Hughes,  Joseph  E.  Hur- 
ford,  James  Harpole,  King  L.  Hibbard,  G.  V.'.  Hunt,  John  S.  Hunt,  TheophiluH 
Howell,  J.  M.  Hciiidricks,  T.  G.  HenilricKs,  Harford,  Jesse  M.  Heilges,  A.  L. 
Humphrey,  Samuel  Headrick,  T.  H.  Hunsaker,  J.  T.  Hunsaker,  Henry  Hill, 
Zacharias  Hawkins,  John  Hudson,  Haun,  D.  R.  Hodges,  Nelson  Hoyt,  H.  H. 
Jory,  Hiram  A.  Johnson,  B.  Jennings,  A.  L.  Johnson,  R.  A.  Jack,  S.  A.  .Tack- 
son,  Judson,  Jacob  Johnson,  Rufus  Johnson,  H.  Johnson,  George  I.  Johnson, 

Hist.  Ok.,  Vol.  I.    40 


i      \^ 


POLITICS  AND  PRO(JRESS. 


the  jealous  opposition  of  the  natives  to  the  settlement 
of  white  people  upon  the  unbouglit  lands  of  the  Ore- 
Rev.  Hczckiah  Johnson,  James  Johnson,  Joseph  Jcffers,  Jolly,  John  \V.  Jack- 
son, William  A.  Jackson,  B.  Jenuiiias,  Noah  Jobe,  Isaac  M.  Joliiis,  Thon>as 
Justin,  John  Jewott,  Robert  C  Kinney,  Samuel  Kinney,  Jchial  Kimlall, 
Kimball,  Clinton  Kelley,  Penumbra  Kelly,  A.  Kinsey,  Ivison  Kiiiscy,  Thomas 
S.  Kinsey,  John  Kinsey,  A.  Kennedy,  S.  B.  Knox,  Kli;ia  Kearney,  James 
Killingworth,  J.  Keller,  Joseph  Kelly,  Jolm  Kelly,  Kent,  J.  Kestor,  A.  N. 
Locke,  SanuK'l  Laughlin,  D.  O.  Lownsdale,  Lockwood  Little,  A.  C.  Little, 
A.  Levallcy,  Larogue,  Philemon  Leo,  Phehister  Lee,  J.  W.  Liiigenfelter, 
John  Lousingnet,  Oliver  Lowden,  James  11.  Lewis,  J.  IL  Laugldin,  Davis 
Lator,  A.  Luelling,  Leonard,  Henderson  Luelling,  William  Meek,  Dr  James 
McBride,  Rev.  Thomas  McBride,  Israel  Mitcliell,  Lucius  Marsh,  William  P. 
Martin,  George  H.  Marcli,  S.  D.  Maxon,  H.  J.  (i.  Maxon,  John  Morcly, 
Frederick  MeC^ormick,  Wdliam  McKinney,  Alexander  Mc(i>uinn,  Syhanus 
Moon,  John  McCoy,  .Tosepli  Merrill,  Thomas  Monteith,  WaltiT  Mouteith, 
Samuel  T.  McKean,  J.  Magone,  Joel  McKee,  ,1.  W.  Murgan,  J.  11.  McMillan, 
George  Moore,  Gilluirt  Mondon,  AN'illiam  Milbern,  Marsliall  Martin,  lloraci; 
Martin,  Isaac  Morj^an,  Jolm  Miller,  N.  G.  MclKmnell,  Madison  McCulh^y, 
James  M.  Morris,  William  M(mlton,  W.  T.  ^latlock,  Samuel  Miller,  Richard 
Miller,  W.  G.  Maley,  William  McGunigalc,  iknry  Marland,  William  Mc- 
Alphin,  R.  Memliihall,  Daniel  Mo.-iicr,  Llias  Mosier,  Mills,  John  Marks, 
Johnson  Mulk(^y,  (ieorgc  Merrill,  Mcl'herson,  ().  C.  Motley,  T.  F.  MclJlroy, 
C  Mulligan,  J.  C.  Nelson,  Josiuli  Osborne,  James  Otlicer,  John  ^\^  Ov/en, 
O.  Pravillot,  Tjcwis  Pettyjohn,  R.  Pattern,  Aaron  Payne,  Dr  I'crry  Pretty- 
man,  Ira  Patterson,  Joel  Pal'.nei',  William  Patterson,  Miriam  Pue,  William 
Parker,  .Toseph  IJ.  J'roctor,  Thomas  Pnrvii,  John  B.  Price,  Ridianl  PoUard, 
Frederick  J 'aul,  Henry  PoUet,  'lliomas  P.  Powers,  Peter  Policy,.!.  K.Payne, 
Aaron  Purdy,  William  P.  Pugh,  Dr  John  P.  Pojijado,  J.  it.  Pructt,  1,.  11. 
I'oujade,  Mattlicw  Pattou,  Rev.  William  Robinson,  Joh:i  E.  Ross,  Ivlward 
Rol)S(in,  J.  C.  Robinson,  Jeremiah  R.  Ralitoa,  Reason  Read,  David  Read, 
John  Rodgers,  Talmou  J  I.  Rolfe,  B.  B.  Rogers,  Saul  Rieliards,  Frederick 
Ramsey,  lames  O.  Raynor,  A.  J:^.  R(il)ins<>n,  A.  A.  Robinson,  Ricliard  Rich- 
ards, (Jeorgo  Richies,  Rolan,  A.  M.  Rainwater,  Randolph,  J.)hu  \V.  Sliively, 
Amos  Sliort,  Joseph  Smith,  R.  V.  Sliort,  Airoii  Stanton,  Alfred  Stanton, 
Peter  Sclmll,  Benj.  E.  Stewart,  Jonas  Spcct,  .1.  W.  Schrum,  Thomas  Sclirum, 
Henry  Schrum,  Cyrus  Smith,  David  Stouo,  Alamander  Stone,  Nathaniel 
St<me,  Switzler,  Ajidrcw  J.  Simmons,  Spear,  Wesley  Sliannon,  Morgan  L. 
Savage,  Lutlier  Savage,  John  S:i,vage,  Cliarlej  Sanborn,  Saultorn,  Cliristopher 
Shuck,  Beverly  Simpson.  C.  W.  Savage,  Lewis  Savage,  L.  W.  Saunders, 
Shepperd  Sales,  Dr  Ileury  Saffarans,  I)r  Snyder,  Israel  Shaw,  Robert  Sliaw, 
Thomas  Sliaw,  Rev.  John  Spenser,  Hiram  Simpkins,  Sturgess,  Samuel  R. 
Tiiurstou,  Christopher  Taylor,  William  Turpin,  James  Terwilliger,  1'immons, 
TuUistiui,  R.  C.  Tainey,  W.  S.  Torrance,  A.  J.  Thomas,  0.  Tuppcr,  R.  S. 
Tupper,  Tallantiue,  John  F.  Taylor,  Trncodale,  Luke  Taylor,  W.  II.  Tappan, 
Isa;ic  Thompson,  IraS.  Towusend,  David  I).  Tompkins,  L.  L.  Tliomas,  J.  W. 
Townsend,  Vai'  V'ource,  William  Vandcrwarcer,  John  Vaughn,  <  r.  W.  Walling, 
Henry  Warren,  ( "harlea  I].  Warren,  William  Whitney,  James  Whitney,  Robert 
Whitney,  John  Whitney,  Jason  Wheeler,  A.  J.  Welch,  T.  C.  Waller,  Samuel 
Whitely,  Jacob  Wooley,  Coluudnis  W^lieeler,  Ricliard  E.  Wiley,  Robert 
Willis,  Benjamin  Wooils,  Caleb  Woods,  George  L.  Wooils,  James  C.  Woods, 
David  Weston,  John  Wilson,  Darius  Whcel.T,  Josepli  Williams,  Lcander 
Wallace,  Isaac  Walganiouts,  Jacob  Witchcy,  George  Westley,  Andrew  Wise, 
(ieorgo  Weston,  Solomon  Wheek-r,  W.  W.  Walters,  A.  Williams,  W.  Wil- 
liams, A.  S.  Welton,  E.  West,  Luther  White.  Elijah  Weeks,  Rev.  White,  Dr 
Thomas  Wiiitc,  Watson,  Lot  Whitcomb,  John  Warnock,  Winchester,  R.  Yar- 
brough,  Elam  Young,  Daniel  Y'oung,  John  Young,  Jamea  Young.  There 
arrived  by  Boa  this  year  Thomaj  Brown,  EiwarJ  Folger  D   U.  Ciood   J  M 


THE   INCOMERS   OF   1847. 


027 


n  W.Jack - 

us,  Thoii.as 

;il  Kendall, 

cy,  Tlioiiias 

iiey,  James 

stor,  A.  N. 

L.  V.  l.ittlc, 

iii};i;ufcltur, 

hliii,   Oavis 

,  I  )r  Jaiiica 

William  1'. 

liil   Moivly, 

1,  Sylvamis 

Moiitcitl), 

McMillan, 

tin,  Horac'.j 

McC'uUey, 

ur,  Richard 

'illiain  Mc- 

ilin   Marks, 

.   Mci'^lroy, 

W.  Ov/on, 

rry  Trctty- 

)i;,  William 

i-d  TnUard, 

R.  I'ayne, 

■tt,  I,.   J  I. 

is,  Ivhvanl 

IV  id  Road, 

Kiudorick 

lanl  Rioli- 

.Sliivuly, 

Stanton, 

.i  Scliruin, 

Nathaniel 

organ  ],. 

iri.itopluT 

Saunders, 

)ert  Shaw, 

;imnel  11. 

'i'iinnions, 

)er,  R.  S. 

Tapiian, 

las,  J.  W. 

\VaUing, 

■y,  Robert 

,  Saiimol 

Robert 

Woods, 

liCander 

•e\v  Wi.ie, 

W.  Wil- 

IVhitc,  Dr 

r,  R.  Yar- 

,     There 

>0',1   J   iM 


gon  Territory,  the  mischief  which  followed  might  have 
been  sooner  repaired,  if  not  altogether  averted. 

Goeway,  Mrs  W.  K.  Kilbonio  anil  children,  (i.  W.  Lawton,  B.  R  MareelluR, 
1).  Markwood,  Rev.  P.  J.  McCorniick,  ().  B.  Post,  Rev.  William  Roberts,  wife 
and  two  children,  S.  C  Reeves,  C.  C.  Shaw,  J.  M.  Stanley,  fl.  Swasey  and 
wife,  Rev.  J.  II.  Wilbur,  wife  and  daughter,  (Jeorgo  Whitloek,  .1.  F.  Winckley. 

iJr  I'crry  Pretty  man  was  born  March  '20,  1790,  in  Newcastle  Co.,  Del.  He 
married  Elizabeth  H.  Vessels,  Dec.  25,  1825,  and  began  the  study  of  medicine 
in  1S28,  at  the  botanic  medical  school  in  Baltimore,  Maryland.  In  18;W  he 
moved  to  Mo.,  and  7  years  later  to  Oregon.  Ho  settled  in  ISt'J  on  a  farm 
near  East  Portland,  where  he  remained  till  his  deatli,  Mareli  27,  1872.  J'orl- 
Inml  Admcitte,  April  4,  1872.  Mrs  Prettynian  died  Dec.  2(),  1874,  in  the  71.st 
year  of  her  tage.  She  was  born  in  Lewiston,  Del.,  in  KSOIJ.  She  was  the 
mother  of  10  children,  only  4  of  whom  survived  her.   A/.,  .Tan.  7,  1875. 

John  Marks,  born  in  Virginia  Jan.  10,  1795,  removed  when  a  l)oy  to  Ky., 
and  in  1818  married  Fanny  Forrester,  in  18.'>8  moved  to  Johnson  I  o..  Mo., 
and  in  1847  to  Oregon,  and  settling  in  Clackamas  Co.,  where  he  resided  until 
his  death,  Jan.  5,  1874.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  and  received  in 
his  declining  years  a  pension  from  the  government. 

Thomas  N.  Aubrey  was  born  in  Va.,  in  1791,  and  moved  westward  with 
the  ever-advancing  line  of  the  frontier  until  he  settleil  on  the  shore  of  the 
I'acitic.  He  was  the  oldest  mason  in  Oregon,  except  Orrin  Kellogg.  Euijene. 
Citij  Oiinn/,  May  'M,  1879. 

Rev.  William  Robinson  left  Missouri  in  1847.  Mrs  Susannah  Robinson, 
his  wife,  was  born  in  Pa.  in  179.'J;  married  in  Oliio,  and  in  IS.'i.'J  removed  to 
Indiana,  thence  to  Platte  Co.,  Mo.,  and  linally  to  Polk  Co.,  Oregon.  She  out- 
lived her  husband,  dying  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs  CannoUj  near 
Cottage  (irove  in  Lane  Co.,  Sept.  30,  1870.   I'orllmid  A<li\,  (Yit.  15,  1870. 

Mr3  Alice  Claget  Mosier,  born  in  New  York,  May  31,  1794,  removed  with 
her  parents  to  Indiana,  where  she  married  Daniel  .Mosier  in  18.'{0,  witli  whom 
KJie  came  to  Clackamas  Co.,  Oregon.  She  spent  the  last  years  of  her  life  witli 
her  son  Eliiis,  her  husband  having  died  before  her.  Her  death  occurred  Jidy 
2,  1870.  /(/.,  Sept.  10,  1870. 

Mrs  Polly  (Irimea  Patton  was  born  Sept.  23,  1810,  in  Frederick  Co.,  Md. 
She  was  the  daughter  of  Joshua  and  Elh'n  (; rimes,  and  removed  villi  them 
to  Adams  Co.,  Ohio,  where  she  was  married  to  Matthew  Patton  in  April 
1830,  who  soon  after  removed  with  her  to  I,a  Fayettt;,  Itidiana,  and  in  1839 
to  Davis  Co.,  Mo.,  whence  they  went  to  Oregon  and  settled  in  Portland.  She 
died  January  7,  1808.   M,  Jan.  II,  1808. 

James  Johnson  was  born  April  4,  1809,  in  Tenn.  He  moved  to  Ohio  in 
1841,  and  thenco  io  Oregon  in  1847,  settling  in  the  Tualatin  plains,  and  died 
August  20,  1870.  Id.,  Sept.  3,  1870. 

Mrs  Anna  Clark  was  born  in  Dearborn  Co.,  Ind.,  February  20,  1823.  At 
the  age  of  10  she  married  Jason  S.  Clark,  with  whom  she  came  to  Oregon. 
S!\e  was  the  mother  of  7  children.  In  1805  they  removed  to  White  River 
VuUey,  in  Washington,  where  Mrs  Clark  ilied  Aug.  1.3,  1807.  A/.,  S^pt.  7,  1S07. 

Mrs  Susan  Bowles  White  was  born  in  Frederick  Co.,  Md.,  Sept.  18,  1793. 
Sh(!  was  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Jacob  Bowles  of  the  Methodist  cinireh.  She 
married  Dr  Thomas  White,  and  eventually  settled  at  French  Prairie,  where 
she  died  Aug.  13,  1807. 

Chandler  Cooper,  born  1823,  was  a  native  of  V't.  He  moved  with  his 
parerits  to  Ind.  when  a  boy,  and  at  the  age  of  24  to  Oregon.  Settling  in 
Vaitthill,  he  married  Alvira  Frye,  by  whom  he  had  3  chddren.  He  died 
March  24,  1805,  at  his  homo  in  Yandidl.  Id.,  A\m\  29,  1805. 

Peter  Schollwas  born  in  Clark  Co.,  Ky.,  in  1809,  wlien  young  went  to  111. 
and  thence  to  Oregon.     Ho  settled  at  Scholl's  Ferry  in  Wiwhington  Co.     l',e 
died  November  23,  1872.   Id.,  Nov.  28,  1872. 

Ellas  Buell,  boru  July  20,  1797,  iu  the  state  of  New  York.     At  the  age  of 


f 


!     1 


rk 


f 


628 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


IB  I--:    P~if 


The  immigration  of  1847  from  its  numbers  and 
general  competency  materially  assisted  in  the  develop- 

19  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ind.,  where  he  married  Sarah  Hammond, 
Oct.  15,  1817.  In  1835  ho  went  west  as  far  as  Louisa  Co.,  Iowa,  where  he 
resided  until  1847,  when  he  came  to  Oregon  and  settled  in  Polk  Co.,  in  the 
spring  of  1848,  where  he  lived  till  liis  death,  November  14,  1871.  Id.,  Nov, 
.30,  1871. 

Mrs  Emmeline  Buell  Blair,  wife  of  T.  R.  Blair,  and  daughter  of  Eliaa 
Buell,  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  Co.,  Ind.,  Feb.  29,  1829.  Slie  married  Mr 
Blair  in  Oregon  in  1850;  and  died  July  6,  1877,  leaving  several  children.  Id., 
Aug.  9,  1877. 

Mrs  Margaret  McBride  Woods,  born  May  27,  1809,  iuTenn.,  was  a  daughter 
of  Elder  Thomas  and  Nancy  McBride.  The  family  removed  to  Missouri  in 
181G,  where  Margaret  was  married  to  Caleb  Woods  in  1828,  and  emigrated 
with  him  to  Oregon,  in  company  with  her  brother  Dr  James  McBride  and  his 
family.  The  sons  of  tliis  marriage  were  two,  (leorco  Lemuel  Woods,  who 
was  governor  of  Oregon  for  one  term,  a,nd  James  C.  Woods,  niercliant.  Slie 
died  at  her  homo  in  Polk  Co.,  Jan.  27,  1871.  Caleb  Woods  has  since  re- 
sided at  Columbia  City  on  the  Columbia  river.   Id.,  Feb.  25,  1871. 

Benjamin  E.  Stewart,  youngest  of  11  children,  was  born  near  Newark, 
Ohio,  April  18,  1815.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a  saddler,  and  engaged  in  this 
business  at  Findlcy,  Hancock  Co.,  where  he  married  iVnn  Cruml)acker,  Sep- 
tember 28,  18.S7.  Before  coming  to  Oregon  he  lived  for  several  years  vx 
Putnam  Co.,  Ohio.  He  settled  hnally  in  Yamhill  Co.,  on  a  farm,  where  he 
died  of  injuries  received  by  a  fall,  on  the  18th  of  Aug.,  1877,  leaving  a  wife 
and  3  sons  and  3  daughters.  Id.,  Sept.  6,  1877. 

Susanna  T.  Hurford,  wife  of  Josepli  E.  Hurford,  born  in  Va.,  died  at  Port- 
land in  the  58th  year  of  her  age,  Aug.  19,  1877.  Id.,  Aug.  23,  1877. 

Joseph  Jcffers  was  born  in  VVaahington,  D.  C,  C)ctobor  17,  1807,  removed 
to  Wheeling,  Va.,  in  1825,  and  was  married  to  Sarah  Crawford  of  tliat  place, 
November  19,  1829.  Ho  moved  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  in  1837,  where  he  be- 
came a  licensed  exhorter  of  the  Methodist  church  On  going  to  Ortgon  he 
resided  3  years  at  Oregon  City,  after  which  he  made  Clatsop  Co.  his  home. 
His  family  coli^5iatcd  of  1 1  children,  only  3  of  whom  survived  him.  Ho  tlied 
in  Portland,  Jan.  2,  1876.  Id.,  Jan.  27,  1876. 

Mrs  Mary  Watson,  one  of  the  arrivals  in  1847,  died  at  King's  Valley,  Ben- 
ton Co.,  February  11,  1873,  aged  64  years.  /(/.,  Feb.  27,  1873. 

Henry  W.  Davis,  known  as  the  Hillsboro  Hermit,  was  bom  in  London, 
Eng.,  wlicnco  he  emigrated  to  Canada,  where  he  participated  in  the  patriot 
war  of  1837-8,  liaving  commanded  a  gun  in  one  of  the  battles,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  a  colonel.  After  the  insurrection  ho  fled  to  the  United  States  to 
escape  arrest.  He  was  employed  in  a  flouring  mill  at  Cincinnati  for  some 
time,  and  wlien  ho  went  to  Oregon  took  with  him  a  set  of  mill -stones.  He 
erected  a  flouring  mill  on  Dairy  Creek,  near  Hillsboro,  Washington  Co.,  which 
was  in  operation  for  several  years.  Davis  lived  alone,  dressed  in  rags,  and 
avoided  his  fellow-men.  He  was  once  tried  by  a  commission  of  lunacy,  who 
decided  him  sane,  but  eccentric.  Ho  died  alone  in  his  cabin  in  the  summer 
of  1878,  leaving  considerable  real  estate  and  several  thousand  dollars  in 
money,  which  wont  to  a  nephew  by  the  name  of  Tremble.  Portland  Bee, 
Aug.  .SO,  1878. 

J.  li.  Bellinger  wa.s  born  in  tho  state  of  New  York  in  1791,  served  in 
the  war  of  1812,  and  built  tho  first  canal-boat  for  tho  Erie  canal.  He  settled 
in  Marion  County,  and  his  family  have  been  much  noted  in  state  politics. 
He  died  of  paralysis  Nov,  13,  1878.  Portlanil  Bee,  Nov.  14,  1878;  Vorva'Hs 
Oazt'tte,  Nov.  22,  1878. 

Jesse  Monroe  Hodges  was  born  in  Melbumo  Co.,  S.  C,  Dec.  18,  1788.  In 
1811  he  married  Catherine  Sta-dey  of  N.  C.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 
and  fought  under  General  Jackson  at  Horse  Shoe  Beud,     In  1817  he  moved 


BIOfiRAPHICAL. 


G29 


nient  of  the  country ;  .and  by  greatly  increasing  the 

to  Tenn.,  thence  to  Ind.,  and  thence  in  1839  to  Mo.,  making  his  last  remove 
to  Oregon  in  1847,  and  settling  in  Benton  County.  He  died  at  the  residence 
of  his  son,  D.  R.  Hodges,  March  28,  1877.  His  mental  condition  was  sound 
up  to  his  latest  moments,  though  over  88  years  of  age.  Albnuii  Democrat, 
April  G,  1877. 

J.  H.  Crain,  born  in  Warren  Co.,  Ohio,  in  1831.  He  removed  with  his 
parents,  in  18.^7  to  Fountain  Co.,  In(l.,  and  thence  to  Oref,'on.  He  remained 
m  and  aliout  Portland  till  ISo^,  wlicn  he  M'cnt  to  tlie  mines  of  southern 
Oregon,  finally  settling  in  the  Kogue  River  Valley.  He  served  as  a  volunteer 
in  the  Indian  war  of  1855-(),  after  which  he  married  and  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  farming.  In  1870  he  still  resided  in  Jackson  County.  Ashland 
Tidimj^,  Oct.  14,  1876. 

John  Baum,  bom  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  August  12,  1823,  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Porter  Co.,  In<l.,  in  1835,  and  came  to  Oregon  when  24 
years  of  age.  He  located  at  Salem,  but  the  gold  discovery  of  1848  drew 
him  to  Cal.  Here  he  mined  for  a  few  months,  but  finding  his  trade  of  car- 
pentering more  attractive,  and  also  profitable,  he  followed  it  for  a  season.  In 
1850  he  drifted  back  to  Oregon  from  the  Shasta  mines,  and  in  July  1851 
married  Phtebe  S.  Tieters,  who  died  in  July  1873,  leaving  8  living  cliildren, 
3  of  whom  were  sons,  namely,  James  T.,  John  N.,  and  Edgar  C.  Sonoma  Co. 
JliM.,  G31. 

Jonas  Spect,  another  who  went  to  the  California  mines,  was  born  in  Pa., 
and  had  lived  in  Ohio  and  Mo.  He  settled  in  Cal.,  to  which  state  his  biog- 
raphy properly  belongs.     See  Sutter  Co.  llUt.,  24,  and  Yuba  Co.  JIM.,  30. 

James  Davidson,  father  of  T.  L.,  James,  jun.,  and  Albert  Davidson,  died 
at  Salem,  September  1870,  in  the  85th  year  of  liis  age.  Olympia  (IT.  T.) 
Tramcript,  Sept.  3,  1870. 

Morgan  Lewis  Savage  w^as  born  in  1810;  came  to  Oregon  in  1847;  <lied  iu 
Oregon  February  9,  1880.  He  was  twice  married,  and  left  a  widow  and  6 
children.  Lute  Savage,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  was  a  favorite  among 
the  pioneers  of  the  Pacific  coast.  He  served  in  tlie  Cay  use  war  in  tlie  bat- 
talion raised  in  the  spring  of  1S48,  and  was  elected  to  the  senate  after 
Oregon  became  a  state.  '  As  a  citizen,  soldier,  legislator,  husband,  father, 
friend,  lie  did  his  whole  duty.'  Nesmith,  in  Or,  Pioneer  Assoc,  Trans.,  1879, 
54-5. 

Rev.  St  M.  Facklcr,  a  native  of  Staunton,  Virginia,  removed  to  Missouri, 
and  thence  to  Oregon  in  1847.  He  conducted  tlie  first  Episcopal  services  in 
Portland,  and  continued  faithfully  in  his  profession  in  tliat  city  till  18(i4,  when 
he  removed  to  Idaho  to  establish  tlie  church  in  that  territory.  He  never  took 
part  in  politics  or  money  speculations,  but  kept  an  eye  single  to  the  promo- 
tion of  religion.  His  first  wife  dying,  ^lie  married  a  <laughter  of  Jolin  B. 
Wands  of  New  Scotland,  N.  Y.  In  18()7,  being  on  the  steamer  San  Fnine'iHco 
bound  east  to  meet  his  wife  and  child,  he  met  his  deatli  about  the  7th  of 
January  from  unintermitting  attentions  to  others  on  board  sufl'ering  l)y  an 
epidemic.  S.  F.  Alta,  Jan.  Ki,  18(i7;  La  (r'ram/e  Blue  Mountain  Times,  Aug. 
1,  18G8. 

Thomas  Cox  M-as  by  birth  a  Virginian.  Wluni  but  a  small  cliild  he  re- 
moved withliis  parents  to  Ross  Co.,  Ohio.  In  181 1  hi;  married  Martlia  Cox,  who 
though  of  the  same  name  was  not  a  relative.  He  removed  with  his  family 
of  three  children  and  tlieir  motlier  to  Bartholomew  Co.,  where  he  Inult  the 
first  grist  and  carding  mills  in  tliat  place.  Ho  afterward  removed  to  the 
AVabash  River  country,  an<l  there  also  erected  Hour  and  carding  nulls  at 
the  inoutli  of  the  Sliawnee  River.  He  also  manufactureil  guns  and  gun- 
powder, and  carried  on  a  general  ">laeksmitliing  business.  In  1834  he  made 
another  remove,  this  time  to  Illinois,  where  he  settled  in  Will  County,  and 
laiil  out  the  town  of  Winchester,  the  name  of  which  was  afterwanl  cliaiiged 
to  Wilmington,  and  where  lie  again  erected  mills  fi)r  llonring  anil  carding,  and 
opened  a  general  merchandise  business.     I>uring  the  period  of  land  specula- 


1     rt*i 


^    J 


I 

I 


633 


POLITICS  AlTD  PROGRESS. 


populataioii  rendered  possible  the  introduction  of  coun- 

tion  aiul  '  wild-cat'  banks,  Cox  resisted  the  gambling  spirit,  and  managed  to 
save  his  property,  while  others  were  ruined,  lu  1846  he  made  preparations 
for  emigrating  to  Oregon,  in  company  with  his  married  son  Joseph,  and  two 
sons-in-law,  Elias  Brown  and  Peter  PoUey.  Elias  Brown,  father  of  J.  Henry 
Brown,  died  on  the  way;  and  Mr  Cox,  in  company  with  Damascus  Brown,  as 
before  related,  brought  the  family  tlirougli  to  Salem,  where  he  set  up  a  store, 
with  goods  ho  had  brought  across  the  plains  and  mountains  to  Oregon.  He 
purchased  the  land  claim  of  Walter  Helm  and  placed  upon  it  Mr  Policy. 
When  gold  was  discovered  in  California  his  son  William  went  to  the  mines, 
and  being  successful,  purchased  a  large  stock  of  goods  in  San  Francisco,  and 
returned  with  them  to  Salem,  where  his  fatlier  retired  from  the  merchantile 
business,  leaving  it  in  the  hands  of  William  and  Mr  Turner  Crump.  Thomas 
Cox  then  engaged  in  farming,  raising  choice  fruits  from  seeds  which  he  im- 
ported in  1847.  'Cox's  goldancling'  has  been  called  the  finest  yellow  peacli 
on  the  coast.  The  fruit  business  proved  remunerative,  Cox's  first  apples 
selling  readily  at  §6  a  bushel  and  peaches  at  §10  and  $12.  Mr  Cox  die; I  at 
Salem  October  3,  18G2,  having  always  possessed  the  esteem  of  those  who  knew 
liim.  Or.  Lilerary  Vulettc,  April  1870. 

Joseph  Cox,  son  of  Thomas  Cox,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1811,  and  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Indiana,  where,  in  18.'32,  he  married,  and  two  years  after- 
ward went  to  111.,  settling  at  Wilmington,  whence  he  removed  vo  St  Josei>h, 
Missouri,  and  remained  there  till  1847,  wlien  ho  joined  the  emigration  to  Ore- 
gon. He  was  a  member  of  the  convention  that  framed  the  present  state 
constitution.  Without  being  a  public  speaker,  he  wielded  considerable  influ- 
ence. Of  an  upright  nature  and  practical  judgment,  his  opinions  were  generally 
accepted  as  sound.  '  A  good  man  in  any  community',  Oregon  was  the  gainer 
by  his  becoming  a  citizen. '  He  died  in  187(5.  <>r.  Piouecr  Assoc.,  Traun.,  1870, 
(>7.  Thomas  11.  Cox,  born  in  Willington,  Illinois,  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Cox. 
He  died  at  Salem,  of  paralysis  of  the  heart,  Sept.  25,  1878.  Salem  Statesman, 
Sept.  25,  1878. 

R.  C.  Tainey  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Muscatine,  Iowa,  and  served,  after 
coming  to  Oregon,  in  the  state  legislature.  He  wiis  engaged  in  the  Houring 
business,  l)eing  principal  owner  iu  the  largest  mill  in  Oregon.  Died  March  2, 
1875,  at  Salem.  Sac.  J'econl-Unio.i,  March  31,  1875. 

Albert  Briggs,  a  native  of  Vermont,  with  a  number  of  others,  joined  a 
company  of  115  wagons  at  St  Joseph,  Mo.,  commanded  by  Lot  Whitcomb. 
Ho  arrived  at  Portland  October  14th,  and  went  to  Oregon  City,  where  lie 
remained  till  1852,  when  he  removed  to  Port  Townsend.  Further  mention  of 
Mr  Briggs  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Washington. 

Aaron  Payne  was  a  pioneer  of  Putnam  County,  Illinois.  He  was  elected 
first  coroner,  then  county  commissioner,  and  afterward  delegate  to  the  state 
convention  which  was  held  at  Rushville,  Schuyler  County.  He  was  a  ranger 
under  Gen.  Harrison,  was  also  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832,  and  was 
severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe.  At  the  age  of  73,  when  the  coun- 
try was  under  the  excitement  of  war,  he  longed  to  take  up  arms  for  the  flag. 
Ho  came  to  Oregon  in  1847,  and  settled  in  Yamhill  County.  Oregon  Anjiis, 
March  28,  1803. 

Jolm  C.  Holgato  was  identified  with  the  early  histories  of  Oregon,  Wiish- 
ington,  and  Idaho.  He  was  killed  in  a  mining  difficulty  at  Owyhee  in  March 
1808.  S<u-ramento  Reporter,  April  10,  1808. 

John  F.  Farley  came  to  California  in  1846-7  with  the  New  York  volun- 
teers. While  in  California  he  belonged  to  the  veteran  association,  soldiers 
of  the  Mexican  war.     He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Washington 

fuard  of  Portland,  in  which  jjlaco  he  died,  Feb.  16,  1809.  Portland  Oreijonian, 
'eb.  18,  1809. 
Dr  James  McBride,  a  Tennesseean  by  birth,  but  brought  up  in  Missouri, 
was  a  leading  man  in  his  community  botli  in  Missouri  and  Oregon.     A  friend 
of  Senator  Limi,  he  discussed  with  him  the  features  of  his  famous  bill  of 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


fiSl 


coun- 


try schools,  though  they  were  still  supported  by  pri 


1841-2,  and  early  took  an  interest  in  Oregon  matters.  He  emigrated  with 
his  family  to  the  new  west  in  1847,  and  settled  in  Yamhill  County,  where  for 
many  years  he  lived,  a  iiseful  ami  honored  citizen.  He  waa  the  friend  of 
education  and  temperance.  E)arly  in  the  history  of  the  territorial  government 
he  was  elected  to  the  council;  and  in  the  political  excitement  of  the  civil  war 
of  1861-5,  was  an  ardent  supporter  of  the  administration.  In  18G3,  while  his 
eldest  son,  Jolin  R,  McBride,  waa  in  congress,  Dr  McBride  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  U.  S.  commissioner  to  the  Sandv/ich  Islands,  which  position  he 
held  for  several  years.  He  died  at  St  Helen,  Oregon,  in  Dec.  1875,  aged  73, 
leaving  a  numerous  family  of  useful  and  respected  sons  and  daughters. 
Portland  Oreijonian,  Dec.  25,  1875.  His  wife  Mahala,  a  woman  of  marked 
talent,  survived  him  2  years,  dying  February  23,  1877,  at  St  Helen.  Olympid 
Tran^criff,  March  3,  1877. 

Jeremiah  Ralston  in  1847  removed  from  Tennessee,  where  he  was  born 
in  1798.  He  laid  out  the  town  of  Lebanon,  Marion  County,  on  his  land 
claim.  He  died  Aug.  1877,  leaving  a  large  property,  a  wife,  and  7  children, 
namely,  Joseph  Ralston,  Tacoma;  William  Ralston,  Albany,  Or. ;  Charles  antl 
John  Ralston,  Lebanon;  Mrs  Moist,  Albany;  Mrs  D.  C.  Rowland,  Salem, 
Or.;  and  Mrs  Jolui  Hamilton,  Corvallis,  Or.  Seattle  Tribune,  Aug.  17,  1877. 

Luther  Collins  came  to  Oregon  in  1847,  residing  there  until  1850,  when  he 
went  to  Puget  Sound,  and  was  the  first  to  take  up  a  claim  in  what  is  now 
King  County.  He  was  drowned  in  the  Upper  Columbia  in  1852.  His 
widow,  a  native  of  New  York,  died  in  July  187(5,  leaving  2  children, 
Steplien  Collins  and  Mrs  Lucinda  Fares.  Seattle  IiHeUigencer,  July  8,  187t}. 

Andrew  J.  Simmons  arrived  in  Oregon  in  1847,  ami  settled  in  Cowlitz 
prairie.  He  died  Feb.  12,  1872,  in  Lewis  County,  of  which  ho  was  sherifl',  at 
the  age  of  45.  Seattle  Intelligencer,  Feb.  20,  1872;  Oli/mpia  Standard,  March 
2,  1872. 

Mr  and  Mrs  Everest  located  in  1847  near  Newburg  in  Yamhill  County, 
wliere  tlioy  permanently  settled.  They  were  both  born  in  Kng.  in  1792,  on 
tlie  8th  of  March,  being  of  ecpial  age.  They  reared  a  large  family,  most  of 
whom  married  and  liad  also  large  families,  nearly  all  living  on  the  same  sec- 
tion of  land.   Olf/nipia  Courier,  Aug.  9,  1873. 

Mrs  Agnes  Tallentine,  mother  of  Mr  Thomas  Tallentine,  died  at  01ymi)ia, 
April  13,  187G.  She  was  born  at  Harrisburg,  Pa.,  in  1820,  crossed  the  plains 
in  1847,  and  settled  in  the  Puget  Sound  country  in  1851.  She  left  2  children, 
a  son  and  a  daughter.  Olyrnpiii  Transcript,  April  15,  1876. 

Samui.'l  Fackler,  a  native  of  Md.,  in  1847  came  from  111.  to  Oregon,  and 
died  at  Bethany,  Marion  County,  Feb.  22,  1867,  aged  81  years.  Salem  Amer- 
ican Uniouiitt,  March  11,  1867. 

John  Davis  Crawford,  born  in  Onondaga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Aug.  16,  1824,  was 
by  trai'"  a  printer;  thence  he  came  to  Milan,  Ohio,  where  he  studied  law; 
but  repeated  solicitations  from  his  brother  Medorum  Crawford,  finally  induced 
him  to  come  to  Oregon  in  1847.  In  the  Cayuse  war  ho  was  appointed  in 
the  commissary  department  under  General  Palmer.  When  (Jeo.  L.  Curry 
established  the  Free  Prexs,  Crawford  waa  for  a  time  employt'<l  upon  that  paper 
as  printer;  but  when  the  California  gold  excitement  came,  h«  joined  the  exodus 
to  the  mines,  returning  soon  to  Oregon  with  some  of  the  precious  metiila,  with 
which  he  purchased  in  1851  a  half-ownership  in  the  Hoonier,  the  first  steam- 
boat that  ran  on  the  Willamette  River,  between  Oregon  City,  Portland,  and 
Vancouver;  and  afterward  on  tlie  upper  Willamette  and  Yamhill  rivers.  In 
1852  he  went  into  mercantile  business  with  Robert  Newell  in  Cliampoeg, 
where  he  continued  to  reside  till  the  flood  of  1861  swept  the  town  away.  Mr 
Crawford  was  a  member  of  the  state  legislature  in  1872.  He  was  a  mason,  a 
member  of  the  state  grange,  and  of  the  Oregon  pioneer  association.  He  died 
in  Clackamas  County  in  the  summer  of  1877.  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc.,  Trans., 
1877,  6G-7. 


f       t 


J^■ 


ii 

'1 


,!» 


iSiJll 


i 41 


632 


POLITICS  AND  PR0(j1RESS. 


vate   means.       To   this   addition   more  than  to  any 

Walter  Monteith,  witli  his  brother  Thomas  Monteith,  came  to  Oregon  in 
1847.  They  were  natives  of  Fulton  County,  New  York,  hut  wlieu  little  more 
than  20  removed  to  Wilmington,  Illinois,  emigrating  from  that  place  to  Oregon. 
The  brothers  purchiiHcd  ana  settled  upon  that  section  of  land  where  the  town 
of  Albany  now  stands,  and  laid  it  out  in  town  lots  in  1848.  The  rcsidt  was  an 
abundant  return  upon  tlioir  investments.  Like  many  others,  they  visited  the 
Californi.a  gold  mines,  and  returned  with  some  money  which  assisted  them  in 
starting  in  l)usines3.  The  first  liouse  in  Albany,  then  the  finest  residence  in 
Oregon,  wda  built  by  the  brothers  at  the  corner  of  Washington  and  Second 
streets.  In  1850  they  organized  a  company  of  which  they  were  the  principal 
members,  and  erected  the  Magnolia  Mills,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Calapooya 
Creek,  and  have  always  been  most  active  in  all  enterprises  which  luive  con- 
tributed to  the  prosperity  of  Albany.  Walter  Monteith  died  June  11,  187<>. 
He  had  married  in  18r)8  Margaret  Smith.  Three  sons  were  the  fruit  of  this 
union.  State  liiijhts  Democrat,  June  1(5  and  23,  1876. 

Henry  Warren  was  one  of  the  young  men  who  came  from  Missouri  to 
Oregon  to  help  build  a  state.  He  had  not  been  loQg  married,  and  brought  a 
wife  and  babe  to  the  new  land.  The  young  people  settled  in  Yamhill  County, 
where  tliey  remained  for  several  years,  until  Air  W^arren  was  appointed  re- 
ceiver of  the  land-office  at  Oregon  City.  His  eldest  son,  Charles  E.  Warren, 
was  carefully  eilucated  and  studied  law,  in  which  profession  he  graduated 
with  credit.  When  about  26  he  married  a  daughter  of  Ur  Henry  Saffarans, 
of  Oregon  City;  but  in  his  28th  year  died,  much  lamented,  disapi)ointiug  the 
hoi)e8  of  his  family  and  the  community.  Salem  Mercury,  April  3,  1874. 

Mrs  Jane  L.  Waller,  born  in  Fayette  County,  Kentucky,  in  1792,  was 
married  to  Thomas  C.  Waller  in  1815,  and  went  with  him  to  Illinoii,  where 
he  died,  leaving  her  with  a  family  of  several  young  children,  whom  she 
reared  and  educated,  and  witli  wliom  she  removed  to  Oregon,  settling  in  Polk 
County  in  1847.  Slie  lived  ii  useful  life,  respected  by  all,  and  died  full  of 
years  and  honor  Nov.  23,  1869,  being  77  years  old  on  the  day  of  her  death. 
Dallas  Time.'*,  Dec.  4,  18{>9;  Salem  Statesman,  Dec.  10,  1869. 

James  Davidson  was  born  in  Barren  County,  Ky.,  Aug.  30,  1792.  Like 
most  western  men  of  his  time,  he  was  self-educated;  but  his  talents  being 
above  the  average,  he  became  a  leader  among  his  fellows.  When  a  youth  he 
took  part  in  the  war  of  J812,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  the  Thames,  where 
Tecumseh  was  killed.  He  married  in  1817,  and  lived  at  Nashville,  Tcnuessee, 
from  1823  to  1829,  at  St  Louis  in  1830,  and  in  Greene  County,  Illinois,  from 
1831  to  1836.  He  then  removed  to  the  Black  Hawk  purchase,  Iowa,  and 
lived  in  Burlington  until  1847,  when  he  came  to  Oregon,  and  settled  in  Salem. 
Mr  Davidson  has  represented  his  county  .'u  the  legislature,  ami  in  all  respects 
enjoyed  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  neigldiors.  Nine  children  blcs.sed 
the  union.  His  sons,  Albert  and  Tliomas,  were  among  the  most  enterprising 
agriculturists  in  Oregon.  Albert,  the  elder,  first  came  to  Oregon  in  1845, 
and  returning,  induced  the  family,  and  many  others,  to  return  with  him. 
They  took  tlie  southern  route.  Salem  liecord,  Aug.  29,  1874;  Sakm  Statesman, 
Oct.  13,  1876. 

Nebuzardan  Cofifey,  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1790,  moved  to  Kentucky, 
where  in  1810  he  married  Miss  Easley,  l4  days  older  than  himself.  He  re- 
moved to  Illinois  in  1831,  and  came  to  Oregon  in  1847.  He  died  at  his  home 
in  Marion  County  on  tlie  20tli  of  January,  1867,  leaving  his  wife,  who  with 
liim  had  borne  the  vicissitudes  of  57  years  on  the  frontier.  Salem  Unionist, 
Feb.  11,  1867. 

Samuel  Headrick,  born  in  Pettis  Co.,  Mo.,  Nov.  13,  1836,  came  to  Oregon 
with  his  fatlier  when  a  boy.  Like  most  boys  who  crossed  the  plains,  he  early 
learned  self-reliance.  In  Marion  County  where  he  resided  Headrick  was 
esteemed  the  soul  of  honor  and  the  defeniler  of  the  right.  He  was  4  years 
sheriff  of  his  county,  and  2  years  treasurer  just  previous  to  his  death,  which 
occurred  Mf.cii  26,  1869.  Salem  Unioimt,  March  27,  1869. 


BIOfiRAPHICAL. 


033 


any 


previous  one  the  colony  was  indebted  for  improvements 

])r  John  P.  Ponjade  dird  at  his  residence  at  Gervais,  in  July  1875.  He 
was  born  in  France  in  171M),  and  was  a  surgeon  in  the  anny  of  Napoleon  181*2. 
Ho  came  to  Oregon  in  1847.  His  son,  T.  C.  Ponjade,  resided  in  .Salem.  Snkin 
Ji'ecord,  July  9,  187"). 

Robert  Crouch  Kinney  was  hovn  July  4,  1813,  in  St  Clair  Co.,  Hi.  At  20 
years  of  age  lie  married  Elizii  Bigelow,  and  shortly  afterward  removed  to  Mus- 
catine, Iowa,  of  which  city  he  was  one  of  the  principal  founders.  Engaging  in 
milling  hesiness,  he  remained  15  years  at  Muscatine,  when  tlie  tide  of  Oregon 
emigration  bore  him  to  the  shores  of  the  Pacific.  Settling  in  Yandiill  County, 
he  farmed  for  10  years,  save  a  short  interval  when  he  was  absent  at  the  gold 
mines  of  California.  He  served  in  the  territorial  legislature,  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  constituticmal  convention.  After  1857  he  returned  to  his  old 
business  of  milling,  and  with  his  sons  owned  large  llouring  mills  at  Salem, 
where  ho  died  March  *2,  1875.  Mr  Kinney  had  8  children.  Mrs  Mary  Jane 
Kinney  Smith,  wife  of  J.  H.  Smith  of  Harrisburg  in  Lane  County,  was  born 
December  Ki,  1839,  at  Muscatine.  Albert  William  Kinney,  wlio  married 
Virginia  Newby,  daughter  of  W.  T.  Ncwby,  was  born  at  Mu.scatinc,  Oct.  3, 
1843,  and  resided  at  Salem.  Augustus  Crouch  Kinney,  who  married  Jane 
Welch,  was  born  July  26,  1845,  at  Muscatine;  studied  medicine  and  lived 
at  Salem.  Marshall  Johnson  Kinney,  born  at  Muscatine,  January  31,  1847, 
resided  in  San  Francisco.  Alfred  Coleman  Kinney,  born  in  the  Chehalem 
Valley,  Yandiill  County,  January  30,  1850,  graduate<l  at  Ikllevue  Medical 
College,  New  York;  residence,  Portland.  Josepliinc  Elarena  Kinney  Walker, 
wife  of  James  S.  W'alker  of  San  Fra.icisco,  was  born  January  14,  1852,  in  the 
Chehfilem  Valley.  William  Sylvester  and  Eliza  Lee  Kinney  were  born  at 
Chehalem  in  1854  and  1858.  Robert  C.  Kinney  was  a  son  of  Samuel  Kinney, 
who  in  1800  settled  on  Horse  Prairie,  west  of  the  Kaskaskia  River,  Hlinois, 
and  Samuel  Kinney  waa  son  of  Joseph  Kinney,  who  in  1799  resided  near 
Louisville,  Ky. ,  ami  had  a  family  of  7  sons  and  4  daughters.  One  of  his  sons, 
William,  drove  the  first  wagon  over  the  road  from  tlie  Ohio  River  to  tlie  new 
home  of  the  family  in  Illinois,  of  which  state  he  was  afterwar<l  lieutenant- 
governor.  Robert  had  a  brother  named  Samuel  who  settled  in  West  Cheha- 
lem, and  who  died  October  20,  1875.  His  other  brothers  and  sisters  remained 
in  the  States.  Stilan  Farmer,  March  12,  1875;  Or.  Statesman,  March  G,  1875; 
Salem  Mercuri/,  March  5,  1875. 

Robert  Cowan,  a  native  of  Scotland,  emigrated  to  Missouri,  where  ho 
married,  and  joined  the  Oregon  companies  of  1847.  In  the  following  year  he 
settled  in  the  Unipqua  Valley,  Yoncalla  Precinct,  and  with  the  exception  of 
Levi  Scott  and  sons,  was  the  first  white  settler  in  Douglas  County.  '  His 
cabin  stood  near  the  old  trail  which  the  pioneer  gold-seekers  of  1848  and  1849 
travelled,  and  is  .'cmembered  by  many  as  the  last  mark  of  civilization  north 
of  the  Sacramento  Valley. '  He  was  killed  by  a  splinter  from  a  tree  which  he 
was  felling  March  9,  18G5.  Or.  Statesman,  March  20,  1805. 

Samuel  Allen  settled  on  the  Abiqua,  in  Marion  County 

Jost-ph  Hunsaker  settled  10  miles  south  of  Salem. 

J.  H.  Pruett  resided  at  McMiniiville  in  Yandiill  County. 

Jacob  Comegys,  of  Hagcrstown,  Md.,  born  1798,  came  to  Oregon  in  1847; 
lemoved  to  San  JosiS,  Cal.,  in  1850,  where  he  died  in  1870. 

Charles  Sanborn  was  disowned  in  the  Willamette  River  near  Eugene  City, 
Oct.  1875. 

John  F.  Taylor  never  hail  a  home,  but  lived  among  the  old  settlers,  dying 
at  the  age  of  78,  and  buried  at  public  charge,  an  exception  generally  in  his 
habits  to  hia  old  companions. 

J.  C.  Crooks,  of  Marion  County. 

Samuel  Whitley  resided  on  the  southern  border  of  Marion  County- — a 
native  of  V^irginia — and  dieil  September  18(18,  aged  80  years. 

William  S.  Barker,  a  cabinet-maker,  settled  at  Salem,  where  he  died  July 
2,  18G9,  having  been  a  respected  citizen  of  Oregon  for  22  years. 


1     fl 


POLITICS  AND  PROGRESS. 


in  stock  and  farm  products,  and  particularly  in  fruit- 

William  Whitney,  a  native  of  Sately,  Huutingdonshire,  England,  boni  in 
1808,  at  the  age  of  19  married  Elizabeth  Taylor  of  Bourn,  Lincolnshire,  and 
moved  to  the  United  States  in  1832.  Their  first  residence  waa  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; from  there  they  removed  to  Indiana,  and  in  1847  joined  the  emigi-ation 
to  Oregon,  having  at  this  time  a  family  of  G  children.  Whitney  settled  in 
Marion  County,  and  in  1848  went  to  the  California  mines  and  Met  with  good 
success.  He  died  at  Buttevillo  June  1,  1878,  3  years  after  his  wife,  who 
died  April  4,  1875. 

Rev.  P.  J.  McCormick,  who  came  to  Oregon  in  the  ship  L'^loile  dn  Matin, 
before  mentioned,  was  a  man  of  very  plain  p.irts,  and  of  an  Irish  family  of  not 
the  very  best  blood.  On  arriving  at  Oregon  City  he  was  stationed  there  for 
some  time,  whei'e  he  was  compelled  to  perform  every  menial  service,  even  to 
washing  his  linen,  though  a  man  of  accomplishments.  Falling  ill  from  this 
cheerless  way  of  living,  he  wiis  ordered  to  the  uplands  of  Chili,  wliere  ho 
resided  20  years;  thence  returning  to  Oregon,  he  resided  there  until  his  death 
in  1874,  Avell  known  for  his  tiilents  and  virtues.  Portland  Bulletin,  Dec.  14, 
1^<4.^ 

William  McKinney  was  bom  in  Howard  County,  Missouri,  Aug.  20,  1820. 
In  April  1S47  he  married  Matilda  Darby,  and  started  with  the  emigration  for 
Oregon,  settling  in  Marion  County.  He  died  Oct.  20,  1875,  leaving  iv  family 
of  11  children,  to  whose  welfare  he  was  truly  devoted.  In  losing  him  the 
community  lost  a  good  citizen.  Portland  Oreipnian,  Nov.  G,  1875. 

James  Fulton,  Lorn  at  Paoli,  Orange  County,  Ind.,  in  181G,  emigrated  to 
Missouri  in  1840  and  to  Oregon  in  1847.  His  father  laid  out  tlie  town  of 
Paoli,  and  with  Blackstone,  flallowell,  Lindley,  and  Hopper,  built  the  Half- 
Moon  Fort  at  that  place  in  (Jen.  Harrison's  campaign.  Settled  in  Yamhill 
County,  M'here  he  remained  for  10  years,  when  he  removed  to  the  Dalles,  his 
present  rvjsidence.  Mr  Fulton's  Dalks  and  E  i-stern  Oirjon,  MS. ,  contains  some 
uistructive  matter  concerning  the  changes  which  have  taken  place  since  the 
settlement  of  the  country,  in  the  character  of  the  soil  and  also  in  the  climate. 
It  furnishes,  besides,  some  facts  of  importance  concerning  the  title  to  the 
Dalles  town  site,  which  has  been  long  in  litigation. 

Ephraim  Adams,  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1799,  removed  in  1835  to  Ohio,  in 
1839  to  Missouri,  and  thence  to  Oregon  with  his  family.  Located  in  Yaudiill 
County,  he  spent  the  remainder  of  a  long  life  in  Oregon,  dying  January  15, 
1870,  at  McMin!iville,  respected  and  regretted  by  his  acquaiufcmces  of  29 
years.   O/:  Slateamaii,  Jan.  22,  187G. 

H.  L.  Aikin,  born  in  England  in  1818,  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  the 
United  States  in  his  childhood.  At  the  age  of  29  he  left  Illinois,  where  his 
father  was  settled,  to  go  to  Oregon.  He  cliose  a  residence  in  Clatsop  County, 
where  he  lived  a  man  of  note  m  his  community,  dying  at  Astoria  in  April 
1875,  leaving  3  immediate  descendants,  a  son  and  2  daughters,  his  wife 
having  died  before  him.  Portland  Oretjoniim,  April  24,  1875;  Or.  City  Enter- 
pru^e,  April  23,  1875. 

Isaiic  W.  Bewley  began  the  westward  movement  by  leaving  Indiana  for 
Missouri  in  1837,  and  thence  on  to  Oregon.  He  is  a  brother  of  John  W. 
Bewley,  of  Lafayette,  Ind. ,  and  of  Rev.  Anthony  Bewley,  who  was  hanged 
by  a  southern  mob  in  Texas,  at  the  breaking-out  of  the  rebellion,  for  hia  fear- 
less advocacy  of  human  riglits.  Mr  I.  W.  Bewley  settled  on  a  farm  in  Tilla- 
mook County,  Oregon,  about  as  near  sunset  as  any  spot  in  the  United  States. 
Lafayette  (Ind.)  live,  in  Portland  Oreijonian,  Oct.  31,  1874. 

Tollman  H.  Rolfe,  a  printer,  joined  the  Oregon  immigration  of  1847,  but 
proceeded  in  the  spring  of  1848  to  California,  where  he  was  engaged  on  the 
Star.  TuthiWs  llixt.  Cal.,  215.  He  was  elected  alcalde  of  Yuba  County,  and 
afterward,  in  1853,  went  to  Nevada  City,  where  he  was  employed  on  the 
Journal,  and  afterward  started  the  Nevada  Democrat,  which  he  edited  in 
company  with  his  brother,  I.  J.  Rolfe.  Wlien  Austin  was  founded  Rolfe 
went  to  that  place,  and  for  a  time  edited  the  Reveille,  but  returned  to  Nevada 


BIOORAFHICAL. 


686 


raising. 


The  men  of  1847  were  not  like  those  of  1843 


City,  and  edited  the  Gazette.  He  several  times  fdlod  the  offico  of  city  trustee, 
aii(f  about  1870  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  which  ofliee  ho  held  until 
failing  health  drove  him  to  San  Bernardino,  wliero  he  died  in  1872. 

William  Allphin,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  was  horn  Nov.  17,  1777.  On  be- 
coming of  age  he  removed  to  Indiana,  settled  at  Indianapolis,  ami  engaged  in 
the  manuiacture  of  brick,  furnishing  the  material  for  the  walls  of  tiie  state- 
house  in  that  city.  In  1837  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  10  years  later  to  Ore- 
gon, where  he  located  in  Linn  County,  8  miles  cast  of  Albany.  He  was  twice 
a  member  of  the  territorial  legislature,  and  held  several  other  offices  to  which 
he  was  elected  by  the  people.  He  died  October  187(5,  within  13  months  of 
the  age  of  100  years,  leaving  a  memory  revered.  CorvalUs  Gazette,  Oct.  13,  187G; 
Albany  Weekly  Jieyister,  Dec.  11,  187(5;  Salem  Slateninan,  Oct.  13,  187(5. 

A.  N.  Locke,  born  in  Virginia  in  1810,  moved  to  Mo.  in  1820,  and  to 
Oregon  in  1847.  He  was  among  the  late  arrivals  of  that  year,  '  having  suH'ered 
incredible  hardships.'  He  settled  in  Benton  County  a  few  miles  north  of 
Corvallis.  There  ho  lived  for  many  years,  and  raised  a  large  and  interesting 
family.  He  was  several  times  sheriff  and  county  judge,  filling  these  positions 
in  an  honorable  manner,  and  enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  the 
county  he  served.  He  died  on  tlie  14th  of  October,  1872.  CorvaUht  Gazette, 
Oct.  18,  1872. 

Robert  Houston,  born  in  Matlison  County,  Kentucky,  February  1793, 
removed  to  Slielby  County,  Ohio,  in  1805,  and  resided  there  until  1847.  In 
1827  ho  married  Mi**"  Mary  Brown,  having  by  her  G  children.  While  residing 
in  Ohio,  he  served  as  associate  justice  for  7  years,  and  lilli'd  other  stations  of 
trust  with  credit.  On  reaching  Oregon  in  September  1847,  he  selected  a  farm 
in  Linn  County,  where  he  resided  till  his  death  in  September  lS7(i,  surrounded 
by  his  children  and  grandchildren,  and  esteemed  by  all.  He  lived  long  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  simple  pleasures  of  country  life,  as  he  had  desired.  Albany 
fitate  Ili(jhts  Demorrat,  Sept.  15,  187(5. 

Leander  C.  Burkhart  was  born  in  Hawkins  County,  East  Tennessee,  Nov. 
14,  1823.  Emigrating  to  Oregon  in  1847,  he  settled  in  Linn  County,  in  company 
with  his  father,  and  a  numerous  relationship,  amassing  a  large  fortune  with- 
out losing  his  high  reputation  for  integrity,  being  possessed  of  a  sterling  worth 
acknowledged  by  all  men.  He  died  at  his  residence  half  a  mile  east  of  Albany, 
November  3,  1875. 

Samuel  Laughlin  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1791,  removed  to  Missouri 
in  1823,  where  lie  resided  until  1847,  being  twice  married,  and  having  7  e'lil- 
dren  by  each  wife,  an  equal  number  of  boys  and  girls. 

Mrs  Asenath  M.  Luelling  Bozarth,  daughter  of  Henderson  Luclliug,  came 
with  her  parents  to  Oregon  from  Indiana  in  1847.  She  was  the  mother  of 
11  children,  4  sons  and  7  daughters,  10  of  whom  survived  her.  She  died  at 
the  home  of  her  husband,  John  S.  Bozarth,  on  Lewis  River,  Cowlitz  County, 
where  she  had  resided  22  years,  on  the  30th  of  November,  1874,  aged  40  years. 
Vancouver  Reii'mter,  Dec.  25,  1874. 

Charles  Hubbard  settled  at  what  is  now  Hubbard  Station,  in  Marion 
County,  in  the  spring  of  1848.  Mrs  Margaret  Hubbard  died  at  her  home  in 
that  place  December  7,  1879,  aged  08  years.  She  was  a  native  of  Ky.,  but 
married  Mr  Hubbard  in  Mo.  After  marriage  she  resided  in  I'ike  County,  111. 
Had  she  lived  a  few  days  longer,  her  golden  wedding  would  have  bejn  cele- 
brated. She  was  the  mother  of  4  sons  and  3  daughters.  Portland  Oretjoman, 
Dec.  13,  1879. 

Hugh  Harrison  was  born  in  Harrison  Co.,  Ky.,  whicn  county  w;is  named 
after  his  grandfather.  He  was  for  several  years  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  with 
Kit  Carson,  but  settled  in  South  Salem  in  1847,  where  ho  died  at  the  age  of 
76  years,  May  27,  1877.  Portland  Standard,  June  1,  1877. 

Joseph  Merrill,  born  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  Nov.  15,  1818,  removed  with  his 
parents  to  111.  at  the  age  of  10  years,  returned  to  Ohio  when  he  attained  his 
majority,  and  married  the  next  year  a  Miss  Freeman  of  Chillicothe,  the  cere- 


■,;    :t   ,(1: 


5'    *  f!ai,i 


G»G 


POLITICS  AND  I'ROCiRESS. 


m 


and  1844  animated  by  a  romantic  idea  of  founding  a 

ninny  l)eing  perfonncil  by  .Tustico  of  the  I'e.u'o  Thurniaii,  afterward  U.  S. 
Munator  from  Ohio.  Merrill  Hubsoqucntly  returned  to  111.,  where  he  resided 
until  1847.  In  the  spring  of  1848  ho  Hottled  in  Culiunl>ia  County,  Oregon. 
Jlo  died  at  hin  home  May  (>,  187!*,  regretted  by  the  community  in  which  he 
lived.    J'orfliuii/  iS/diitlard,  May  i;{,  187!). 

Mrs  John  Ki.sher  lost  her  hu.sliand  at  the  crossing  of  the  I'latte  River, 
Juno  C,  1847;  and  on  Snake  River  she  hurieil  her  little  girl  2  years  of  age. 
Sho  arrived  late  in  the  autumn  at  Tualatin  plains,  where  during  the  winter 
fiho  iru!t  W.  A.  Mills,  who  had  arrived  in  184U.  He  propo.sed  marriage,  and 
they  were  united  in  1848,  continuing  to  resiilo  near  Hill.ihoro.  Mrs  Mills  liad 
5  children,  2  sons  and  3  daughters.  JShe  was  bora  in  Wayne  County,  Ind., 
April  20,  1822,  an<l  died  I>eeend)er  11,  18G9.  Salnn.  Fnniici;  March  2(5,  1870. 

William  (Jlover  settled  in  Marion  County.  Mrs  Jano  Jett  Oraves  (Hover 
was  born  in  "'ttsylvania  Co.,  Va.,  in  1827,  removed  with  her  parents  to  Mis- 
souri in  183v,  and  was  married  to  William  (Jlover  in  1S4;{,  with  whom  she  came 
to  Oregon  in  1847.     She  died  December  31,  187().  Id.,  Jan.  12,  1877. 

Lcander  L.  Davis  was  born  iu  Belmont  Co.,  Ohio,  and  crossed  the  plains 
in  1847,  settling  in  Marion  Co.  He  served  in  the  state  legislature  iu  1800.  He 
died  Juno  21),  1874,  at  Silverton,  aged  48  years.   /(/.,  July  4,  1874. 

Mr.s  Olive  Warren  Chand>erlaiu  was  born  in  Covington,  New  York,  Feb. 
12,  1822.  While  sho  was  a  child,  her  father,  an  itinerant  Methodist  preacher, 
removed  with  her  to  Michigan,  where  in  1843  sho  nuirried  Joseph  Chamber- 
lain, and  came  to  Oregon.  She  was  the  mother  of  10  children,  8  of  whom 
survive  her.  She  died  October  27,  1874,  at  Salem.  Salem,  Or.,  Statesman, 
Nov.  7,  1874. 

Mrs  R.  A.  Ford,  who  settled  with  her  husband  in  Marion  County  in  1847, 
after  becoming  a  widow  studied  medicine,  and  practised  in  Salem,  educating 
a  son  for  the  profession.  She  died  iu  March  1880,  iu  the  city  of  Portland. 
Portland  Standard,  April  2,  1880. 

T.  S.  Kinsey  died  at  Cornelius,  in  Washington  County,  November  15,  1877. 

John  Jcwctt  died  January  25,  1880. 

William  H.  Dillon  was  a  native  of  Kent  Co.,  Del.,  from  which  he  removed 
when  a  child  to  the  Scioto  Valley  in  Ohio.  When  a  young  man  he  removed 
again  to  Iiuliana,  and  thence  to  Oregon.  Dillon  lived  one  year  on  Sauv(5 
Island,  when  he  went  to  tlic  California  gold  mines,  returning  iu  a  few  months 
with  a  competency,  and  settling  near  Vancouver. 

Samuel  T.  McKean  was  from  Delaware  County,  New  York,  where  he 
married  a  Miss  Hicks  in  1817,  and  removed  to  Richmond,  Ohio,  from  M'hich 
place  many  years  later  he  again  removed  to  Illinois,  where  he  foun<led  the 
town  of  Chillicothe,  naming  it  after  the  old  Indian  village  of  that  name 
in  Ohio.  When  he  came  to  Oregon  he  had  a  family  of  G  children.  In  the 
autumn  of  1848  the  family  settled  at  Astoria,  remaining  there  till  18(i3, 
when  they  removed  to  San  Jos(?,  C.il.  During  hia  residence  iu  Oregon  Mc- 
Kean hold  several  places  of  trust  and  honor,  as  member  of  the  legislative 
assembly,  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  Clatsop  County,  and  afterward  as 
county  judge,  and  president  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  town  of  Astoria. 
He  died  at  San  Jos^  iu  1873,  and  his  wife  followed  him  in  1877,  leaving  many 
descendants.  San  Joni  Pioneer,  April  28,  1877. 

John  W.  (Jrim  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1820.  He  settled  on  French  Prairie 
near  Butteville.  I  have  a  valuable  manuscript  by  him  entitled  Emh/rant 
A  necdotes,  which  treats  in  an  easy  conversational  style  of  the  events  of  the 
journey  overland,  his  settlement  iu  Oregon,  the  Cayuse  war,  the  Canadian 
French,  etc. 

George  La  Rocque,  a  native  of  Canada,  was  bom  near  Montreal  in  1820. 
At  the  ago  of  10  he  entered  the  United  States,  and  like  most  Canadians, 
soon  sought  employment  of  the  fur  companies.  Being  energetic  and  intelli- 
gent, he  became  useful  to  the  American  Fur  Company,  with  whom  he  re- 


1 M MK HIATIONS   C( ).MrAKi;D. 


637 


Pacific  state.     Tlu^y  realized    that   this  had  already 

inaincd  8  years,  finally  leaving  the  service  and  settling  in  Oregon,  near  hia 
f.iriner  friend,  K.  X.  Miittliitu,  on  French  I'niirio.  When  tlie  gold  diseoveries 
attracted  nearly  tlio  wluilu  adult  male  jxipulation  (if  Oregon  to  Cal.,  he 
joine<l  in  tlii^  exodus,  returning  soon  with  .^r_',tK)().  Tiiis  capital  invested  in 
liusiness  at  Hutteville  anil  Oregon  (  ity  made  him  a  fortune,  lie  died  at  Oak- 
land, Cal,  Fel).  '2'A,  1877.  Onyoii  Ci/i/  KntnfmKi',  March  <S,  1877. 

Ashliel  Merrill  died  at  Fort  Hall,  his  wife,  .Sirs  Susannah  Sigler  Merrill, 
and  children  iiursuing  tiieir  way  to  Oregon.  Mrs  Mcsrrill  was  horn  in  the 
Shenandoah  Valley,  Virginia,  Mareli  20,  KSIM).  She  was  married  to  Ashhel 
Meriill  A[)ril 'J.'f,  182H,  in  Ross  Co.,  Ohio,  and  nifived  to  Illinois,  ami  thetieo 
in  1847  to  Ongon.  Tiieir  ciiildren  were  William,  (Jeorge,  .Mary  A.,  Kmerit,' 
Lyman,  Kleeta,  Alvin,  and  Lyda.  Six  of  these  resided  in  Oregon,  ehielly  in 
('olumhia  C'o.,  and  had  numerous  families.  Mrs  Merrill  has  celebrated  her 
82d  hirth.lay.  St.  J/rl,n  Coliimhidii,  .March  :?1,  IHSl. 

Josciih  Carey  (Jeer  went  from  Windom,  Conn.,  to  Ohio,  in  181(!.  The 
family  removed  to  111.,  and  from  there  to  Oregon.  The  founder  of  the  Ore- 
gon family  of  (leer  was  horn  in  171)5.  He  .settled  in  Yamiull  county  in  1847, 
and  in  the  nuiidier  of  his  deacen<lants  has  outdone  the  Canadians,  there  heing 
of  his  line  1(14  on  the  Pacific  coast,  all  honoral)le  men  and  virtuous  women, 
besides  being  physically  people  of  weight.    I'orUiiinl  West  Shore,  Feb.  1880. 

Itjdph  C.  (leer  was  tlie  pioneer  nurseryman  of  Marion  County.  He  also 
taught  the  first  public  school  in  the  seetifin  where  he  settled,  having  30  pupils 
in  1848,  all  but  4  of  whom  were  living  30  years  afterward — a  proof  that  the 
climate  liatl  nothing  to  do  with  the  fatal  character  of  the  diseases  which  car- 
ried off  the  natives  in  early  times.  (Jeer  planted  apple  and  pear  seeds  to  start 
his  nursery  in  the  re<l  soil  of  the  Waldo  hills,  which  he  found  to  be  excellent 
for  )■'  purpose.  His  father  also  put  an  eipial  amount  of  apple  and  pear  seeds 
in  the  black  soil  of  the  Clackamas  bottoms,  but  was  disa[ipointed  in  the 
returns,  which  were  not  equal  to  the  Waldo  hills,  where  It.  C.  (Jeer  has  had 
a  fruit  farm  and  nursery  for  more  than  30  years. 

Henderson  Luelling  and  William  Meek,  immigrants  of  1847,  took  to  Ore- 
gon a  'travelling  nursery,' which  was  begun  in  1845,  by  planting  trees  and 
shrubs  in  boxes  1'2  inches  deep,  and  just  long  and  wide  enougli  to  (ill  the  bed 
of  a  wagon.  In  this  way,  protected  by  a  frame  to  prevent  cattle  from  brows- 
ing them,  700  young  trees  were  safely  carried  across  2,(X)I)  miles  of  land,  and 
set  out  at  a  place  called  Milwaukee,  on  the  Willamette  Kiver,  below  Oregon 
City,  having  been  taken  out  of  the  boxes  at  the  Dalles,  and  carefully  wrai)ped 
in  cloths  to  protect  them  from  frost  or  injury  by  hamlling  <luring  the  transit 
from  the  Dalles  to  their  destination  by  l)oat.  The  experiment  was  hiiccess- 
ful,  and  Meek  and  Luelling  were  "the  first  great  nur.seryman  of  Oregon,  and 
afterward  of  ( 'al. 

John  Wilson  drove  to  the  Willamette  Valley  a  nundier  of  choice  Durham 
cattle,  from  Henry  Clay's  lierd,  at  Ulue  (Jrass  (Jrove,  III.,  and  also  .some  fine 
horses,  greatly  to  the  improvement  of  tiie  stock  in  tlie  valley.  J.  C.  Geer 
also  drove  a  tine  cow  from  this  herd. 

Stephen  IJonser,  who  settled  on  Sauvi''  Island,  drove  a  herd  of  choice 
cattle,  winch  improved  the  stock  on  the  Columbia  River  i)ottoms. 

Luther  Savage  took  to  the  Willamette  Valley  a  blood  race-horse  called 
(Jeorge,  whoso  descendants  are  nuuierons  and  valuable. 

A  Mr  Fields  drove  a  (lock  of  tine  sheep  from  Missouri,  winch  he  took  to 
the  Waldo  hills.  Before  getting  .settled  he  and  his  wife  both  <lied  under  a 
large  fir-tree,  with  the  measles.  The  .sluup  were  suM  at  auction  m  small  lets; 
and  being  superior,  the  Fields  sheep  are  still  a  favorite  bree  '  in  Oregon. 
Headrick,  Tur]iin,  and  Mulkey  took  a  tlock  of  line  sheep.  '  ^lin's  were 
Saxony.  This  lot  stocked  Howell  J'rairie.  R.  I'atton  took  a  l;.rge  liock  to 
Yandull  County. 

Mr  Haun  of  Haun's  Mills,  Mo.,  carried  a  pair-  of  mill  bulir-stouea  across 
the  plains  to  Oregon. 


'  \\ 


M 


4] 


.  X    .83M 


688 


POLITICS   AND  riiOOUESS 


been  done,  and  came  to  j^ather  whatever  advanta<jfe 
was  to  flow  from  it  to  tlioir  generation. 

A.  R.  Dimiok  carriecl  the  soedt  of  the  '  eurly, '  or  'shaker  l>luc,' potato  from 
Mich.,  iilaiitiiiu  thuin  on  his  farm  in  tlie  north  part  of  Marion  Co.  From  titutiu 
Hueilii  Hprnng  tliu  famoiiH  Dimick  potato,  tlie  Ituut  raised  in  Oregon. 

Mr  Wat.son  of  KingM  Valley,  iJunton  Co.,  drove  some  Hliort-horn  stock  to 
Oregon.  'I'iie  above  note.s  are  taken  from  (IvvrH  lUnodiil  CnllU',  M.S.,  a  valn- 
l)le  eontriliiition  on  ♦>ho  origin  of  utock  in  the  Willamette  Valley.  See  aUo 
his  addresM  before  the  pioneer  assooiation  for  1870,  on  the  immigration  of 
1847;  Mce  also  Sulcni  Or.  SUUcHtnnti,  .Inne  20,  1871). 

John  K.  Ros.s  wa.s  horn  in  MadiHon  Co.,  Ohio,  Fel).  15,  1818.  Emigrated 
with  hi.i  parents  to  Ind.  when  10  years  of  age,  and  to  111.  when  IG  years  ol<l. 
At  the  age  of  'Ji)  ho  started  for  Or.,  and  was  eapt.  of  his  train  of  forty 
wagons.  In  the  Cayuso  war  whieh  broke  out  soon  after  he  arrived  in  Or.  ho 
served  as  lieut  and  cajit.  He  resided  for  Home  time  at  Oregon  City,  engaged 
in  various  pursuits.  When  gold  was  discovered  in  Cal.  he  went  to  thu 
Feather  River  mines,  and  in  bS.'U),  after  having  returned  to  Oregon,  explored 
in  the  southern  valleys  and  in  northern  (,'al.  for  gold,  discovering  several  rich 
placers,  known  as  Yankee  Jim's,  Wambo  IJar,  Jacksonville,  etc.  For  a 
numbers  of  years  ho  was  almost  constantly  engaged  either  in  mining  or  selling 
supplies  to  miners;  and  in  18.V2  again  commanded  a  company  wlio  went  out 
to  light  the  Indians  on  the  southern  route.  In  Ihe  winter  of  18,VJ-,'l  ho  was 
married  to  Klizabcth  Hopewood,  of  Jacksonville,  theirs  being  the  iirst  wed- 
ding solemnized  in  that  place.  Tliey  have  !)  cliildren,  ")  gu'ls  .and  4  boys. 
When  the  Rogue  River  war  broke  out,  in  IS."),'!,  Ross  was  elected  col.,  and 
again  in  18.55  was  elected  col.  of  the  Oth  reg.,  and  commissioned  by  Oov. 
Davis.  He  w.is  a  member  of  tho  ter.  council  in  the  sanu;  year;  and  in  18(30 
was  elected  to  the  state  leg.  When  the  Modoc  war  broke  out,  in  1872,  ho 
was  connnissioncd  by  (Jov.  Grover  as  brig. -gen.  in  command  of  the  state 
troops.  In  1878  he  was  a  member  of  the  st;itc  senate  from  the  county  of 
.Tackson,  where  he  has  resided  for  maiiy  years.  The  Saliin  Slutf'oiiiDi,  in 
remarking  upon  the  personal  appearance  of  Ross,  describes  him  as  having  a 
well-shaped  head,  pleasant  face,  and  a  reserved  but  agreeable  manner  y|.s7j- 
III  ml  Tii/iiKj.f,  Dee.  VA,  1878.  One  whole  night  I  spent  with  Ross  at  Jackson- 
ville, writing  down  his  experiences;  and  when  at  early  dawn  my  driver 
summoned  mo,  I  resumed  my  journey  under  a  sickening  sensation  from  the 
tales  of  l)loo(iy  butcheries  in  which  the  gallant  colonel  had  so  gloriously 
participated 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

THE    WHITMAN    MASSACRE. 

1847 

SAVAOES  as  .1  ilANDIWORK  OF  THE  CREATOR — TlIET  MIGHT  HAVE  BEES  BeTIER 

Made— Bit  They  ahe  nop  so  mitcii  Worse  than  White  Me;?,  who  are 
Bad  E.NoriiH— Rival  Claimants  for  the  Rewards  to  Follow  their 
Conversion — Portentous  Clouds  Hanging  over  Marcus  Whitman — 
Strange  He  cannot  See  the  Darkening  Sky— The  Natives  Maddened 
BY  THE  White  Man's  Diseases,  and  iiv  the  Coming-in  ot  so  Many  to 
Take  from  Them  their  Lands — Attitude  of  Catholics  and  Protes- 
tants— Rival  Roads  to  Heaven — The  Savages  Prefer  their  Own 
Way — And  thereupon  They  Perpetrate  a  Most  Horrible  Deed. 


The  origin  of  Indian  wars  is  always  much  the  same. 
Mother  Nature  is  a  capricious  parent  ami  feeds  and 
clothes  her  children  indifferently  well.  In  1805  Lewis 
and  Clarke  saw  the  Columbia  Valley  tribes  at  their 
best.  They  had  apparently  attained  to  as  nuich  com- 
fort and  were  as  healthy  and  powerful  as  under  the  cir- 
cumstances they  could  be.  Could  they  have  remained 
in  that  condition  for  generations,  there  is  no  reason  to 
doubt  that  they  would  have  continued  to  enjoy  such 
peace  and  prosperity  as  belongs  to  savage  life.  Nor 
would  it  be  contrary  to  the  course  of  things  to  expect 
them  to  advance  morally  and  intellectually,  even 
while  living  under  such  hard  conditions.  Tlie  savages 
of  the  upper  Columbia  were  very  good  men,  for 
savages.  It  is  true,  tliey  were  thieves,  and  if  their 
natural  benevolence  prompted  them  to  relieve  the 
necessities  of  tlie  white  strangers,  they  rewarded 
themselves   the  first  opportunity.^     Thieving  was   a 

There  is  no  generosity  in  an  Indian  that  I  have  ever  seen  in  all  my 
experience.'  Strongs  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  CO.  Oao  might  say  the  same  with  equal 
pertinence  of  white  men. 

'  C.3D ) 


1 1;  _ 
II  ;i 


MO 


THE   WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


legitimate  means  of  securing  themselves  against  want, 
and  lying  only  a  defence  against  discovery  and  loss. 

When  the  pleasing  ceremonies  of  the  Catholic 
religion  were  introduced,  giving  them  under  certain 
restrictions  the  right  of  appeal  to  a  superior  intelli- 
gence and  power,  who  would  have  compassion  on  their 
sufferings  if  they  conformed  to  requirements  which 
their  reason  showed  them  to  be  just,  they  seized  will- 
ingly and  even  joyfully  upon  the  prospect.  After 
})ractising  these  forms  for  several  years  with  remark- 
able constancy,  and  finding  themselves  better  off  than 
before,  inasmuch  as  tliey  were  more  at  peace  with  each 
other,  and  enjoyed  further  the  pleasures  of  human 
society  and  intercourse  with  something  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  senses,  the  race  from  which  they  under- 
stood this  beneficial  reli<xion  to  be  derived  betj:an  to 
make  its  appearance  among  them. 

The  first  feeling  that  is  awakened  by  the  contact 
of  the  two  races  is  covetousness.  There  are  men 
who  have  everything  desirable,  and  pretend  to  what 
they  persist  in  calling  the  devil's  gift,  the  knowledge 
of  good  and  evil.  The  Indian  wished  to  steal,  to 
take  these  things  at  once,  as  soon  as  he  saw  them  or 
learned  their  use ;  but  was  restrained  by  fear  of  the 
consequences.^  Then  came  to  him  in  this  dilennna 
the  offer  of  knowledge,  which  lie  immediately  seized 
up(m  as  a  legitimate  means  to  the  end  he  coveted,  the 
possession  of  property.  The  offer  of  knowledge  was 
accompanied  by  the  tender  of  a  new  religion ;  but  to 
that  no  objection  was  made.  What  tliey  knew  of  the 
white  man's  religion  was  good;  why  should  more  of  it 
harm  tlieni  ?  If  it  made  the  others  wise,  powerful,  and 
rich,  why  not  ado})t  it?     Thus  t)iere  was  no  difhculty 

*Rev.  Thomas  Condon,  at  the  Dalles,  going  away  from  home  with  his  fam- 
ily, luft  a  tloniewticatod  nati\o  in  ohargo  of  liis  houso.  Returning,  \\v  found 
liis  servant  sitting  outside  tiie  house,  shivering  in  the  cold;  and  on  aaiting 
him  why  he  did  not  remain  hy  tlie  comfortalile  lire,  was  told  tliat  tlie  tempta- 
tion of  seeing  so  many  useful  and  desirable  things,  together  witli  the  oppor- 
tunity of  appropriating  them,  had  been  so  tormenting  to  him,  that  he  liad 
voluntarily  banislied  himself  from  their  presence  rather  than  take  them  and 
subject  himself  to  the  eonseciueuces. 


THE  GENTLE  SAVAGE. 


G41 


ail 


about  introducing  missionaries.  Without  doubt,  tlieie 
was  a  strong-  desire  on  the  part  of  the  natives  to  be 
taught.  T]\e  mistake  their  teacliers  made  was  in 
believing  it  to  be  a  proof  of  their  spiritual  suscepti- 
bility, when  it  was,  in  fact,  an  evidence  of  a  natural 
emulation,  to  put  themselves  on  a  footing  with  the 
superior  race.  In  this  n.attcr  both  teachers  and 
pupils  were  deceived ;  the  savage  in  expecting  to  ac- 
quire in  a  single  life-time  tlie  civilization  which  was 
the  slow  growth  of  unknown  ages;  the  missionary  in 
believing  that  he  could  graft  on  this  wild  stock  a  germ 
whose  fruit  would  not  be  tinctured  with  the  bitter  sap 
of  the  uncultivated  tree. 

Having  once  entered  into  rektions  ( f  teacher  and 
learner,  it  was  not  easy  to  dissolve  them,  unless  by 
violence.  The  longer  they  remained  in  this  position 
the  more  difficult  it  became.  \nd  yet  in  1847,  and 
for  many  years  before,  it  had  been  evident  that  if  a 
failure  of  mission  usefulness  w^as  not  certain,  success 
in  that  direction  was  doubtful.  The  reason  of  the 
failure  sprang  in  a  great  measure  from  the  character- 
istic covetousness  of  the  aboriginal,  and  his  inability 
to  understand  why  it  was  that  he  could  not  at  once 
b(icome  the  equal  of  his  teacher.  Here  his  self-love 
was  mortified.  He  began  to  suspect  that  his  teachers 
wore  governed  by  selfish  and  sinister  motives  in  in- 
truding into  his  country.  The  more  white  men  he  saw 
the  more  this  conviction  grew.  They  did  not  all 
pi'actise  Aviiat  the  missionaries  taught ;  and  why  then 
should  lie  ?  Was  it  not  all  a  scheme  to  get  possession 
of  his  country?  They  were  losing  faith  in  everything 
wlien  the  Catholic  fathers  began  to  interfere  ^  with 
tlie  Protestant  missions,  reminding  them  of  the  good 
times  when  they  were  all  Catholics,  and  no  one  had 
disturbetl.  the  old  harmony  of  tlioir  lives. 

It  was  difficult  to  control  indolent,  im[)atient,  jealous, 
jind  v,s'erbearing  savages,  even  when  they  were  most 

"'  I  refer  here  to  the  visits  of  tlio  priests  several  years  earlier.     There  waa 
at  this  time  no  Catliolie  mission  in  the  Walla  Walla  Valley. 
Hist   On.,  Vol.  I.    41 


642 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


strongly  animated  witli  a  desire  to  be  made  acquainted 
with  the  white  man's  civiHzation.  But  the  moment 
a  controversy  appeared  among  the  white  instructors, 
and  it  was  observed  that  they  denied  tlie  vaHdity  of 
each  other's  behefs,  and  especially  that  they  denounced 
each  other  as  false  teachers,  the  task  becanje  tenfold 
greater.  The  suspicion  of  the  savages  once  aroused 
that  some  kind  of  deception  had  been  practised  upon 
them,  it  was  not  possible  to  allay  it,  particularly  since 
so  many  circumstances  confirmed  it.  A.  division,  as  I 
have  previously  shown,  had  almost  immediately  taken 
place,  the  Cayuses  and  Walla  WaV.as  j^  onerally  choos- 
ing the  Catholic  religion,  and  tiie  Nez  Forces  the 
Protestant. 

The  mercenary  nature  of  the  aboriginal  to  which  I 
have  just  referred  led  him  to  be  governed  somewhat 
by  the  example  or  advice  of  the  traders  to  whom  he 
brought  his  furs,  and  of  whom  he  procured  such  goods 
as  he  most  needed  or  desired.  Where  the  teacher 
and  the  trader  were  of  the  same  faith,  it  was  easy  to 
control,  in  appearance,  the  views  and  conduct  of  the 
natives.  But  where  the  trader  was  one  thing  and 
the  teacher  another  in  religious  matters,  the  native 
according  to  his  nature  followed  the  trader.  This  had 
been  illustrated  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  where  wliile 
Protestant  McKinlay  was  in  charge  Whitman  had 
been  able,  though  not  without  difficulty,  to  restrain 
the  violence  of  the  Cayuses,  which  broke  out  with  in- 
creased force  when  Catholic  McBean  replaced  him. 

Ever  since  the  return  of  Whitman,  in  1843  from 
his  unsuccessful  mission  to  the  American  board,  he 
had  lived  over  a  smouldering  volcano.  Year  after 
year  an  army  of  white  people  came  from  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  on  whom  the  aborigines  looked 
with  distrustful  anger.  It  was  true,  they  did  not  tarry 
in  the  Nez  Fercd  or  Cayuse  country,  but  hastened  to 
the  Willamette.  Yet  how  long  should  they  continue 
to  come  in  such  numbers  before  the  Willamette  would 
not  hold  them  ? 


"i 


SIfJNS  OF  DISCONTENT. 


64!) 


From  the  immigrants  the  Indians  stole  horses  and 
cattle,  and  pillaged  and  vexed  them  in  various  ways, 
while  knowing  well  enough  that  these  offences  wore 
deemed  worthy  of  punishment,  and  were  against  the 
laws  tliey  had  themselves  subscribed  to.  The  immi- 
grants, being  advised,  bore  these  dejiredations  as  well 
as  they  were  able,  seldom  coming  to  blows  or  retalia- 
tion, trading  with  them  for  vegetables  or  grain,  and 
sometimes  selling  them  cattle  which  they  coveted. 
There  was,  indeed,  nothing  of  which  they  could  justly 
complain,  their  hostility  proceeding  rather  from  envy 
and  suspicion  than  from  wickedness  innate  in  the  red 
man  more  than  in  the  white. 

They  were  angry  with  Whitman  because  he  did 
not  leave  the  country,  because  he  raised  grain  on 
their  land  and  sold  it  to  the  immigrants,  because  he 
had  mills  and  comfortable  houses,  and  every  year 
added  to  his  facilities  for  reaping  greater  profits  from 
his  residence  among  them.  This  had  been  their  tem- 
per all  along;  but  in  1847  it  had  seemed  to  take  a 
more  aggressive  form,  either  because  they  had  been 
told  that  the  United  States  then  claimed  sovereignty, 
or  because  in  their  own  minds  their  disaffection  was 
fully  ripe,  and  the  sword,  so  long  suspended,  was  ready 
to  fall. 

As  soon  as  the  immigrants  entered  the  Cay  use 
country  at  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Mountains  they  were 
informed  by  Spalding  of  the  unfriendly  disposition  of 
the  Cayuses,  and  advised  not  to  travel  in  small  com- 
panies.* That  this  was  timely  counsel  subsequent 
events  proved. 

Whitman  was  at  tliis  time  on  a  visit  to  the  lower 
country  to  bring  up  machinery  for  his  grist-mill,  in 
order  to  make  flour  for  the  immigrants.'^  So  convinced 
was  he  that  an  outbreak  nmst  occur  before  long,  that, 
as  I  have  said,  he  purchased  of  the  Methodists  their 


I* 


ill 


\:7 


r  I'f'i 


i  : 


I, 


Mi 

^'1 


I' 


I ' 


*P.  J.  Poniade,  in  lirouilkt'H  Antlientk  Account,  90.     Ponjade  said  that 
Spalding  inquired  anxiously  whether  the  U.  H.  dragoons  were  not  coming. 
'Palmers  Wtujon  Trtiin,  MS.,  28-9;  Orini's  Emiiji-aiU  Anecdotes,  MS.,  6. 


t  . 


644 


THE  WHITMAN  ItASSACRE. 


station  at  the  Dalles,  from  whicli  they  were  willing 
to  retire  notwithstanding  its  pn^spectivt^  as  well  as 
present  value,  for  the  same  reason — the  fear  of  Indian 
troubles.  This  purchase  was  made  in  the  spring  of 
1847,  or  at  all  events  before  the  last  of  August. 
Waller  was  at  that  time  contemplating  a  removal  to 
the  Willamette  Valley,"  and  Whitman,  when  bringing 
up  from  Vancouver  his  milling  machinery,  early  in 
September,  left  his  nephew,  Perrin  B.  Whitman,  at 
the  Dalles,  in  company  with  a  man  from  the  Willa- 
mette Valley  named  Hinman. 

It  would  seem  from  tliese  arrangements  that  Whit- 
man did  not  consider  the  Dalles  Indians  dangerous. 
The  Dalles  besides  was  within  two  days'  travel  by 
canoe  of  Fort  Vancouver,  which  was  a  point  in  its 
favor  as  compared  with  Waiilatpu.  It  must  forever 
trouble  the  student  of  history  to  reconcile  with  his 
characteristic  good  sense  in  ordinary  matters  Whit- 
man's persistency  in  remaining  at  his  station  when 
repeatedly  threatened  by  the  Cay  uses  and  remon- 
strated with  by' McLoughlin  for  his  temerity;  and 
Gray's  verdict,  that  he  possessed  a  great  obstinacy, 
seems  justified.^  There  were,  it  is  true,  good  reasons 
for  wishing  to  remain.  It  was  another  case  of  the 
domination  of  the  temporal  over  the  spiritual.  The 
Walla  Walla  Valley  had  been  his  home  for  eleven 
years.  He  had  expended  much  labor  and  money  upon 
improvements.  He  had  taken  rather  high-handed 
measures  with  the  American  board  in  refusini^;  to 
abandon  the  station  in  1842-3,  and  did  not  now  like 
to  acknowledge  himself  in  the  wrong.  He  Jiad  hoj)es 
from  the  discussions  in  congress  that  he  might  be  able 
to  hold  on  until  the  United  States  should  send  an 
Indian  agent  to  his  relief,  and  until  the  promised  ter- 


«0>-.  Sjxrlntor,  Sept.  2,  1847. 

''Hint.  Or.,  108.  Palmer  says:  He  was  going  up  with  his  machinery  to 
put  up  a  flour-niill,  just  as  ho  intonilud,  ami  if  tlicy  continued  thi.ir  ho.tilo 
Dolicy  ho  was  going  to  l)reak  up  tliat  Hiis»ion,  abandon  it,  and  go  down  to  the 
Dalles,  and  make  that  his  heathjuarters. '  Wdi/on  Tram,  MS.,  Ui).  Thia  was 
what  Palmer  learned  from  the  doctor  hiinaelf  whom  ho  mot  ou  the  Umatilla. 


AFFAIR  AT  THE   DALLES. 


645 


ritorial  organization  and  land  law  sliould  secure  to  the 
missions  each  their  mile  square  of  land,  which  would 
be  lost  by  abandonment. 

But  there  still  remains  a  question  of  whether  it  was 
a  justifiable  determination,  under  the  circumstances, 
to  remain  and  imperil,  not  only  his  own  life,  but  the 
lives  of  all  those  associated  with  him,  and  possibly  in- 
volve the  colony  of  the  Willamette  in  savage  warfare. 
That  he  did  this  with  his  eyes  open  to  the  danger  is 
clearly  apparent.  For  even  while  he  was  transporting 
his  mill  to  Waiilatpu  the  Cayuses  were  committing 
acts  portending  an  outbreak.**  Blood  luid  been  spilled 
at  the  Dalles,  as  soon  as  the  first  party  of  ten  men 
arrived  at  that  place,  or  on  the  23d  of  August. 

This  affair  was  with  the  Dalles  Indians,  who  had 
stolen  some  property  from  the  camp  of  the  white 
men.  On  making  complaint  to  Waller,  they  were 
advised  to  retaliate  by  taking  some  Indian  horses  and 

*  John  E.  Ross,  an  emigrant  of  1847,  describes  the  attitudes  of  the  Cayuses 
and  tlie  Walla  Wallas.  He  met  Whitman  on  the  Umatilla,  who  ailvised  him 
to  Mse  great  caution,  which  advice  he  followed  ))y  encamping  early,  taking  the 
evening  meal,  and  then,  when  it  became  dark,  moving  to  a  secluded  spot 
away  from  the  road  for  the  night  to  avoid  being  molested  and  gutting  into  an 
affray.  After  leaving  the  Umatilla  he  met  a  small  party  of  natives,  who 
appeared  morose,  and  on  tae  third  day  came  to  a  place  where  it  was  evident 
an  attiick  had  been  made.  Beds,  books,  and  various  articles  were  scattered 
about  and  <lestroyed.  Alarmed  I)y  tliis  proof  of  hostility,  his  i)arty,  consist- 
ing only  of  men,  travelled  by  night,  and  on  coming  to  tlie  moutli  of  Rock 
Creek,  a  branch  of  John  Day  River,  were  met  by  some  Columbia  River  In- 
dians, who  notified  them  that  there  was  trouble  before  them.  About  two 
miles  from  the  crossing,  in  a  canon,  they  found  four  families  who  had  been 
robbed  of  their  cattle  and  stripped  of  their  clotliing.  Six  v.'omen  and  some 
children  were  left  naked.  Tliey  had,  however,  rescued  a  bolt  of  white  mus- 
lin, out  of  which  they  had  hastily  made  coverings,  tiiough  they  offered  little 
protection  against  the  coM  air  of  evening.  Tlie  outrage  occurred  while  the 
men  were  absent  from  the  wagon  looking  for  tlie  stolen  cattle,  and  the  perpe- 
trators were  Walla  Wallas.  Ross'  company  remained  with  the  destitute 
families  till  another  train  came  up,  giving  their  blankets  to  the  women  and 
making  them  a  bed,  first  building  a  lire  (m  the  sands  to  warm  a  place  for 
tlicni  to  lie  vipon.  Itosn'  Xm:,  MS.,  4-G.  The  names  of  th»  families  wore 
Franklin,  Rodgers,  Warren,  and  Hoyt.  VrnirJ'ord'n  Xnr.,  MS.,  53.  A  peti- 
tion was  before  congress  as  late  as  1870  to  reimlmrso  Mrs  Rodger.-*,  then  old 
and  blind,  for  losses  amounting  to  .?'J,.")00,  incurred  by  the  robbery  of  her 
goods  on  this  occasion.  The  petition  set  forth  that  .lolin  Rf)dgers,  his  wife 
Margaret,  Nelson  Hoyt,  and  his  wife  Mary,  emigrated  from  Illinois  to  Oregon 
in  1847,  an<l  that  while  at  the  John  Day  River  they  were  attiickeil  by  savages, 
an<l  robI)e(l  of  goods,  money,  cattle,  and  one  wagon,  to  the  amount  above 
stated.  St  Helen  i'olumhiiui.  Vntw/ord's  Narra/ire,  MS.,  siiys  that  Mrs 
Rodgers  stood  in  the  opening  of  a  wagon  and  defended  it  with  au  axe. 


fi 


S'lj 


'     t 


]'  * 


!i  -  hiss* 

I4f  ■,  i,iifci 


G4G 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


holding  tliem  until  the  property  was  restored.  The 
Indians  attacked  in  consequence ;  there  was  a  skirmish, 
a  white  man  and  a  chief  were  killed,  and  several  on 
both  sides  wounded;  while  four  white  nien  fled  to  the 
mountains  in  a  panic,  and  were  lost  for  several  days, 
endeavoring  to  discover  the  trail  to  the  Willamette 
Valley." 

So  alarmed  was  Waller  that  he  sent  for  Abernethy, 
superintendent  of  Indian  afl'airs,  to  quiet  matters,  and 
then  hastened  to  overtake  a  company  which  had  passed 
a  few  miles  west  of  the  Dalles,  and  request  them  to 
return   .:A  protect  his  family  and  the  wounded  mcn.^" 

A  party  did  return,  and  Abernetliy  also  came,  who 
succeeded  in  procuring  an  audience  with  the  principal 
chiefs,  whom  lie  induced,  by  ^  aying  them  for  the  dead 
native,  called  Equator,  to  restore  the  property  of  the 
innnigrants,  and  promise  better  behavior.  But  whether 
by  these,  or  by  the  Walla  Wallas  and  Cay  uses,  small 
parties  of  strangers  contiimed  to  be  plundered,  and 
the  property  cached  in  the  hills  far  away  from  the 
travelled  road." 

Whitman  made  a  visit  to  the  Dalles  during  the 
two  months  tlie  companies  were  passing  between  the 
Blue  and  Cascade  mountains.  On  his  return  from 
this  journey,  which  Peter  W.   Crawford,  to  whom  I 

•The  young  man  killed  was  named  Slieppard;  he  waa  from  St  Louis 
County,  Missouri.  A  Mr  Parker  was  seriously  wounded,  and  a  Mr  Aram 
less  seriously.  Or.  Spectator,  Sept.  2,  1847. 

'"T' Vault,  in  Or.  SpectiUor,  Sept.  2,  1847.  T' Vault,  Barlow,  and  Foster 
were  on  their  way  to  the  Dalles  when  they  met  this  company  of  Hi  wagons 
August  28th,  under  the  command  of  Bowman,  some  of  whose  men  returned 
to  the  relief  of  Waller. 

"James  Henry  Brown,  an  immigrant  of  1847,  and  author  of  several  man- 
uscripts ill  my  collection,  in  his  AiUoliiogrtiplii/,  MS.,  20-5,  a  work  from 
which  I  am  able  to  gather  much  excellent  information,  gives  an  account  simi- 
lar to  that  by  Ross,  of  the  treatment  of  his  train  by  the  Cayuses.  Geer,  in 
his  W(Mo  J/illn,  MS.,  2,  mentions  that  his  wife  nearly  lost  her  life  by  an 
Indian  at  the  crossing  of  Des  Chutes  River.  Grim,  in  his  Emiyraiit  Anec- 
dotes, MS.,  5,  says  tliat  the  Indians  were  extremely  insolent  to  the  immi- 
grants, and  behaved  in  a  belligerent  manner  on  the  Umatilla;  and  that  Whit- 
man, who  met  a  large  body  of  the  immigrants  there,  asked  them  to  tarry 
for  a  day,  and  delivered  an  address  to  them,  prophesying  an  Indian  war,  au<l 
giving  them  advice.  It  is  certain  that  he  waa  aware  of  the  danger.  It  is 
also  certain,  considering  the  numbers  and  mixed  character  of  those  who  hero 
sought  a  new  home,  that  they  were  forbearing  toward  the  Indians  in  an  ex- 
traordinary degree. 


WHITE  PEOPLE  AT   WAIILATPU. 


647 


ain  indebted  tor  a  voluminous  narative  of  pioneer 
events/'-  says  was  in  October,  he  again  met  tlie  cara- 
vans at  the  Umatilla/^ 

From  the  train  to  which  Crawford  belonged  he 
selected  several  persons  whom  he  engaged  to  aid  him 
in  various  ways  at  Waiilatpu,  He  secured  a  man 
named  Saunders  as  a  teacher,  who  with  his  wife  and 
children  agreed  to  go  to  the  mission ;  a  tailor  named 
Isaac  Gilliland,  and  a  farmer  named  Kimball,  from 
Indiana,  among  whose  family  was  a  daughter  of  seven- 
teen." There  were  already  at  the  mission  many 
who  intended  to  winter  there,  part  of  a  company  from 
Oscaloosa,    Iowa,  and  others,^''  in  all  fifty-four,  some 

'*  P.  W.  Crawford  was  born  on  the  ri^ht  bank  of  tlie  Tweed,  in  Roxbiiry- 
shire,  Scotland,  not  far  from  the  lionie  ot  Walter  vScott.  He  was  tanglit  the 
elementary  branches  in  this  neighborhood,  but  studied  matheiiiatics  at  the 
University  of  Edinburgh,  where  he  learned  surveying.  For  a  short  time 
after  leaving  the  university  iic  Wiis  in  tlie  service  of  a  large  coniinercial  firm 
in  London,  and  again  at  Southampton.  From  there  he  went  t<  Quebec,  and 
thence  to  Toronto  and  other  parts  of  Canada,  after  which  he  trr  ,'ellcd  through 
the  northern  tier  of  states  on  the  south  side  of  the  lakes,  living  for  some  time 
in  Michigan  and  Illinois.  He  came  to  Oregon  in  1847  in  company  with  a 
family  named  Cline,  jind  took  a  land  claim  on  the  Cowlitz  River  in  Novend)er 
1847,  where  he  lived  long  and  happily.  Crawford's  Nurratiir  of  (lieOvcrltrnd 
Joiiniei/,  containing  also  a  history  of  early  and  subsequent  events,  is,  witliout 
regard  to  style,  the  most  complete  record  extfint  of  the  times  it  represents, 
iind  manifests  throughout  the  author's  remarkable  powers  of  observation. 

"  Crawford  says  the  doctor  had  been  on  'a  mission  of  lumevolence,  convey- 
ing and  escorting  a  company  of  immigrants  over  a  new  and  nnich  improved 
route  to  the  Dalles,  and  who  gave  us  another  cut-ofi'  so  as  to  shorten  our  route 
and  give  us  good  grass  and  water  all  the  way.'  A^ar.,  MS.,  51.  Tliis  affec- 
tionate reference,  with  which  the  historian  even  for  truth's  sake  has  no  occa- 
sion to  rneddlc,  since  the  doctor  could  at  the  same  time  attend  to  his  own 
business  of  establishing  the  new  station  at  the  Dalles,  and  pilot  the  immigra- 
tion over  the  road  to  that  place,  comports  with  the  general  impression  of  his 
willingness  to  be  of  service.  Crawford  speaks  of  him  as  being  at  this  time 
a  stout  and  robust  looking  man,  of  a  seemingly  strong  and  intelligent  mind. 
JSTai:,  MS.,  52. 

'*  Gilliland  was  from  Long  Island,  and  was  an  elderly  man  without  family. 
L.  Woodbury  Saunders  was  a  native  of  New  Hampshire,  but  liad  resided  ni 
central  New  York,  and  also  in  Indiana,  from  which  latter  stato  he  emigrated. 
His  wife  was  from  Vermont,  her  maiden  name  being  Mary  Montgomery,  and 
her  mother's  maiden  name  Stickney,  from  an  cld  English  family.  Mrs  Saun- 
ders later  married  Alanson  Husted. 

'^  The  persons  at  Waiilatpu  after  the  new  selections  had  l>een  matle  were 
Joseph  and  Hannah  Smith  and  5  children,  the  elder  of  them  being  a  girl  of 
16;  Mr  and  Mrs  Saunders  and  5  children,  the  elder  a  girl  of  14;  Mr  and 
Mrs  Kimball  and  5  children,  the  elder  a  girl  of  10;  Josepli  and  Sally  Ann 
Cantield  and  5  children,  the  elder  a  girl  of  10;  Mr  and  Mrs  Hall  and  5  chil- 
dren, the  elder  a  girl  of  10;  Josiah  and  Margaret  Osborne  and  3  children, 
the  elder  a  girl  of  9;  Elam  and  Irene  Young  and  3  sons,  the  eldest  aged  21; 
Mrs  Rebecca  Hays  and  one  young  child;  Miss  Lorinda  Bewley  and  her  brother. 


\   , 

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■ 

; 

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M 

I     If 


$ 


648 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


II 


of  them  having  been  detained  by  sickness,  and  some 
by  the  lateness  of  tlie  season.  All  who  remained 
were  employed,  as  far  as  possible,  by  Whitman,  who, 
notwithstanding  the  threatening  circuni.stances,  was 
making  improvements  on  his  mill.  The  doctor  was 
a  man  of  affairs;  he  loved  work,  and  he  liked  to  see 
others  work.  Thus  absorbed,  it  was  little  wonder  he 
failed  to  perceive  the  black  shado'.v  approaching. 

As  is  usual  with  armies,  large  migrations,  or  any 
great  bodies  of  peojile  moving  together  without  the 
ordhiary  comforts  of  life,  disease  broke  out  among  the 
immigrants  of  1847.  A  severe  illnes.s  known  as  moun- 
tain fever,  and  apparently  occasi(med  by  the  extremes  of 
temperature  encountered  in  the  mountains  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  summer — hot  days  and  cold  nights — 
prostrated  many  of  the  adults,  and  measles  attacked 
the  younger  portion  of  the  people.  This  disease, 
usually  considered  simple  and  manageable,  became 
malignant  under  the  new  conditions  in  which  it  was 
developed.  It  seems  to  have  been  at  its  height  when 
the  trains,  all  having  some  sick,  was  passing  through 
the  Cayuse  country.  What  was  malignant  among  the 
strangers,  when  it  was  imparted  to  the  natives  ))ecame 
fatal,  whether  from  ignorance  of  proper  modes  of 
treatment,  or  from  the  character  of  the  disease  itself 
The  measles  of  1847,  like  the  ititermittent  fever  of 
1821)-~.'30  and  18:14-7,  became  a  scourge  to  the  natives. 
The  white  men  who  introduced  it  could  not  be  held 
to  blame,^^  but  the  natives  made  them  res-ponsible,  not 


I; 


(Vockett  Bcwley;  Mr  Marsh  anil  dcaiightcr,  E.  Marsh,  agcil  11;  Mr  HoflFinan, 
ami  Mr  Sales — in  all,  54  persons  of  the  immigration.  Besides  these  were 
a  young  man  named  Rogers,  Eliza,  daughter  of  Mr  Spalding  of  Lapwai,  and 
C  ehililreu  of  the  Sager  family,  adopted  in  1844,  '2  boys  and  4  girls,  besides  2 
halfdireed  girls,  daughters  of  J.  L.  Meek  and  James  BridgiT,  and  2  sons  of 
Donald  Manson,  whom  the  doctor  was  edneating.  Total  at  Dr  Whitman's, 
08  persona.  At  Lapwai  there  were  only  Mr  and  Mrs  Spalding  and  3  young 
children,  Miss  Johnsou,  Mr  Hart,  brother  of  Mrs  Spalding,  Mr  Jackson,  and 
\N'illiam  L'raig.  dr.  HjiertiUor,  Jan.  20,  1848. 

'"I  have  been  told  of  a  case  where  the  disease  was  intended  to  be  given: 
A  party  of  immigrants  while  in  the  Cayuse  country  were  much  annoyed  by  some 
of  the  young  braves,  who,  with  Indian  iatrusiveuess  and  insolence,  hung  about 


THE  WHITK   MAN'S   DISKASES. 


(>4i) 


understanding  tlmt  in.scrutablo  law  of  nature  wliich 
makes  it  fatal  to  the  dark  races  to  encounter  tlie 
white  racc;^'  or  if  they  ))erceived  its  effects,  not  know- 
ing that  the  white  men  were  as  ignorant  as  themselves 
of  the  cause. 

When  the  mission  Indians  found  that  a  disease 
which  tliey  could  not  control  had  been  introduced 
among  them,  they  became  greatly  alarmed  and  excited, 
as  did  also  the  natives  on  Pugct  Sound,  to  which  dis- 
trict the  measles  luid  spread.'"'  Being  a  white  man's 
disease,  the  Indians  thought  a  white  doctor  should 
be  able  to  cure  it.  In  fact,  they  were  witnesses  to  the 
fact  that  the  white  patients  generally  recovered,  while 
their  own  did  not.  That  they  were  much  to  blame 
for  the  fatal  results  in  many  cases,  was  true.'"     Being 

the  wagons,  daring  the  drivers  or  tlie  young  lads  of  the  train  to  fight,  seemingly 
anihitious  to  rival  the  white  people  in  boxing  and  wrestling.  One  wagon  thus 
intruded  on  contained  a  woman,  whose  half -grown  children  were  all  down 
witli  the  measles,  and  the  driver  of  the  team  also,  an  active  young  fellow,  was 
in  the  height  of  the  fever,  though  stdl  compelled  to  drive.  Seeing  .im  so 
annoyed  the  woman  ordered  liim  to  stop  the  team  and  wrestle  witli  the  Indian 
as  desired,  and  to  blow  his  hot  l)reath  in  the  Indian's  face  to  give  liim  tlie 
me.asles.  Wliether  that  particular  Indian  died  in  consequence  is  not  known; 
probably  the  woman  was  unaware  of  the  danger,  and  only  wished  to  have  him 
puni.siied  for  the  trouble  he  gave,  Init  if  the  Intlian  died  his  friends  would  be 
apt  to  believe  that  some  evil  influence  was  purposely  worked  upon  him,  as  in 
this  case  there  indeed  had  been.  In  Mi^^ioii  Life  Sketc/i<..'<,  41,  written,  I 
judge,  by  Mr  Perkins,  of  the  early  Dalles  mission,  there  is  a  complaint  of  the 
effect  of  settlement  on  mi-ssion  operations,  which  is  no  doubt  well  founded, 
even  though  the  new-comers  should  consist  of  missionaries  only.  The  result 
of  mingling  the  races  in  Oregon  is  conclusive  evidence  of  its  rniocliievous 
ell'ects. 

'' '  The  experience  of  a  century  had  shown  that  the  indiscriminate  admission 
of  civilized  men  as  traders  in  the  territory  of  the  Indians  is  destructive  to 
the  morals  of  the  fonner,  aiul  not  only  the  morals  but  the  existence  of  the 
latter.'  Edhihurijh  Ri'vicw,  July  184o,  2;ii8.  See  also  T nlutne Alma mic,  184C,  p. 
]!);  Darwin s  Voyni/e  round  the  WorUI,  43.5-0;  McCulloclis  Western  Isk^i,  li. 
32;  Oihhs  in  Poirelts  Geo,).  Siu:,  i.  '239. 

'" 'In  1847  the  measles  prevailed  at  Nis(iually.  A  fugitive  Indian  from 
the  Swinomish  country  brouglit  intelligence  to  Nisqually  that  the  Swinomish, 
believing  that  the  whites  had  brought  tlie  measles  to  exterminate  them,  were 
coming  to  massacre  the  whites.  At  the  time  tliere  were  no  stockades  or 
bastions  at  Nisqually,  but  orders  came  from  fort  ^'ancouver  to  erect  the 
\isual  defences.  The  scattered  white  settlers  on  the  Sound  l)ecame  timid,  and 
tlie  Indians  consequently  more  forward  and  troublesome.  Hostile  demon- 
strations were  made  wliile  the  stockades  and  bastions  were  being  erected,  but 
notliing  serious  resulted. '  Tnlink''.'<  HM.  Pinjet  Sound,  MvS.,  30-1. 

'"  In  the  winter  of  1847-8  the  measles  overran  the  country.  It  waa  of 
a  very  malignant  type,  and  the  natives  suffered  from  it  severely.  Or  Whit- 
man, as  a  medical  man,  naturally  endeavored  to  mitigate  the  ravages  of  the 
disorder;  but  notwithstanding  his  efforts  many  deaths  took  place  among  his 


4l' 


If 


,!>  I": 

|,  ,,   .: 

1'  ;W 

':■  \ 

;■,  r 


h 


;m 


■^ 


650 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE 


ignorant  of  the  injury  they  would  receive  from  such 
a  course,  many  sought  to  cool  their  fever  by  plunging 
into  cold  water,  or,  after  coming  out  of  their  sweat- 
houses,  bathing  in  the  river,  a  procedure  which  caused 
almost  immediate  death. 

When  it  is  remembered  that  ever' since  1842,  and 
even  earlier,  the  natives  had  been  importuning  the 
missionaries  for  pay  for  their  lands,  and  that  others, 
if  not  they,  had  repeatetlly  promised  on  the  faith  of 
the  United  States  government  that  they  should  be 
paid  when  the  boundary  question  was  settled;  and 
when  it  is  remenr'^ered  that  this  (question  had  been 
settled  for  almost  a  year  and  a  half,  since  which  time 
two  immigrations  had  arrived,  without  anytliing  being 
done  to  satisfy  the  natives — the  wonder  is  not  that 
they  were  suspicious  and  turbulent,  and  ready  to 
believe  evil  things  of  the  white  men,  but  that  they 
were  so  long  held  in  tolerable  control  by  a  few  isolated 
missionaries.^" 

The  reader  already  knows  the  difficulty  experienced 
by  Whitman  and  Spalding  from  the  first,  in  prosecut- 
ing their  mission  labor,  owing  to  the  unreasonable 
requirements  of  their  pupils,  their  indolence,  selfish- 
ness, and  ingratitude  for  services.  This  was  almost 
as  much  as  could  be  borne  before  any  sectarian  differ- 
ences arose  to  aggravate  tiie  disorder.  After  this 
the  usefulness  of  the  missions  as  schools  of  religion 
and  morality  was  at  an  end.  A  few  perceiving  the 
benefit  of  agriculture  and  stock-raising  tolerated  the 
teachers,  and  so  far  imitated  them  as  to  raise  supplies 


patients,  arising  as  much  from  the  neglect  of  advice,  and  imprudent  exposure 
during  the  heiglit  of  the  fever,  as  from  the  virtdence  of  the  disorder.'  Amler- 
fon'a  NorHinxnt  Count,  MS.,  '2G5. 

''■*  '  When  the  Americans  came  into  what  the  Indians  claimed  as  their  own 
country,  their  number  was  considerable;  they  didn't  come  to  carry  on  trade 
with  the  Indians,  but  to  take  and  settle  the  country,  exclusively  for  them- 
selves. They  went  about  where  they  pleased,  and  settled  where  they  chose 
mthout  asking  leave  of  the  Indians,  or  paying  them  anything.  The  Indians 
saw  it  quickly.  Every  succeeding  fall  the  white  population  about  doubled, 
and  the  American  population  extended  their  settlements,  and  encroached 
upon  the  Indian  pastures  and  camass  grounds,  excluding  Indian  horses,  etc. 
The  Indians  saw  annihilation  before  them.'  Jiitrnett'a  Recol,  MS.,  i.  104-5. 


PEUPEUMOXMOX. 


G51 


for  their  own  families,  besides  sellinc;  to  the  immi- 
grants. In  the  matter  of  cattle,  also,  they  had  ea<>^erly 
acquired  all  they  could  purchase  or  steal  from  the 
passing  caravans,  and  had  atteni})te(l  to  form  a  cattle 
company  to  buy  a  herd  in  California,  with  what  result 
the  reader  knows.  Perhaps  this  attenii)t  of  the  Walla 
Wallas  is  the  highest  imitation  of  civilization  attained 
to  by  them  or  by  any  Oregon  Indians,  as  it  not  only 
was  a  business  organization,  but  partook  something 
of  the  character  of  an  invasion,  or  an  act  of  coloniza- 
tion, since  in  1847  we  find  the  Walla  Wallas  in  Cali- 
fornia assisting  Fremont  to  capture  the  country,'-^ 
The  chief  of  this  expedition,  Peupeumoxmox,  was 
reputed  to  have  so  far  benefited  by  his  observations 
abroad  as  to  give  good  counsel  to  his  people  and  the 
Cayuses  on  his  return,"'  but  the  truth  of  his  reported 
friendship  for  the  white  people  is  not  well  established 
by  the  evidence.  Palmer  met  him  in  the  spring  of 
1840,  when  he  related  the  death  of  his  son  in  Cali- 
fornia, and  declared  his  intention  of  going  there  to 
avengfe  his  loss.  This  desire  accounts  for  his  willinij- 
ness  to  aid  Fremont.  Palmer  also  says  that  he  was 
surly  toward  the  immigration  of  1845,  and  had  even 
made  hostile  demonstrations.-^ 

There  were,  at  the  time  under  consideration,  a 
number  of  dissolute  characters,  half-breeds  from  the 
mountains  to  the  east,  hanging  upon  the  skirts  of 
the  travellers,  men  whose  wild  blood  was  full  of 
the  ichor  of  hatred  of  religion  and  civilization,  and 
poisoned  with  jealousy  of  the  white  race,  the  worst 
traits  only  of  which  they  had  inherited.  These  men 
among  the  natives  were  like  fire  in  tow,  their  evil 
practices  and  counsel  scorching  every  shred  of  good 
the  missionaries  by  patient  effort  had  been  able  to 

^'  Says  Johnson:  '  A  whole  community  of  Walla  Walla  Indians  left  Oregon 
across  the  mountains  and  established  themselves  on  the  Sacramento  River, 
near  Sutter's  Fort.'  Cal.  and  Or.,  123;  TuthiWs  HUt.  Cal.,  201. 

■''■'  This  is  what  Parrish  says,  who  talks  of  him  as  if  he  were  a  very  dis- 
tinguished personage;  because,  perhaps,  he  once  sent  his  son  to  the  Methodist 
mission  school  for  a  few  months.  Or.  Anecdotes,  MS.,  8G-7. 

^Journal,  124-5. 


fi 


m 


t    sJ 


Q52 


THE  WHITMAN   MAShAL'UK. 


weave  into  tlioir  luibits  of  W^vJ*  Every  act  of  the 
missionaries  was  criticised.  Wlieii  Whitman,  wlio  was 
eiideavorini^  to  l)re{ik  up  tlie  custom  of  j^ninL;;  to  war, 
exhil)it(!(l  his  disa|)))r()Imtiou  by  refusintr  to  sliake 
hands  witli  an  oftender,  tlie  accidental  death  of  tliat 
youMjt^  warrior  was  iniputed  to  him,''  and  thoujifii  they 
pretended  to  ho,  convinced  to  the  contrary,  tlieir  hearts 
were  secretly  hitter  toward  Whitn)an,  whose  'evil 
eye'  tlusy  were  willing  to  believe  had  worked  them 
harm. 

It  was  unfortunate  that  at  this  iuncture  so  manv 
stranu'ers  had  been  allowed  to  leather  at  tlie  mission, 
confirmin«(  the  suspicion  of  the  Cayuses  that  the 
Americans  intended  to  settle  in  their  country  with- 
out first  treating  for  their  lands:  unfortunate  because 
it  gave  weight  to  a  rumor  circulated  among  them  by 
one  Joe  Lewis,  a  half-breed,  who  was  employed  about 
the  mission,  that  Doctor  and  Mrs  Whitman  were  con- 
spiring to  exterminates  them  by  poison,  in  order  to  come 
into  possession  of  tlulr  lands  for  themselves  and  their 
countrymen^" — a  rumor  v/hich  was  strengthened  by  the 


'•^  Palmer  rclatea  that  three  Delawares  came  and  settled  among  the  Nez 
Perci''n.  One  of  them,  named  Tom  Hill,  Hucceuded  in  pcrHuadinu  about  a  hun- 
dred lodges  to  acknowledge  him  aa  their  eliief  hy  telling  them  tluat  they  then 
could  have  as  many  wives  aa  they  chose;  that  it  was  not  wrong  to  steal,  only 
wrong  to  be  detected  in  it,  and  that  what  the  miasionariea  taught  was  false. 
Joiirnnl,  1129. 

'■'■' This  mnn  was  a  half  Nez  Perci5,  half  Cayuse,  son  of  a  Nez  Perc6  often 
called  Le  t.  .ii;'le.  Whitman  refused  to  take  him  hy  the  hand  on  account 
of  some  ou.'DTi  1  i.nd  misconduct  at  the  Dalles;  perhaps  he  was  in  the  party 
who  kiilfid  fiiu!];pard.  However  that  was,  the  young  man  died  that  night, 
l)eiug  chok'  '  1  y  a  piece  of  dried  buffalo-meat.  Tliereupon  an  accusatioa  was 
brought  .'i^^.ii.'.st  the  doctor.  Mrs  Whitman  endeavcred  to  regain  the  confi- 
dence of  ilie  natives  by  giving  a  'feast  for  the  dead,'  Le  (rrande  and  Peupeu- 
moxmox  being  present  and  professing  continued  regard.  Whether  tneir 
sentiments  were  genuine  admits  of  doubt,  but  there  was  a  '  villain  of  an  Indian 
called  Tamsucky  who  fomented  discontent,  and  tlireatencd  Whitman  that 
he  would  be  killed.'  Tolmies  J  lint.  Piiijct  Sound,  MS.,  27.  Palmer  siiys  that 
Wliitman  reganled  Tamsucky  as  a  good  Indian;  and  Palmer  left  his  horses 
M'ith  him  during  the  winter  of  184r)-(}.  He  was  called  Aliquot  by  the  white 
people.  When  Palmer  asked  him  to  name  his  reward  for  keeping  the  horses, 
lie  asked  for  some  scarlet  velvet,  an<l  otlier  articles  of  adornment,  which 
Palmer  brought  and  gave  to  Whitman  when  he  met  him  on  the  Umatilla. 
Palmer's  Wagon  Train,  MM.,  32^. 

'■"*  This  story  of  Joe  Lewis  is  given  by  several  witnesses.  One  of  these, 
William  Craig  of  T^apwai,  no  one  woidil  dispute.  He  says:  'A  messenger 
came  there  [to  Mr  Spalding's  station]  from  the  Cayuses,  anu  the  ludiaus,  when 


AKKIVAI,   OF   L'ATUOLUS. 


6a:i 


;^ront  imnihtT  of  dcatlis  umoiijjj  tlu;  Cayuscs,  ainomit- 
iiijjf  to  nearly  one  halt'  the  jxtpulatioii."' 

That  tlie  natives  niui inured  Whitniun  was  awuro; 
hut  he  lioped  tliat  two  doathn  wliieli  had  occurred  in 
his  house,  of  one  of  his  adopted  ehilih'en  and  out;  of 
Oshorne's,  would  liave  shown  thian  that  the  disease 
carried  off  white  jx'ople  as  well  as  Inchans.  Spalding; 
asserts  in  the  Orcf/on  A})icncan.,  a  small  semi-monthly 
pa{)er"'*  ])ublished  in  1848,  that  not  only  Joe  Lewis, 
but  the  Catholic  ])riests  who  had  arrived  at  Fort 
Walla  Walla  from  Canada  on  the  oth  of  Septendier, 
with  the  desij^n  of  establisliin<j  missions  amony  the 

assemlili'il,  required  him  to  state  all  he  knew  about  the  matter,  ami  to  statu 
the  truth.  1  was  present;  aiul  ho  said,  in  Hulwtance,  tliat  all  the  eliief.s  were 
concerned  except  Vounir  Chief  and  Five  Crows,  wlio  knew  nothing  of  it;  that 
the  cause.. .was  that  Dr  Whitman  and  l)r  Spalding  were  poisoning  the 
Indians..  .Joe  Lewis  said  thiit  I>r  Whitman  and  Mi  Spalding  had  been  writ- 
ing for  two  years  to  their  friends  in  the  east,  where  Joe  Lewis  lived,  to  send 
them  poison  to  kill  ofiF  the  Cayuses  and  the  Nez  I'erces;  and  they  hail 
sent  them  some  that  was  not  good,  and  they  wrote  for  more  tliat  would 
kill  them  off  quick,  and  that  the  medicine  had  come  this  summer.  Joe 
Lewis  said  he  was  lying  on  the  settee  in  Dr  Whitman's  room,  ivnd  lie  heard  a 
conversation  between  Dr  Whitman,  Mrs  Whitman,  and  Mr  Spalding,  in  wliitli 
Mr  Spaliling  askeil  the  doctor  why  he  did  not  hill  the  Indians  ofl'  fastei'. 
"O,"  said  the  doctor,  "they  are  dying  fast  enough;  tlie  young  ones  will  die 
off  this  winter,  and  the  ohl  ones  next  spring.  .  .  .Tlie  Indian  messenger 
stated  that  Joe  Lewis  made  this  statement  in  a  council  of  tlie  Cayuses. . . 
Joe  Lewis,  the  messenger  said,  told  the  Cayusea  in  the  council  that  unless 
they  [the  IndiansJ  killed  Dr  Wiutinan  and  Air  Spabling  quick,  they  would  all 
die.  The  messenger  went  on  to  say  himself,  that  11)7  Indians  had  died  since 
the  immigration  commenced  passing  that  summer.  He  said  that  there  were 
6  buried  on  Monday  morning,  and  among  the  rest  his  own  wife;  lie  saiil  l.o 
knew  they  were  poisoned.'  /Srnuillct'n  Aiitlictitic  Aecoinit,  35-G. 

^'  '  It  was  most  distressing  to  go  into  a  lodge  of  some  10  (ires,  ami  count 
20  or  25,  some  in  the  midst  of  measles,  others  in  the  last  stages  of  dysentery, 
in  the  midst  of  every  kind  of  filth  of  itself  sutiicient  to  cause  sickness,  With  no 
suitable  means  to  alleviate  their  iiMjoiiceivaljle  sufferings,  witii  perhaps  one 
well  person  to  looK  after  the  wants  of  "J  sick  ones.  Everywhere  the  sick  and 
dying  were  pointed  to  Jesus,  and  tlie  well  were  urged  to  prepare  for  death.' 
VL  H.  Spahling,  in  Oret/nu  Aiiiiriran,  July  ly,  1848. 

'^"'Devoted  to  American  princiiilcs  and  interests;  to  evangelical  religion 
and  morals;  to  general  intelligence,  foreign  aii>'  domestic;  to  teiiipiTancc.  and 
moral  instrumentalities  generally;  to  science,  literature,  and  tlie  arts;  to 
commerce  and  internal  improvements;  to  agriculture  and  home  manufactures; 
to  the  description  and  development  of  our  natural  resources;  to  the  piiysical, 
intellectual,  and  moral  education  of  rising  generations;  and  to  such  wcll- 
defiucd  discussions  generally  as  are  calculated  to  elevate  and  dignify  the 
character  of  a  free  people.'  Its  devotion  was  iudeeil  great — so  great  tliat  there 
was  little  room  left  for  anything  else.  '  The  constituted  nature  am!  relation 
of  things,  our  constitution,' M'as  a  motto  which,  if  adhered  to,  wouid  seem 
to  do  away  with  all  that  goes  before.  '  Edited  by  J.  S.  (JriHin.  Printed  by 
0.  F.  Putnam.*  See  Honolulu  Polynesian,  v.  54;  Frknd,  viii.  •>.;  Jiiinietta 
Hecolkctiona  oj  a  Pioneer,  251. 


i  m 


I'} 


654 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


V :!'. 


r» 


tribes  of  eastern  Oregon,  assured  the  Cayuses  that 
the  Americans  were  causing  them  to  die.  This  state- 
ment, which  was  the  beginning  of  a  controversy  not 
yet  ended  between  the  Protestants  and  Cathohcs,  he 
made  on  the  word  of  a  Cayuse  chief  named  Tintin- 
mitsi,  who,  however,  professed  not  to  believe  the  ac- 
cusation.''^  The  mere  intimation  of  such  atrocity 
exposes  the  hearts  of  those  who  made  them.  The 
hibors  of  Archbishop  Blanchet  in  Canada,  before 
spoken  of,  had  resulted  in  the  a})pointnient  of  his 
brother,  A.  M.  A.  Blanchet,  bishi^p  of  Walla  Walla, 
who  thereupon  proceeded  overland  to  Oregon,  accom- 
panied by  nine  persons,  four  fathers  of  the  order  of 
the  Oblates  of  Mary  Immaculate,  with  two  lay  broth- 
ers ;  two  secular  priests,  Brouillet  and  Rosseau ;  and 
Guillaume  Leclaire,  a  deacon.^"  After  remaining  at 
Walla  Walla  about  a  month,  the  Oblate  fathers  de- 
parted to  establish  a  mission  among  the  Yakimas  in 
the  Simcoe  Valley;  but  it  was  not  until  the  27th  of 
October  that  Blanchet  and  Brouillet,  with  Leclaire, 
removed  from  the  fort  to  the  camp  of  the  Cayuse 
'  hicf  Tauitau,  on  the  Umatilla  River,  about  thirty 
miles  distant,  the  chief  having  relinquished  a  house 
built  for  himself  several  years  previous  by  Parabrun, 
in  an  attempt  to  civilize  the  Cayuses. 

The  establishment  of  this  mission  among  the  Cay- 
uses, already  so  turbulent,  and  from  their  present 
temper  so  dangerous,  was  a  sore  trial  to  the  Protes- 
tant missionaries,  while  it  was,  without  doubt,  an  in- 
centive to  Dr  Whitman  to  endeavor  to  remain.  The 
pain  and  uneasiness  the  bishop  was  inflicting  was  not 
by  any  means  unknown  to  him;^^  but  whether  in 
Catholic  or  Protestant,  religious  zeal  knows  no  mercy, 


!J    :'"ir 


'"Oregon  American,  July  1848. 

""  None  of  thuso  priests  were  .Tesuits,  though  Gray  and  Spalding  speak  of 
thcin  uniformly  as  belonging  to  that  order. 

^'  'The  arrival  of  the  bisiiop  of  Walla  Walla,'  says  Archbishop  Blanchet, 
'  with  his  clergy  to  the  fort  was  a  thunderbolt  to  the  Presbyterian  ministers, 
specially  to  Dr  Whitman.  He  was  wounded  to  the  heart  by  it.  He  could 
not  refrain  from  expressing  his  dissatisfaction,  saying  he  would  do  all  in  his 
power  to  thwart  the  bishop.*  Hist.  Cath.  Church  in  Or,,  163-5. 


CATHOUC  MISSION. 


655 


and  the  inquisition  of  the  sixteenth  century  only 
changes  its  form  according  to  the  time  and  place  of 
its  exhibition.  Protestant  and  Catholic  alike  believed 
the  other  the  emissary  of  Satan,  wliom  to  afflict  was 
doing  God  service.  There  was  a  difficulty,  however, 
in  the  way  of  tlie  bishop's  proselyting:  he  could  cora- 
nmnicato  with  the  natives  only  through  an  interpreter. 
Then  the  Cayuses  were  very  little  al)out  the  fort  while 
tlie  caravans  were  passing,  being  engaged  in  trading 
with  or  stealing  from  the  Americans. 

The  new-comers  had  all  left  the  country  cast  of 
the  Cascade  Mountains,  except  the  little  colony  at 
Waiilatpu ;  the  Catholic  mission  was  established  in  a 
house  furnished  to  the  priests  by  Tauitciu  in  the  lovely 
valley  of  the  Umatilla,  and  quiet  reigned  through- 
out the  great  wilderness  of  rolling  prairie  from  the 
Dalles  on  the  Columbia  to  Lapwai  on  the  Clearwater. 
Ay,  the  quiet  of  death  was  there,  broken  only  by 
the  wails  of  the  poor  savage  over  the  bodies  of  rela- 
tives and  friends.  Doctor  Wliitman's  heart  was  full 
of  pity  for  them,  as  he  rode  from  camp  to  camp  with 
medicines  and  advice,  little  imagining  the  sinister 
meaning  attached  to  his  conduct  by  the  Cayuses. 

In  the  month  of  November  Spalding  came  from 
Lapwji',  accompanied  by  his  daughter  Eliza,  and  a 
Mr  Jacl'.son  who  was  stopping  at  his  mission,  bringing 
a  train  of  horses  loaded  with  grain  to  be  ground  at 
the  mili.  On  the  25th,  while  tn  route  to  Walla  Walla 
with  Jackeon  and  Rogers  of  the  Waiilatpu  mission, 
Spaldmg  visited  chief  Peupeumoxmox,  who  resided 
not  far  from  the  fort  on  the  Walla  Walla  River. 
After  the  manner  of  an  Indian  gossip,  the  illustrious 
savage  referred  to  the  subject  of  Catholic  misi^iona- 
rics,  taking  occasion  to  remark  that  he  had  been 
solicited  to  give  them  a  place  for  a  station,  but  that 
he  had  refused ;  and  repeati»;g  tlie  assertion  of  Tin- 
tinmitsi  that  the  Americans  were  charged  with  de- 
stroying the  Cajaises,  but  ij  ofessing  not  to  credit  the 


rl 


606 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


story.  Peupei.  iioxmox  added,  with  true  Indian  cun- 
ninj^,  that  the  priests  pronounced  tlie  diseases  from 
which  they  were  suffering  an  affliction  from  God  on 
account  of  their  heresy ;  knowing  well  the  fever  into 
which  such  a  statement  would  throw  S[)alding,  and 
probably  deriving  as  much  pleasure  from  it  as  a  good 
Methodist  or  Catholic  could  do. 

During  the  night  of  Spalding's  visit,  a  niece  of  Peu- 
peumoxmox  died,  and  he  conducted  the  funeral  ser- 
vices at  tlie  fort  next  day,  when  he  met  Brouillet  and 
his  associates,  also  there  on  a  visit,  with  whom  he 
conversed  on  the  manner  of  teaching  by  ^h(  'v'atholic 
ladder.'^'  During  the  forenoon  of  tiiO  ?"{}...  o  re- 
turned to  Waiilatpu,  where  a  messengei^ ;  .  a  <xj)pearcd 
from  the  camps  of  Five  Crows  and  Tauitau,  desiring 
the  presence  of  Dr  Whitman  among  their  sick,  a  sum- 
mons which  the  doctor  with  his  customary  alacrity 
obeyed.  On  this  journey  of  thirty  miles  or  more, 
Spalding  accomjjanied  him.  It  is  easy  to  believe  the 
latter  when  he  says  that  as  they  rode  they  talked,  far 
into  the  night,  of  their  past  trials  and  triumphs,  and 
their  present  insecurity  ;  or  even  that  Whitman  utteretl 
the  words  put  into  his  mouth,  "If  I  am  to  fall  b}'' 
Roman  Catholic  influence,  I  believe  my  death  v-ill  do 
as  much  good  to  Oregon  as  my  life  can."^^  He  wiV:^ 
a  mc^n  capable  of  such  a  declaration.  *     - 

^'^Sfronii's  JfiH.  Or.,  MS.,  43-").  Spalding  also  practises  son.c  iUr>L  i*,j, 
where  lie  says  in  the  On'i/oii  Ainerktin.  that  no  one  who  had  not  \vitn'3&.  d  iti 
could  eoiK'uivo  of  the  intense  agitation  caused  among  the  Indians  h\/  tho  ' 
introduction  of  the  Catholic  ladder,  a  chart  containing  rudely  drawn  pictures 
of  scriptural  subjects,  and  illustrating  the  doom  of  heretics.  'M^  attention,' 
he  say.s,  'has  suddenly  licen  arrested  by  the  outcries  and  wailings  of  a  whole 
camp,  oeeasioni'd  by  the  arrival  of  some  (me  with  an  additional  explanation  of 
the  Catholic  ladder,  always  accompanied  by  the  declaration,  "The  Ainericans 
are  causing  us  to  did"'  Tins  sounds  like  slander.  At  tlie  time  of  whicli 
Spalding  speaks,  tlie  Catholic  ladder  was  too  well  known  among  the  Cayuses 
to  occasion  any  sucii  outburst  of  alarm,  if  ever  it  had  done  so.  The  wailing 
he  hoard  in  November  was  tlic  dcatli  dirge;  and  if  the  natives  excla'':ed, 
'The  Americana  are  causing  us  'lO  ilie  ! '  such  wa.t  the  truth,  though  tl  had 
brought  djatli  witliont  knowledge  or  intention  of  doing  so. 

'•'■^Oiit/itii  A  iiicnavi,  Aug.  1848,  (U.  This  remark  may  have  bee;  <  'J  < 
forth  by  the  doctor's  knowledge  of  an  ineidmt  wjiich  occurred  at  the  lo.-s;  V 
l'eupeiiinoxnu)x  while  Spalding  was  there;  a  Nez  J'ercii  entered  the  ioi.jj v 
with  the  inquiry,  'liDr  Whitman  killed?' as  if  he  expected  an  affirmative 
answer. 


ATTENDING  THE  SICK. 


687 


3  wa 


The  28th  was  Sunday.  The  two  missionaries  broke 
their  fast  in  the  lodge  of  Sticcas,  the  chief  who  had 
ofuided  the  imraiffration  of  1843  over  the  Blue  Moun- 
tains;  and  the  doctor  could  not  help  remarking  upon 
the  meal  t)f  beef,  bread,  potatoes,  and  squash,  as  a 
gratifying  proof  that  under  his  teaching  the  Cayuses 
had  made  some  progress.  Everything  about  the  little 
village  was  orderly  and  still,  as  became  the  sabbath. 
It  was  the  calm  preceding  the  cyclone. 

While  Spalding  remained  to  hold  religious  services, 
Whitman  proceeded  to  the  camps  of  Tauitau  and  Five 
Crows  on  the  south  side  of  the  Umatilla,  where,  after 
calling  on  his  patients,  he  dined  with  Bishop  Blanchet 
at  his  mission  in  a  friendly  manner.  According  to 
Spalding,  the  doctor  appeared  to  have  been  agreeably 
entortained,  and  to  have  considered  certain  negotia- 
tions for  the  sale  of  Waiilatpu  to  the  Catholics  if  a 
majority  of  the  Cayuses  wished  him  to  go  away;  an 
engagement  having  been  entered  into  that  the  bishop 
or  vicar-general  should  pay  a  visit  to  Waiilatpu  in  a 
few  days."^*  Leaving  Spalding  to  visit  and  comfort 
the  sick,  Whitman  left  for  home  Sunday  evening. 
Spalding  himself  visited  the  priests,  taking  tea  with 
them,  and  on  Tuesday  evening  returned  to  the  lodge 
of  Sticcas  to  sleep. 


That 


evenmg 


Sticcas  communicated   to    Spalding 


m 


i¥ : ': 


•:     'i 


'*  Frcim  a  chance  remark  of  Spalding's,  and  from  a  quotation  from  him  in 
lirouUlfCH  Authentic  Account,  21,  I  have  no  doubt  that  Wiiitman  was  almut 
to  a':-:ept  fin  offer  for  Waiilatpu,  from  which  ho  was  convinced  he  must  now 
go.  Tlie  (juotiition  is  as  follows:  '  Dr  Wliitnian  twice  <luring  the  hist  year 
called  the  L'ayuse  together,  and  told  them  if  a  majority  wislied  he  woidd  leave, 
tiie  country  at  once.  .  .Dr  Whitman  held  himself  ready  to  sell  the  Waiilatpu 
station  to  the  Catholic  mission  wiienever  a  majority  of  the  Cayuses  iiiiglit 
wish  it.'  lu  1800-7  Spalding  revived  the  menu)rics  of  twenty  years  before, 
and  delivered  a  course  of  lectures  on  the  subject  of  the  Waiilatpu  mission, 
which  were  published  in  tlie  Alluin;/  Or.  S/'i/.s  /'iij/itn  Dciiiornit,  extending- 
over  a  period  from  Noveml)er  18()0  to  February  1807.  In  one  tlieso  ho- 
says:  'Iho  same  week — referring  to  his  arrival  at  Wiiitman's  station — f 
visited  Walla  Walla,  and  a  conference  was  partly  agreed  upon  with  tiio' 
priests.  They  asked  and  I  agreed  to  furnish  tiiem  all  needed  supplies  from 
my  station.'  He,  however,  denied  in  tiiese  lectiires,  what  he  had  aihnitte>' 
lirevionsly,  that  Whitman  diniMl  with  tlie  priests,  and  says  hv,  ileclined  on  a. 
plea  of  liastening  homo  to  look  aftt^r  the  sick.  Such  is  the  effect  of  sccttiri;,  'ism 
that  the  most  religious  feel  justifiod  in  lying  to  sustain  a  point. 
IIlBT.  Or.,  Vol.  I.    42 


658 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


the  significant  information  that  a  decree  of  outlawry 
had  been  passed  by  the  Cayuses  against  the  white 
people  in  their  country,  declining  to  explain  any  fur- 
ther. ^^  Filled  with  apprehension,  the  missionary  cast 
himself  upon  his  couch  of  skins,  but  sleep  was  impos- 
sible. On  either  side  of  him  sat  an  Indian  v/oman 
chanting  the  harsh  and  melancholy  death-song  of  her 
people.  When  asked  for  whom  they  mourned,  no 
answer  could  be  obtained.  At  early  dawn  Spalding 
prepared  to  depart,  his  mind  oppressed  with  misgiv- 
ings. At  a  little  distance  from  the  lodue  waited  a 
native  woman,  who,  laying  her  hand  on  the  neck  of  his 
horse,  in  a  few  hurried  words  warned  him  to  avoid 
Waiilatpu.  Considering  that  his  daughter  was  an 
inmate  of  that  station,  this  hint  was  not  calculated  to 
ease  his  mind  or  to  cause  him  to  loiter,  tliorgh  his 
path  lay  directly  in  the  way  of  danger,  the  road  from 
tlie  Umatilla  to  Waiilatpu  leading  past  the  camp  of 
Tiloukaikt,  a  chief  with  whom  Whitman  had  more 
than  once  had  a  serious  rupture.^® 

When  Whitman  reached  home  late  Sunaay  night 
he  found  things  as  he  had  left  them.  Mrs  Osborne, 
who  had  lost  a  child  by  the  measles,  and  recently  been 
confined,  was  quite  ill.  Miss  Bewley  was  down  witli 
intermittent  fever.  One  of  the  Sager  lads  was  par- 
tially recovering  from  measles.  Two  half-breed  girls, 
left  with  Mrs  Whitman  to  be  educated,  a  half-breed 
boy  adopted  by  the  doctor,  Crockett  Bewley,  brother 
of  Miss  Bewley,  and  a  young  man  named  Sales,  were 
all  in  bed  with  the  epidemic,  though  convalescing. 

During    the   forenoon    of   Monday   Dr   Whitman 

**  Yet  this  is  the  chief  of  wliom  several  wliite  men  lia ve  said  he  was  the  only 
true  friend  of  the  white  race  among  the  Oregon  Indians.  His  friendship  did 
not  extend  to  warning  the  missionarie.  distinctly  of  their  peril. 

^"The  camp  of  Sticcas,  as  I  have  already  intimated,  was  on  the  nortli  side  of 
the  Umatilla,  probably  not  far  from  the  present  town  of  Pendleton,  while  Five 
Crows,  Tauitau,  Camespelo,  and  Yundiawalis  had  their  villages  on  the  south 
side,  but  not  far  away.  Peupeumoxmox  lived  on  the  road  leading  from  Fort 
Walla  Walla  to  Waiilatpu,  and  Tiloukaikt,  Tamahas,  and  Tamsucky  had 
their  lodges  between  him  and  the  mission;  so  that  travel  whLhevcr  way  he 
would,  Spalding  must  pass  the  camps  of  these  chiefs  to  reach  Dr  Whitman's 
station. 


THE  DAxMNINd  DEED. 


689 


tman 


assisted  at  the  funeral  of  an  Indian  who  had  died 
(kiring-  his  visit  to  the  Umatilla,  and  was  struck  with 
the  absence  of  the  tribe,  many  of  whom  were  mounted, 
riding  about,  and  giving  no  attention  to  the  burial ; 
but  as  there  had  been  a  slaughter  of  beef  which  was 
being  dressed  in  the  mission  yard,  an  occasion  whicli 
always  drew  the  Indians  about,  the  circumstance  Was 
in  part  at  least  accounted  for.  School  was  in  session, 
several  men  and  boys  were  absent  at  the  saw-mill  near 
^he  foot  of  the  mountains ;  the  women  were  em- 
j  U/^'ed  with  the  duties  of  housekeeping  and  nursing 
the  sick,  and  all  was  quiet  as  usual  when  Whitman, 
fatigued  with  two  nights'  loss  of  sleep,  entered  the 
common  sitting-room  of  his  house  and  sat  down  before 
the  fire  to  rest,  thinking  such  thoughts  as — Ah  I  who 
shall  say?'' 

While  he  thus  mused,  two  chiefs,  Tiloukaikt  and 
Tamahas,  surnamed  '  The  Murderer,'  from  his  having 
killed  a  number  of  his  own  people,  presented  them- 
selves at  the  door  leading  to  an  adjoining  room,  ask- 
ing for  medicines,  when  the  doctor  arose  and  went 
to  them,  afterward  seating  himself  to  prepare  the 
drugs.  And  now  the  hour  had  come  I  Tamahas  stepped 
behind  him,  drew  his  tomahawk  from  beneath  his 
blanket,  and  with  one  or  two  cruel  blows  laid  low  for- 
ever the  man  of  God.  John  Sager,  Avho  was  in  the 
room  prostrated  by  sickness,  drew  a  pistol,  but  was 
quickly  cut  to  pieces.  In  his  struggle  for  life  he 
wounded  two  of  his  assailants,  who,  at  a  preconcerted 
signal,  bad  with  others  crowded  into  the  house.  A 
tumult  then  arose  throughout  the  mission.  All  the 
men  encountered  by  the  savages  were  slain.     Some 

''  Mrs  Husted,  then  wife  of  the  teacher  at  the  mission,  has  avoweil  that 
Wliitiiian  had  certainly  received  some  information  or  iutimation  on  Sunday, 
and  that  on  arriving  at  home  kite  that  night  the  family  was  kept  sitting  up 
several  hours  in  consultation,  talking  over  the  chances  of  escape  in  case  of  an 
attack.  I  think  this  may  ho  true,  but  state  it  only  as  the  evidence  of  one 
person,  after  many  years,  and  the  distraction  of  mind  caused  by  what  fol- 
lowed. Spalding,  in  his  lectures  before  quoted,  hints  at  some  such  thing  by 
saying,  '  Tne  doctor  and  his  wife  were  seen  in  tears  much  agitated. '  It  becomes 
difficult  to  account  in  that  case  for  the  neglect  of  the  doctor  to  put  each  man 
about  the  mission  upon  his  guard. 


I  H 


(    '^^ 


t 
? 


i 


m 

t  >,  i 


lil 


w 


>  ii 


IM 


660 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


were  killed  outright;  others  were  bruised  and  man- 
gled and  left  writhing  back  to  consciousness  to  bo 
assailed  again,  until  after  hours  of  agony  they  expired. 
Dr  Whitman  himself  lived  for  some  time  after  he  had 
been  stricken  down,  though  insensible.  Mrs  Whit- 
man, although  wounded,  with  Rogers  and  a  few 
others  also  wounded,  took  refuge  in  an  upper  room  of 
the  dwelling,  and  defended  the  staircase  with  a  gun, 
until  persuaded  by  Tamsucky,  who  gained  access  by 
assurances  of  sorrow  and  sympathy,  to  leave  the 
chamber,  the  savages  below  threatening  to  fire  the 
house.  On  her  way  to  the  mansion  house,^  where 
the  terror-stricken  women  and  children  were  gath- 
ered, she  fainted  on  encountering  the  mangled  body 
of  her  husband,  and  was  placed  upon  a  wooden  settee 
by  Rogers  and  Mrs  Hays,  who  attempted  to  carry 
her  in  this  condition  through  the  space  between  the 
houses;  but  on  reaching  the  outer  door  they  were 
surrounded  by  savages,  who  instantly  fired  upon  them, 
fatally  wounding  Rogers,  and  several  balls  striking 
Mrs  Whitman,  who,  though  not  dead,  was  hurled 
into  a  pool  of  water  and  blood  on  the  grimnd.  Not 
satisfied  with  this,  Ishalhal,  who  had  formerly  lived 
in  Gray';:^  family,  and  who  had  fired  the  first  shot 
at  her  before  she  escaped  to  the  chamber  from  which 
Tamsucky  treacherously  drew  her,  seized  her  long 
auburn  hair,  now  blood-stained  and  dishevelled,  and 
lifting  up  the  head,  happil}^  unconscious,  repeatedly 
struck  the  dying  woman's  face  with  a  whip,  notwith- 
stan<ling  which  life  lingered  for  several  hours. 

Night  came  at  last  and  drew  a  veil  over  the  horrors 

'*  In  Spalding's  lectures  there  is  a  description  of  the  mission  premises  as 
they  appeared  in  1847.  'The  doctor's  adoue  dwelling-house  soood  on  the 
north  side  of  the  W^alla  Walla  River,  and  one  half-mile  above  th.i  mouth  of 
Mill  Creek,  facing  west,  well  finished,  and  furnislied  with  a  good  library  ind 
a  large  cabinet  of  choice  specimens.  Connected  witli  v}ie  north  end  was 
a  largo  Indian  room,  and  an  L  extending  from  the  east  70  feet,  consist- 
ing of  kitchen,  sleeping-room,  school-room,  and  church.  One  hundred  yards 
east  stood  a  large  adobe  building.  At  a  point  forming  a  triangle  with  the 
above  line  stood  the  mill,  granary,  and  shops. '  The  whole  was  situated  upon 
the  small  area  formed  by  the  flat  land  between  the  river  and  the  rolling  iiills 
to  the  west.  The  large  adobe  buihliug  spoken  of  was  known  as  the  'uausiou 
house. 


k 


AFTER  THE  MURDER. 


6CI 


of  that  afternoon.  No  one  knew  when  the  last  breath 
left  the  body  of  the  mistress  of  Waiilatpu.  Ah !  it 
was  pitiful  to  see  this  pure  and  gentle  woman,  this 
pure  and  noble  man,  while  in  the  service  of  God 
hewn  down  and  cast  into  the  ditch  by  other  of  God's 
creatures  whom  to  benefit  they  had  lived.  In  the 
general  compensation  it  would  seem  to  our  poor  facul- 
ties that  the  bestowal  of  the  martyr's  crown  poorly 
recompensed  the  heart  of  omnipotence  for  witnessing 
such  atrocities. 

It  is  needless  further  to  describe  the  butcheries 
which  lasted  for  several  days,  or  until  all  the  adult 
males  except  five,  and  several  boys,  were  killed,  some 
on  their  sick-beds,  some  on  their  way  home  from  the 
mill,  some  in  one  place  and  some  in  another. 


-f  n 


39 


lono- 


"  Mr  and  Mrs  Gaborne  with  their  children  happened  to  be  in  a  bedroom  of 
the  dwelling  at  tlie  moment  of  the  attack;  and  taking  up  a  plank  in  the  Hoor, 
they  secreted  themselves  under  the  house.  During  the  night  they  escaped, 
l)ut  Mrs  Osborne  and  the  children  being  unable  to  walk  more  than  3  miles 
during  the  dark  hours,  and  afraid  to  travel  by  day,  were  in  danger  of  starving 
before  they  could  reach  Fort  Walla  Walla.  On  Thursday  forenoon  Osborne 
arrived  there,  carrying  the  youngest  child,  and  was  received  with  hospitality 
by  McBean,  the  agent  in  charge;  Mrs  Osborne  being  rescued  by  tlie  help  of 
persons  belonging  to  the  fort,  who  brought  the  family  in  on  horses.  There 
was  much  said  subsequently  about  McBean 's  behavior;  and  his  evident  reluc- 
tance to  harbor  the  men  who  had  escaped,  although  he  offered  to  take  care  of 
their  families,  was  attributed  to  his  C'atliolic  faith.  But  I  do  not  think  that 
any  one  paused  to  think  of  sectarian  diflferenees  then.  McBean  was  afraid  the 
Cayuses  might  attack  the  fort  were  they  provoked  to  it  by  the  presence  of 
Americans,  and  the  fort  was  not  in  a  condition  to  withstand  a  siege.  The  first 
man  who  reached  Walla  Walla  was  Hall,  who  by  walking  all  night  arrived 
there  Tuesday  morning.  A  rumor  being  brought  that  tlic  women  and  children 
were  all  killed,  Hall's  reason  seemed  to  give  away;  but  becoming  calmer,  lie 
decided  to  attempt  going  to  the  Willamette;  ami  being  furnishetl  with  the 
dress  of  a  Hudson's  Bay  employt5,  as  well  as  ammunition,  and  every  other  neces- 
sary, set  out  to  travel  down  the  north  side  of  the  river  to  avoid  the  Cayuses. 
He  proceeded  safely  until  near  the  rapids  at  tlie  Des  Chutes  River,  where  tak- 
ing a  canoe  to  cross  the  Columbia  he  was  drowned.  Letter  of  MoBean  in  tlie 
Walla  WalUi  Statesman,  March  1(5,  186G.  McBean,  who  of  course  knew  noth- 
ing of  Hall's  failure  to  cross  the  Dallvs,  proposed  to  Osborne  to  leave  liis 
family  with  him,  and  follow  Hall's  example;  but  Osborne  refused.  He  would 
go  down  the  river  Math  his  familj'  in  a  boat  with  a  trusty  Indian  crew  from 
tlie  fort,  but  not  otherwise.  No  natives  about  the  fort  would  take  the  risk, 
and  therefore  Osborne  remained.  In  Brou'dlet's  AntheiUk  Avrniint  are  the 
depositions  of  several  persons  on  tliis  subject;  one  of  Josiali  Osborne,  win. 
reflects  severely  on  McBean  for  refusing  him  the  things  he  di^naiuled  for  the 
comfort  of  his  family;  but  to  one  acquainted  with  the  simple  furnishing  of  the 
interior  trading  posts,  these  refusals  seem  natural.  McBean  could  not  fuini  'h 
what  he  did  not  have.  The  truth  wiis,  that  although  McBoan  was  '  below  the 
salt '  when  compiired  with  other  gentlemen  in  the  company,  he  wiis  not  by  any 
means  a  brute    out  earned  more  gratitude  than  he  received  from  the  half-de- 


:i;  r 


_  -  ^  ^i.i 

"  it'l 


THE  WHITMAN   MASSACRE. 


i:K 


The  butcheries  were  harldy  more  atrocious  than  the 
sufferings  inflicted  on  the  survivors.  The  helpless 
women  and  children  were  compelled  not  only  to  wit- 
ness the  slaughter  of  their  husbands  and  fathers,  but 
were  forced  to  yield  a  hateful  obedience  to  their  cap- 
tors while  the  yet  unburied  remains  of  those  dearest 
to  them  lay  mangled  and  putrefying  in  their  sight/'^ 

Several  of  the  women  were  taken  for  wives.  Five 
Crows,  who  was  declared  not  to  have  any  hand  in  the 
massacre,  and  of  whom  Hines  says  in  his  Oregon  His- 
tory, published  three  years  after  the  event,  that  lu; 
was  a  Protestant,  and  gave  "good  evidence  of  conver- 
sion," on  the  eleventh  day  after  the  outbreak  sent  for 
Miss  Bewley  to  be  brought  to  his  lodge  on  the  Uma- 
tilla, Nor  was  Five  Crows  an  unfair  sample  of  an 
Indian  convert.  He  would  have  nothing  to  do  witli 
the  destruction  of  the  mission,  but  he  would  let  it  bo 
destroyed.  Being  already  wealthy,  he  cared  nothing 
for  the  booty,  but  he  could  not  withstand  beauty. 

mented  persons  who  escaped  from  the  horrors  of  Waiilatpu.  Another  fugi- 
tive was  William  D.  CanHeld,  who  was  wounded  in  the  hip,  but  succeeded  iu 
making  his  way  to  Lapwai,  which  place  he  reached  on  Saturday  afternoon,  as 
he  himself  says,  '  without  eating  or  sleeping. '  Cantield  was  a  native  of  Arling- 
ton, Vermont,  where  he  was  born  Oct.  22,  1810.  He  married  Sally  Ann 
Lee,  June  10,  1828,  and  after  several  removes  westward  finally  arrived  in 
Iowa,  where  he  laid  out  the  town  of  Oskaloosa.  From  that  place  he  emi- 
grated to  Oregon.  See  Son.  Co.  Hitt.,  470.  Joseph  Smith  and  Elam  Young 
also  escaped.  They  were  living  with  their  families  at  the  saw-mill.  The 
natives  ordered  them  to  Waiilatpu  the  third  day  after  the  massacre  began, 
but  having  glutted  their  revenge,  and  deeming  it  well  to  save  some  to  grind 
the  grain,  they  sufiered  them  to  live.  The  victims  of  the  tragedy  were 
13:  Dr  and  Mrs  Whitman,  Rogers,  Saunders,  Gillilland,  Kimball,  Hoffman, 
Marsh,  Sales,  Bewley,  James  Young,  John  Sager,  and  Francis  Sager.  Or.  Spvr- 
lator,  Jan  20,  1848. 

*'  Spalding  says  in  his  lectures  that  the  women  were  compelled  to  cook  for 
largo  numbers  of  the  savages  daily,  who  called  upon  his  daughter  to  taste  the 
food  and  tell  them  if  it  were  not  poisoned.  They  were  also  ordered  to 
sew  and  make  garments  for  Indian  families  out  of  the  goods  belonging  to  the 
mission.  Spalding  also  says  that  both  the  women  and  girls  were  subjected  to 
the  most  revolting  brutalities;  '  girls  so  young  that  tl  e  knife  had  to  be  used,' 
is  his  language.  Young  in  his  deposition  states  that  '  a  few  days  after  we  got 
there  two  young  women  were  taken  as  wives  by  the  Indians,  which  I  opposed, 
iuid  was  threatened  by  Smith,  who  was  very  anxious  that  it  shouht  take 
place,  and  that  other  little  girls  should  be  given  up  for  wives. '  Graijs  IILit. 
Or.,  483.  There  is  no  doubt  from  the  evidence,  although  much  waa  concealed 
from  motives  of  delicacy  toward  the  women,  that  for  the  time  they  were 
held  prisonei-s  at  Waiilatpu,  which  was  about  a  month,  they  were  treated 
with.the  utmost  brutality,  the  two  white  men  being  unable  to  defend  even 
their  own  families. 


THE  INDIAN'S  BRIDE. 


668 


40 


Miss  Bewley  was  sent  for,  and  having  no  one  to  pro- 
tect her,  she  was  torn  from  the  arms  of  sympathizing 
women,  placed  on  a  horse,  and  in  tlie  midst  of  a  high 
fuver  of  both  mind  and  body,  was  carried  through  a 
November  snow-storm  to  the  arms  of  this  brawny 
savage.  Five  Crows  behaved  in  a  manner  becoming  a 
gentlemanly  and  Christian  savage.  He  made  his  cap- 
tive as  comfortable  as  possible,  and  observing  her  op- 
position to  his  wishes,  gave  her  a  few  days  in  which 
to  think  of  it,  besides  allowing  her  to  spend  a  portion 
of  her  time  at  the  house  of  the  Catholic  bishop.  But 
tliis  generous  mood  was  not  of  long  duration,  and 
nightly  she  was  dragged  from  Blanchet's  presence  to 
the  lodge  of  her  lord,  the  priests  powerless  to  inter- 
fert 


41 


The  position  of  the  priests  was  made  ground  for 
serious  accusation  when  the  story  became  known ;  but 
it  is  difficult  to  see  how  they  could  have  interfered 
without  first  having  resolved  to  give  up  their  mission 
and  risk  their  lives.  If  the  Americans  at  Waiilati)U 
could  refuse  to  protest,  and  if  Canfield  could  volun- 
tarily seek  to  save  his  own  life,  leaving  his  wife  and 
children  in  the  hands  of  the  natives,  it  was  hardly  to 
be  expected  that  the  [)ower  of  the  priests  who  had 
their  own  lives  and  purposes  to  be  secured,  and  who 
were  not  allowed  under  ordinary  circumstances  to 
harbor  women  in  their  houses,  should  prove  more 
efficacious,*^ 


•i^i 


•it 
'i 


♦'  Miss  Bowley  says  in  her  deposition  that  she  '  begged  jind  cried  to  the 
hishop  for  i)rotection,  either  at  his  house,  or  to  be  sent  to  Walla  Walla,'  but 
nothing  availed.  Grai/'n  Ilkt.  Or.,  48G-97.  It  is  said  that  one  of  the  priests, 
in  a  piece  of  injudicious  pleasantry,  asked  her  liow  she  liked  her  new  liusband, 
an  indiscretion  which  planted  a  thorn  in  his  side  that  rankled  longer,  if  wo 
may  judge  by  the  wordy  war  which  resulted  from  it,  than  the  insult  did  in 
Miss  Bewley's  heart,  which  slio  said  she  'thought  would  break.'  Ih-nuHU'Cs 
Authentic  Account,  57. 

*'^  A  glance  at  the  depositions  shows  charges  even  more  grave  which  the 
survivors  made  against  each  other,  and  against  the  dead.  Crockett  Bewley 
was  accused  of  saying  imliscrect  things  which  brought  on  the  massacre.  Even 
Rogers  was  declared  to  liave  confessed  before  he  died  that  he  had  poisoned 
In<lians.  This  was  one  of  the  peculiar  features  of  the  afl'air;  men  and  women 
were  made  so  craven  by  their  fears  that  they  hesitated  at  nothing,  when  by 
lying  they  could,  as  they  thov.ght,  avert  danger  from  themselves.  If  the 
half  they  said  about  each  other  were  true,  they  deserved  death. 


■I'l 
--...i.J 


riiii 


GG4 


THE  WHITMAN  MASSACRE. 


It  will  be  reiiieinbered  that  when  Dr  Whitman  re- 
turned from  the  Umatilla  he  was  expcctuig  a  visit 
soon  from  the  bishop  or  vicar-general,  with  whom  he 
hoped  to  make  arrangements  which,  in  a  certain  event, 
would  enable  him  to  sell  the  mission  property.  On 
the  afternoon  of  the  JiOth  Brouillet  proceeded  on  this 
errand  as  far  as  the  lodge  of  Tiloukaikt,  with  the 
intention  of  visiting  the  sick  and  baptizing  the  dying 
of  that  camp.  Arriving  late  in  the  evening,  he  be- 
came apprised  of  what  had  happened  on  the  29th  at 
Waiilatpu,  and  spent  the  night  in  much  perturbati(m,^"' 
but  without  neglecting  in  the  morning  to  attend  to 
his  religious  duties.  Having  done  what  he  could  for 
the  dying  Cayuses,  he  hastened  to  Waiilatpu  and 
offered  such  consolation  as  he  might  venture  upon  to 
the  widows  and  orphans,  concealing  his  sympathy  as 
directed  by  the  captives,  and  procuring  the  burial  of 
the  dead.** 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  1st  of  December  Brouillet 
departed  from  Waiilatpu  and  rode  toward  Umatilla,  in 
the  hope  of  intercepting  Spalding,  who  was  expected 
on  that  day  for  the  conference  which  was  to  have 
taken  place.  Soon  after  crossing  the  Walla  Walla 
River  he  discovered  Spalding  galloping  toward  him. 
Fortunately  for  his  purpose,  the  interpreter  and  a  son  of 
Tiloukaikt's,  who  was  following  with  the  evident  design 
of  spying  upon  his  actions,  had  stopped  to  light  their 
pipes,  which  gave  time  for  communicating  the  news  of 
the  massacre  and  for  a  moment's  deliberation.  Before 
any  course  could  be  decided  upon,  the  chief's  son  Ed- 
ward rejoined  the  priest,  who  interceded  with  him  for 

^^  Authentic  Account,  50. 

**  Brouillet  states  that  Joseph  Stanfield,  one  of  the  half-breeds  who  nad 
been  in  Whitiuau's  service,  was  preparing  the  bodies  for  burial,  but  being 
alone,  could  not  inter  thcin.  He  therefore  ■vent  to  his  assistance,  though  not 
without  a^jprehension  that  he  might  be  assassinated  while  thus  engaged. 
Robert  Newell,  who  visited  Waiilatpu  the  following  spring,  and  wlio  kept  a 
memorandum  of  the  incidents  of  the  expedition,  says  tliat  Dr  Whitman  and 
wife  were  laid  together  in  a  single  grave,  with  a  neat  paling  aliout  it;  and 
that  the  other  victims  were  placetl  in  one  common  excavation,  also  enclosed 
by  a  fence;  but  that  both  had  I)een  torn  open  by  wolves.  The  scattered  re- 
mains were  reinterred  in  one  grave. 


MR  AND  MUS  SPALDINO. 


cor> 


the  life  of  Spaklinjjf  as  a  personal  favor  to  liiin.self. 
Not  knowing  wliat  course  to  take,  Young  Tiloukaikt 
after  some  hesitation  turned  back  to  camp,  saying  he 
would  consult  with  his  father.  Here  was  tlie  hardly 
hoped  for  opportunity,  which  was  quickly  taken. 
Abandoning  his  horses  to  the  interpreter,  and  taking 
a  scrap  of  food  which  Brouillet  carried  in  his  wallet, 
the  striken  missionary  plunged  on  foot  and  alone 
into  the  wilderness  over  which  a  thick  foj;  settlinjjf 
concealed  him  from  his  enemies.^''  After  six  days  of 
physical  suffering  from  want  and  exjiosure,  and  gn^at 
mental  anguish,**  he  arrived  at  Lai)wai,  and  found  that 
his  family  was  in  the  care  of  some  friendly  chiefs  at 
Craig's  place  ten  miles  away. 


When  the  fugitive  Canfield  reached  Lapwai  he 
found  the  Nez  Perces  ignorant  of  what  had  taken 
place  at  Waiilatpu,  and  advised  Mrs  Spalding  to  allov 
them  to  remain  so.  But  the  knowledge  she  possessed 
of  the  Indian  character,  and  the  fact  of  the  intini  ite 
relations  between  the  Nez  Percds  and  Cayuses,  decided 
her  to  break  the  news  at  once  and  throw  herself  on 
their  mercy.  In  the  absence  of  her  husband,  and 
temporarily  of  her  brother,  she  confided  the  matter 
to  two  chiefs,  Jacob  and  Eagle,  who  happened  to  be 
present,  and  who  promised  protection,  but  counselled 
removal  from  Lapwai.  One  of  them  carried  a  letter 
to  Craig,  and  the  other  volunteered  to  communicate 
the  intelligence  received  from  Canfield  to  the  tribe. 


*^  Brouillet  says  that  almost  immediately  c'  y"*  '  palding  left  him  3  armed 
Cayu8e,4  overtook  him,  who  said  to  the  interpiv  •  .  ■  The  priost  ought  to  have 
attended  to  his  own  business,  and  not  to  liave  interfered  with  ours.'  AiUfwtUic 
Accouni,  52-5;  Shea's  Cath.  Miss.,  478. 

^•'Tiiere  can  be  no  doubt  that  Spalding's  mind  was  injured  by  tliis  shook. 
All  his  subsequent  writings  show  a  want  of  balance,  wliich  inclines  me  to 
regard  with  lenity  certain  erroneous  statements  in  his  publicationfi.  I  find 
in  the  Oregon  Statesman  of  August  11,  lSii5,  this  line:  'H.  H.  Sjjalding,  a 
lunatic  upon  the  subject  of  Catholicism,  and  not  over  and  above  sane  upon 
any  subject. '  During  all  his  after  life,  while  narrating  the  events  of  that 
fearful  time,  his  forehead  was  covered  with  great  drops  of  sweat,  and  his  eyes 
had  a  frenzied  expression  Burnett  mentions  some  of  the  survivors  of  the 
Donner  party  whose  intellect  was  afifected.  Coleridge,  in  his  Ancient  Manner, 
well  (Jepicts  this  state  of  jniud. 


'Mi 
1,1  *■' 


.:,  i« 


am 


THE  WHITMAN  MAS8ACR. 


This  was  on  Saturday.  On  Monday  the  8th  of 
December  a  niesseiii^er  arrived  from  the  Cayuses,  who 
related  what  liad  occurred,  stating  the  cau.se  to  be  the 
beUef  that  tliey  were  being  poisoned.  There  was,  as 
might  liave  been  exj)ected,  a  (hvision,  the  majority  of 
the  chiefs  foUowing  tl»e  advice  of  Eagle  and  Jacob, 
while  others  evinced  a  readiness  to  join  in  the  mur- 
dering and  plundering  course  of  the  Cayuses.*^ 

On  the  same  day  Mrs  Spalding,  who  had  remained 
over  Sunday  at  the  mission  with  a  guard  of  two  or 
three  faithful  Nez  Perces,  removed  to  Craig's.  She 
desired  to  send  an  express  to  Chemakane  to  inform 
Walker  and  Eells  of  the  massacre  at  Waiilatpu,  and 
also  one  to  her  daughter  at  the  latter  j)lace,  but  no 
one  could  be  found  who  would  undertake  either  errand. 
The  missionaries  were,  however,  safe  at  the  Chemakane 
station,  the  principal  chief  of  the  Spokanes  on  first 
hearing  of  the  Cayuse  outbreak  ]  ising  to  defend 
the  inmates  against  attack,  a  proi'  ^liich  he  faith- 

fully kept^"  by  mounting  guard  over  them  till  their 
departure  to  the  Willamette  the  following  spring.  At 
La{)wai,  the  Nez  Perces,  under  Joseph,  and  some 
of  James'  band  pillaged  the  mission  buildings,  but 
were  otherwise  held  in  c^.jck  by  the  chiefs  before 
named. 

As  in  all  the  emergencies  which  overtook  the 
Americans  in  colonial  times,  the  fur  company  now 
came  to  their  relief.  As  soon  as  possible  after  learn- 
ing wliat  had  taken  place,  McBean  despatched  a 
Canadian  messenger  to  Vancouver  to  apprise  Douglas 
and  Ogden,  and  through  them  Abernethy.     At  the 


"  Spaliling  gives  the  uames  of  the  friendly  and  hostile  chiefs.  Besides 
Eaglu  and  Jacob,  the  latter  of  whom  was  about  to  be  received  into  the  church, 
there  were  Luke  and  two  of  his  brothers,  and  James,  a  Catholic  cliief,  who  were 
friendly.  But  Joseph,  a  chief  who  had  united  with  the  church  8  years  pre- 
vious, and  up  to  this  time  with  few  backslidings  had  lived  like  a  Cliristian, 
and  whose  people  constituted  a  good  portion  of  the  sabbath  congregation 
and  school,  7  of  them  being  church-members,  deserted  to  the  enemy.  Ureyon 
Amerienii,  Aug.  16,  1848. 

*"  Atkinson,  in  Or.  Pioneer  As^oc.,  Trims.,  1877,  70. 


CALX,  FOR  AID. 


fC7 


Dalles  he  found  in  charge  Alansoii  Hininan/"  with  his 
wife  and  child. 

Besides  Hininan  there  were  Perrin  Whitman,  Dr 
Henry  Saffarans,  and  William  McKinney  and  wife, 
of  the  late  arrivals.  To  none  of  these  persons  ditl 
the  messenger  breathe  a  word  about  the  massacre, 
not  even  to  Hinman,  who  accompanied  him  to  Van- 
couver to  procure  medicines  for  the  sick  'ibout  the 
Dalles,  until  they  were  below  the  Cascades,  so  careful 
was  he  not  to  spread  any  excitement  amongst  the 
natives  before  means  could   be   taken  to  rescue  the 


prisoners, 


60 


*•  Hinman  was  formerly  of  the  state  of  New  York.  After  coming  to  Ore- 
gon in  1844,  he  married  a  Martha  (Tcrrish,  whose  father,  iin  immigrant  of  1845, 
resided  in  the  Tualatin  plains.  Hinman  wa«  teacher  in  the  Oregon  Institute 
for  a  short  time,  but  Hfcms  *  <  have  been  engaged  by  Whitman  to  take  charge 
of  the  station  purchased  fi      i  the  Methodists  at  the  Dalles. 

'*Much  ca^iital  was  m  I'le  out  of  this  circumstance  by  the  anti-Hudson's 
Bay  writers,  including  (iray,  who  attempts  to  show  that  tlie  intention  of 
Mc^Bean  was  to  allow  the  Indians  to  kill  off  those  who  wi;re  at  the  Dalles. 
The  result  showed  that  the  caution  used  was  justifiable  and  necessary.  Had 
he  alarmed  the  people  at  the  Dalles,  it  would  have  informed  the  natives  of 
what  hail  happened,  and  have  delayed  him  on  his  errand,  wliereas  he  was  in 
the  greatest  ptjssible  haste  to  reach  headquarters  before  the  Dalles  Indians 
shomd  hear  what  the  Cuyuaes  had  done,  (rray  points  out  that  a  letter 
written  by  Hinman  to  Abernethy  after  reaching  Vancouver  was  dated  De- 
cember 4th,  while  a  letter  from  Dougliis  to  Aberiietliy  w;is  not  written  until 
the  7th;  making  it  appear  that  Douglas  luul  delayed  .1  days  to  inform  him, 
while  the  truth  was  tliat  Hinman  did  not  learn  the  news  till  the  Otli,  and  that 
his  letter  was  wrongly  dated.  As  it  appears  in  the  Oreijon  Syi'ftntor  of  Dec. 
10,  1847,  from  which  Gray  must  have  copied  it,  the  date  is  Nov.  4tli,  more 
than  3  weeks  before  the  massacre  occurred,  which  should  have  been  cor- 
rected, as  the  month  was  wrong  as  well  as  the  day.  No  time  was  lost  either 
at  Walla  Walla  or  Fort  Vancouver  in  acquainting  the  governor  with  the 
situation.  The  correspondence  in  full  is  contained  in  the  Or.  Spectator,  Dec.  10, 
1847,  and  in  Gray's  Hist.  Or.  Other  authorities  on  the  subject  of  the  massa- 
cre are  the  A.  B.  C.  F.  M.  Anmuil  Report,  1848,  23!)-44;  California n,  April 
19,  1848;  Kane's  Wanderings,  317-22;  Marshall's  Christian  Mission.-*,  ii.  2(U>-7; 
Sandirich  Island  News,  ii.  54-5;  Deady'a  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  2;  Ford's  Road- 
makers,  MS.,  32;  Johnson's  C'al.  and  Or.,  183-4;  Kip's  Army  Life,  32;  Wnlbi 
Walla  Statesman,  Feb.  9  to  April  13,  18CG;  Evans,  in  Trans.  Or.  Piotueer 
Assoc.,  1877,  .35-6;  Atkinson's  (Jr.  Colonist,  5;  Crawford's  Nar.,  MS.,  160-3. 
Broiiillet's  Authentic  Account  of  the  Murder  of  Dr  Whitman  and  other  Mis- 
sionnries  by  the  Cayuse  Indians  of  Oregon  in  1S47,  and  the  Causes  mhicli 
Led  to  that  Horrible  Caf,a.ft raphe,  is  a  pamphlet  of  108  2)ages,  in  reply  to  a 
statement  appearing  in  the  Oreijon  American  reflecting  harshly  on  the  Catho- 
lic priesthood  in  general,  and  the  priests  of  tlie  Umatilla  camp  particularly. 
It  is  not  without  the  usual  misrepresentations  of  sectarian  writings,  but  is  m 
the  main  a  correct  statement  of  events.  A  second  edition,  with  some  slight 
additions,  was  printed  at  Portland  in  1869.  Its  first  appearance,  under  the 
head  of  Protestantism  in  Oreijon,  was  in  the  Freeman's  Journal  in  1853;  being 
put  in  its  present  form  in  1869.  See  also  CathoUe  Magazine,  vii.  490;  Mul- 
Ian  a  Top.  Mem.,  7;  S.  F.  Daily  Herald,  June  1,  1850. 


If 


!•    ill! 


668 


THE  WHlTJvIAN  MASSACRE. 


The  messenger  arrived  at  Vancouver  on  the  even- 
ing of  the  6th,  and  the  following  day  Douglas  wrote 
to  Governor  Abernethy,  enclosing  a  copy  of  McBean's 
letter  to  tlie  board  of  management,  and  informing  him 
that  Ogden  would  leave  at  the  earliest  possible  mo- 
ment for  Walla  Walla  with  a  strong  party  to  endeavor 
to  prevent  further  outrages. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 


RESCUE    OF    THE    CAPTIVES. 

1847. 

His  Honor  the  Indian — Preparations  fou  War — Legislative  Proceed- 
ings—Joseph L.  Meek,  Messenger  to  Washington — Formation  of 
Military  Companies — Applegai k's  Atpempt  to  Reach  California — 
PcHLic  Appropriations  and  Pri\  ate  Subscriptions — Joel  Palmer, 

SuPERINTENr-ENT  OF  INDIAN  AfFAIRS — ChIEF  FaCTOR  OgDEN's  ADVEN- 
TURES AMONG   THE   CaYUSES — TlIE  RaNSOM  EFFECTED — PrICE  PaID  FOR 

THE  Cafiives — Correspondence  between  Ogden  and  Abernethy — 
The  (Jentle  Savage  is  Willing  to  Forgive  the  White  Men  not 
yet  Massacred— Further  Display  of  Hot  Distemper  between 
Catholics  ant"  Protestants. 

After  all,  we  must  give  the  American  settlers  of 
Oregon,  in  common  with  the  British  fur-traders, 
credit  for  treating  the  natives  fairly  well.  Both  are 
entitled  to  the  merit  due  from  the  performance  of  a 
good  action  from  necessity.  The  servants  of  the 
Hudson's  Bay  Company  were  likewise  the  most 
obedient  servants  of  the  lordly  aboriginal ;  for  it  was 
by  the  savage  skin-catchers  of  America  that  the  cour- 
teous adventurers  of  England  lived.  Likewise  the 
poor  emigrant,  rendered  yet  more  respectful  by  the 
presence  of  wife  and  children,  was  quite  humble  in 
the  presen"e  of  a  fierce  band  of  painted  warriors. 
But  fifty  well-fed  and  mounted  riflemen  t:)";ether 
could  massacre  with  the  best  of  tiiem,  not  omitting 
the  women  and  children,  or  even  the  time-honored 
custom  of  scalping. 

Oregon  had  now  at  hand  her  first  Indian  war.  In 
the  message  of  the  governor  delivered  to  the  legisla- 
ture on  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  December,  that 

(069) 


li 

v^ 


670 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


body  was  reminded  of  their  relations  with  the  natives, 
how  they  were  becoming  every  year  more  embar- 
rassed, b}?  reason  of  the  failure  of  the  United  States 
to  se)id  an  agent  authorized  to  treat  with  them.  And 
thereupon  they  recommended  an  appropriation  en- 
abling the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  to  take  a 
small  party  in  the  spring  and  visit  the  disaffected 
tribes,  making  presents  which  would  quiet  their  ap- 
prehensions, and  also  to  demand  from  them  restitu- 
tion of  the  property  stolen  from  the  new-comers 
during  the  autumn. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day,  having  received 
the  letter  of  Chief  Factor  Douglas,  the  governor 
communicated  the  facts  of  the  massacre  of  the  29th, 
and  submitted  the  correspondence  of  McBean,  Douglas, 
and  Hinman.  The  case,  he  said,  was  one  thaii  required 
prompt  action,  and  he  suggested  that  for  the  funds  re- 
quired they  should  apply  to  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany and  the  mercliants  of  Oregon  City,  as  without 
doubt  the  United  States  government  would  assume 
the  debt.^  A  resolution  was  immediately  adopted, 
requiring  the  governor  to  raise  and  equip  a  company 
of  riflemen,  not  to  exceed  fifty  men  with  their  off. jers, 
to  be  despatched  to  the  Dalles  for  the  protection  of 
that  station,  awording  to  the  prayer  of  Hinman,  who 
was  much  alarmed  for  his  family. 

On  the  following  day  a  bill  to  that  effect  was  passed, 
and  was  signed  by  the  executive  on  the  1 0th.  Imme- 
diately afterward  a  communication  was  received  by 
the  house  from  Jesse  Applegate,  suggesting  that  a 
messenger  be  sent  to  Washington  to  urge  the  United 
Stjiites  government  to  assume  control  of  affairs.  The 
suggestion  was  at  once  adopted,  and  notice  of  a  bill  to 
provide  for  a  special  messenger  given  the  sani'^i  day.- 

The  bill  to  raise  troops  required  the  governor  to 
issue  a  proclamation  to  raise  a  regiment  of  mounted 
riflemen  by  volunteer  enlistment,  not  to  exceed  five 


^Or.  Spectator,  Dec.  10,  1847. 

''Oi-ovtrs  Or.  ArcMves,  W5;  Polif neman,  iv.  206. 


PREPARATIONS  FOR  WAR. 


671 


hundred  men,  to  be  subject  to  the  rules  and  articles 
of  war  of  the  United* States  array,  and  whose  terra  of 
service  should  expire  at  the  end  of  ten  months,  unless 
sooner  discharged  by  proclaraation  of  the  governor. 
The  regiment  was  required  to  rendezvous  at  Oregon 
City  on  the  25tli  of  December,  and  proceed  thence  to 
the  Walla  Walla  Valley  for  the  purpose  of  punishing 
the  natives.  The  fifth  section  of  this  act  authorized 
Jesse  Applegate,  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  and  George  L.  Curry 
to  negotiate  a  loan  not  to  exceed  $100,000,  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  out  the  provisions  of  the  act, 
j)ledging  the  faith  of  the  territory  for  the  payment 
of  the  sums  obtained  by  them,  unless  sooner  dis- 
charged by  the  United  States ;  said  loan  to  be  nego- 
tiated in  gold  and  silver,  or  such  goods  as  should  be 
required  by  the  army;  provided,  however,  tliat  tiie 
holder  of  such  goods  should  deduct  from  the  loan  the 
value  of  the  goods  remaining  in  his  hands  at  the  ces- 
sation of  hostilities.^ 

A  public  meeting  had  been  called  by  the  govern<^r 
immediately  on  receiving  Douglas'  letter,  which  was 
addressed  by  J.  W.  N<  -mith,  H.  A.  G.  Lee,  and 
S.  K.  Barlow,  and  at  which  ibrtv-five  names  were 
enrolled  for  the  rifle  company,  which  was  to  proceed 
at  once  to  the  Dalles.*  The  company  organized  with 
Lee  as  captain;  J.  Magone,  1st  lieutenant;  and  J.  E. 
Ross,  2d  lieutenant.  The  other  officers  were :  C.  li. 
Devendorf,  commissary;  W.  M.  Carpenter,  ^I.  D.,  sur- 
geon; J.  S.  Rinearson,  1st  sergeant;  C.  W.  Savage, 
2d  sergeant;  William  Berry,   3d  sergeant;   Stephen 

'Or.  spectator,  .Tan.  6,  1848. 

*The  uamesi  of  the  volunteers  were  as  follows:  Joseph  B.  Proctur.  George 
Moore,  W.  M.  Carpenter,  J.  S.  Rinearson,  H.  A.  G.  Lee,  Tlicnuaa  Purvis, 
J.   Magone,  ('.   Richardson,  J.    E.  Ross,   I.  Walgamoutts,  Jolin  (r.  Gibson, 

B.  B.  Rogers.  Benj.  Bratton,  Sam.  K.  Barlow,  Wni  Berry,  John  Lassater, 
.Tohn  Bolton,  Henry  W.  (.'oe,  William  Beeknian,  Nathan  Oluiy,  .loel  Witelu-y, 
John  Fleming,  Jolni  Little,  A.  J.  Thomas,  Geo.  Westhy,  Edward  Robson, 
Daniel  P.  Barnes,  J.  Kestor,  D.  Everest,  J.  H.  McMillan,  Juo.  C.  ^»-"iford, 
Ed.  Marsh,  Joel  AIcKeo,  H.  Levalley,  J.  \V.  Morgan,  O.  Tupper,  R.  S.  J'upper, 

C.  H.  Devendorf,  John  Finuer,  C.  W.  Savage,  Shannon,  (i.  H.  Bosworth, 
.lacob  Johnson,  Stephen  Cumraings,  Geo.  Weston.  Or.  Spectator,  Dec.  10, 
1847.  In  the  Snkm  Merciiri/,  1877,  is  the  list  copied  from  tho  roU  of  thn 
orderly  sergeant,  which  is  the  one  here  quoted. 


;1 


It 


t  d 


14 


672 


RESCUE  OP  THE  CAPTIVES. 


Cummings,  1st  corporal;  J.  H.  McMillan,  2d  corporal. 
By  noon  of  the  9th  the  company  were  equipped  as 
far  as  it  was  possible  for  them  to  be  from  the  resources 
at  hand,  and  assembling  at  the  City  Hotel,  received 
a  flag  from  the  ladies  of  Oregon  City,  which  was  pre- 
sented by  Mr  Nesmith,  with  an  appropriate  address. 
Two  hours  afterward  the  company  was  on  its  way  to 
Vancouver,  having  been  cheered  on  its  errand  by  the 
firing  of  the  city  cannon  and  the  shouts  of  excited 
spectators.  Governor  Abernethy  accompanied  them, 
and  also  the  commissioners  appointed  by  the  legisla- 
ture to  negotiate  a  loan  which  should  enable  the  gov- 
ernment of  Oi'egon  to  prosecute,  if  necessary,  a  war 
with  the  natives  by  whom  the  settlements  were  sur- 
rounded.^ 


''The  letter  of  the  loan  commiasiouers  is  as  follows: 

'Fort  Vancouver,  Dec.  11,  1847. 

'  To  James  Douglas,  Esq.  Sir:  By  the  enclosed  document  you  will  per- 
ceive that  the  undersigned  liave  been  charged  by  tlie  legislature  of  our  provis- 
ional government  with  the  difficult  duty  of  obtaining  the  means  necessary  to 
arm,  equip,  and  suppo.  t  in  the  field  a  force  sufficient  to  obtain  full  satisfac- 
tion of  the  Cayusc  Indians  for  the  late  massacre  at  Waiilatpu,  and  protect 
the  white  population  of  our  common  country  from  further  aggression.  In 
pursuance  of  this  object  tliey  have  duemeil  it  tlieir  duty  to  make  immediato 
application  to  the  Hon.  Hudson's  liay  Company  for  the  required  assist- 
ance. Though  clothed  witli  the  power  to  pledge,  to  the  fullest  extent,  the 
faith  an<l  means  of  the  present  government  of  Oregon,  they  do  not  consider 
this  pledge  the  only  security  of  those  who,  m  this  distressing  emergency,  may 
extend  to  the  people  of  this  country  the  means  of  protection  and  redress. 
Without  claimuig  any  especial  authority  from  the  government  of  the  United 
Stiites  to  contract  a  debt  to  be  liquidated  by  tliat  power,  yet  from  all  pre- 
cedents of  like  character  in  the  history  of  our  country,  the  undersigned  feel 
coiifidi;iit  that  the  United  States  government  will  consider  tlie  muriler  of  the 
late  Dr  Whitman  and  lady  as  a  national  wrong,  and  will  fully  justify  the 
people  of  Oregon  in  taking  active  measures  to  obtiiiii  redress  for  that  outr.age, 
an<l  tor  their  prot<'ctiou  from  further  aggression.  The  right  of  self-defence  is 
tficitly  accorded  to  every  boily  politic  in  the  confederacy  to  which  wo  claim 
to  belong,  and  in  every  cauo  similar  to  our  own,  within  our  knowledge,  the 
general  government  has  promptly  assumed  the  payment  of  all  liabilitii^s  grow- 
ing out  of  the  measures  fciken  by  the  constituted  autliorities  to  protect  the 
lives  and  property  of  those  residing  within  the  limits  of  their  districts.  If 
the  citiziuis  of  the  states  and  territories  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  are  jus- 
tified in  promptly  acting  in  such  emergencies,  who  are  under  the  immediate 
protection  of  the  general  government.  *hcie  appears  no  room  to  doubt  that 
the  lawful  acts  of  the  Oregon  governmcr t  will  receive  a  like  approval.  Should 
the  t  niiitorary  character  of  our  ^nvernment  be  considered  l)y  you  sufficient 
ground  to  doubt  its  ability  to  rediom  its  pledge,  and  reasons  growing  out  of 
Its  peculiar  organiwition  be  deemed  sufficient  to  prevent  the  recognition  of 
its  acta  by  the  goverinnent  of  the  Uiiiti'd  States,  we  feel  it  our  duty,  .-is  private 
individuals,  to  mqiiiro  to  wliat  extent,  and  on  what  terms,  advances  may  bo 
had  of  tho  Hon.  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  force 


APPEAL  TO  DOUGLAS. 


673 


as 


sur- 


On  application  to  the  chief  factor  at  Vancouver  for 
assistance  of  a  monetary  nature,  and  of  such  amount, 
the  commissioners  met  with  a  difficulty  which  no  doubt 
the  better  informed  citizens  of  the  country  were  pre- 
pared to  anticipate,  but  which  many  were  unable  to 
understand,  and  which  related  to  the  order  of  the 
London  directors  to  the  company  in  Oregon,  not  to 
deal  in  government  securities,  after  the  experience 
they  had  had  in  the  case  of  White,  acting  as  Indian 
agent.  In  his  reply  to  the  loan  commissioners,  with- 
out an  explanation  of  the  origin  of  the  order,  which 
would  have  been  quite  as  offensive  as  his  refusal, 
Douglas  declared  his  inability  to  make  the  required 
advance  for  the  company." 

This  answer,  though  not  unexpected  by  the  com- 
missioners, was  a  disappointment.  To  no  other  source 
could  they  look  for  such  supplies  as  the  army  needed. 
At  the  same  time,  with  the  indebtedness  of  the  set- 
tlers to  the  company,  and  their  experience  in  collect- 
ing debts  from  the  general  government,  there  was 

the  authorities  of  Oregon  deem  it  their  duty  to  send  into  the  field.  With 
Bentimenta  of  the  highest  respect,  adow  us  to  subscribe  ourselves,  Your  most 
obedient  servants,  Jesse  Applegate,  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  Geo.  L.  Curry,  Connnis- 
sioneis.'  Or.  Archives,  322-3;  Oray'i  HM.  Or.,  538. 

®Fort  Vancouver,  Dec.  11,  1847.  To  Jesse  Applegate,  A.  L.  Lovejoy, 
George  L.  Curry,  Esquires.  Gentlemen:  I  have  had  the  honor  of  your  coni- 
munioation  of  this  date,  and  have  given  an  attentive  perusal  to  the  (locunients 
accompanying  it.  With  a  deep  feeling  of  the  importance  of  the  object  which 
has  jirocured  me  the  honor  of  your  present  visit,  and  the  necessity  of  the 
mcaaur>is  contemplated  for  the  punishment  of  the  Cayuse  Indians  and  for  the 
future  protection  of  the  country,  I  can  on  the  present  ocojision  only  repeat 
the  assurance  verbally  given  in  our  conversation  of  yesterday,  that  I  have 
no  authority  to  grant  loans  or  make  any  advances  whatsoever  on  account  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  my  orders  on  that  point  being  so  positive  that 
I  cannot  deviate  from  them  without  assuming  a  degroo  of  responsibility  which 
no  circumstances  could  justify  to  my  own  mind.  It  is,  however,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  spirit  and  letter  of  my  instructions  from  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company,  to  exert  their  wliole  power  and  inllueuce  in  maintaining  the  peace 
of  the  country,  and  in  protecting  the  white  population  from  Indian  outrage. 
The  force  equipped  and  despatched,  at  their  sole  expense,  to  Walla  Walla, 
under  the  command  of  MrOgdon,  immediately  on  receiving  tlio  intelligence, 
of  the  disastrous  event  at  Waiilatpu,  is  an  earnest  of  our  attention  to  the  calls 
of  humanity.  The  object  of  that  expedition  is,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  to 
prevent  further  aggi-ession,  to  rescue  the  women  and  children  who  survived 
tlie  massacre  from  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  and  to  restore  them  to  their 
alHicted  friends.  Trusting  that  these  objects  may  be  successfully  accori- 
plislied,  I  have  the  honor,  etc.,  James  Douglas,  C.  F.  H.  B.  Co.  Oreijon 
Archhv.1,  MS.,  CO-T. 

JIisT.  Or.,  Vol.  I.    43 


>i     i 


ih 


-111 


674 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


reason  to  expect  objections  even  had  there  been  no 
positive  order  from  the  directors  to  guide  them  in 
their  decision.  It  could  liardly  be  doubted,  either, 
that  they  deprecated  the  prospect  of  an  Indian  war 
which  would  be  the  ruin  of  their  trade,  and  perhaps 
the  destruction  of  their  several  interior  posts.  The 
policy  of  the  company  had  always  been  one  of  peace ; 
on  peace  depended  their  success.  To  be  known  to 
have  assisted  the  Americans  in  making  war  would 
destroy  their  long-sustained  good  standing  with  the 
natives.  From  whatever  point  of  view  they  regarded 
it,  there  was  every  reason  to  avoid  being  involved 
in  the  impending  war.  On  the  first  intimation  of 
what  had  happened,  without  a  day's  delay,  they  had 
despatched  their  ablest  and  most  popular  Indian  trader 
to  the  country  of  the  Cayuses,  attended  by  a  party 
of  sufficient  strength  to  defend  Fort  Walla  Walla  if 
necessary,  but  at  the  same  time  to  secure,  if  possible, 
the  safety  of  the  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  In- 
dians; in  short,  to  do  what,  in  Mr  Ogden's  judgment, 
appeared  to  be  best  for  all.  Douglas  probably  thought 
that  the  matter  might  be  safely  left  in  Ogden's  hands; 
and  that  the  appearance  of  an  American  army  in  the 
country  might  defeat  his  measures.  Should  he,  then, 
wish  to  aid  in  doing  what  would  be  opposed  to  the 
best  interests  of  both  British  and  American  citizens  ? 
The  question  could  have  but  one  solution  in  his  mind, 
and  lie  may  have  thanked  fortune  for  the  order  which 
enabled  him  to  refuse  to  put  an  army  in  the  Indian 
country. 

But  there  was  another  siJe  of  the  subject  to  be 
considered.  The  case  was  such  that  according  to  the 
usages  of  the  company  itself,  the  individual  murder- 
ers must  be  punished.  And  by  the  same  rule,  the 
Americans  must  punish  them.  To  refuse  to  assist 
them  to  do  this  was  against  their  own  sense  of  right. 
Besides,  a  refusal,  under  the  provocation  from  which 
they  were  suffering,  would  be  likely  to  exasperate  the 
Americans  against  the  company  in  which  case  there 


M  U  STKKING   E  ECRUITS. 


67S 


might  be  trouble  at  home.  Under  all  the  cimuni- 
stances,  Douglas  did  what  was  undoubtedly  the 
wisest  thing;  he  accepted  the  security  of  the  governor 
and  two  of  the  commissioners,  Applegate  and  Love- 
joy,  and  advanced  the  means  to  equip  and  put  in  tiie 
field  the  first  company  of  Oregon  riflemen,  at  a  cost 
of  about  a  thousand  dollars. 

On  obtaining  these  supplies,  the  volunteers  pro- 
ceeded without  unnecessary  delay  to  the  Dalles,  where 
they  were  to  remain  in  charge  of  the  mission  property 
until  reenforced. 

But  one  company  of  less  than  fifty  men  could  not 
make  war  upon  several  powerful  tribes,  likely  to  com- 
bine at  the  first  intimation  of  hostilities  on  the  part 
of  the  Americans.  The  business  of  the  loan  commis- 
sioners was,  therefore,  only  begun.  On  the  13th  of 
December  they  addressed  a  letter  to  the  merchants 
and  citizens  of  Oregon,  in  very  much  the  same  lan- 
guage in  which  they  had  addressed  the  Hudson's  Bay 
Company.^ 

The  success  attending  the  labors  of  the  commis- 
sioners was  entirely  inadequate  to  the  demand  for 
means  to  put  in  the  field  five  hundred  men  in  the 
winter  season,  the  amount  secured  being  only  $3,600,* 

'  It  differed  only  in  the  concluding  paragraph :  '  Though  the  Indians  of  the 
Colund)ia  have  committed  a  great  outrage  upon  our  fellow-citizens  passing 
through  their  country  and  residing  among  them,  and  their  punishment  Tor 
these  murderc  may  and  ought  to  be  a  prime  object  with  every  citizen  of  Ore- 
gon, yet,  as  that  duty  more  particularly  devolves  upon  the  government  of  the 
United  States  and  admits  of  delay,  we  do  not  make  this  the  strongest  ground 
upon  which  to  found  our  earnest  appeal  to  you  for  pecuniary  assistance.  It  is 
a  fact  well  known  to  every  person  acquainted  with  the  Indian  character  that 
by  passing  silently  over  their  repeated  thefts,  robberies,  and  murders  of  our 
fellow -citizens,  they  have  been  emboldened  to  the  commission  of  the  appa'ling 
massacre  at  VVaiilatpu.  They  call  us  women,  destitute  of  the  hearts  iind 
courage  of  men;  and  if  wo  allow  this  wliolosalo  muriler  to  pass  by  as  former 
aggressions,  who  can  tell  how  long  eitlier  life  or  property  will  be  secure  in 
any  part  of  the  country,  or  what  moment  tlie  Willamette  will  be  the  scene 
of  blood  and  carnage?  The  officers  of  our  provisional  government  have  nobly 
performed  their  duty.  None  can  doubt  the  readiness  of  the  patriotic  sons  of 
the  west  to  offer  their  personal  services  in  defence  of  a  cause  so  righteous.  So 
it  now  rests  with  you,  ccntlemen,  to  say  whether  our  rights  and  our  firesides 
shall  be  defended  or  not.    Or.  Architm,  32S-n;  Victor's  Riwr  of  t/ie  yVest,429-^. 

*0f  this,  $1,000  was  obtained  from  citizens,  $1,000  was  a  loan  from  Mr 
Roberts,  supcriutendent  of  the  Oregon  Methodist  Mission,  and  $1,600  from 


>-:' 


•i.  in 


'Ml 


676 


RiSCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


and  after  making  their  appeal  to  the  people  they 
resigned,  and  another  board  was  appointed  by  legis- 
lative act,  consisting  of  A.  L.  Lovejoy,  Hugh  Burns, 
and  W.  H.  Willson.  The  new  commissioners  were 
not  able  to  collect  funds,  but  were  obliged  to  take 
orders  on  the  stores  in  Oregon  City,  in  consequence 
of  wliicli  it  was  impossible  for  the  commissary-general 
to  obtain  articles  for  the  use  of  the  army,  money  being 
required  to  purchase  axes  and  spades  to  make  a  road 
for  the  wagons  to  pass  up  the  Columbia  River ;  and 
the  commissioners  were  in  some  cases  obliged  to  dis- 
count twenty-five  per  cent  of  the  subscriptions,  in 
order  to  obtain  cash.  What  the  commissioners  could 
not  furnish  the  volunteers  and  the  citizens  supplied 
out  of  their  private  resources,  taking  receipts  for  any 
considerable  amount  of  property. 

The  company  destined  for  the  Dalles  were  chiefly 
from  the  late  settlers.  It  took  somewhat  longer  to 
move  men  located  on  farms  far  up  the  valley.  They 
did  move,  however,  with  surprising  quickness,  consid- 
ering the  difficulties  to  be  overcome. 

On  the  day  following  the  departure  of  the  Dalles 
company,  the  legislature  proceeded  to  elect  officers  for 
the  army,  the  election  resulting  in  the  choice  of  Corne- 
lius Gilliam,  colonel  commandant,  James  Waters,  lieu- 
tenant-colonel, II.  A.  G.  Lee,  major,  and  Joel  Palmer, 
commissary-genertl.  Their  next  act  was  to  pass  a  bill 
to  provide  for  a  messenger  to  be  sent  to  the  United 
States,"  their  choice  falling  on  Joseph  L.  Meek,  who 


the  merchants  of  Oregon  City.  Report  of  Loan  Commissioners,  Grovers  Or. 
Archives,  332-3.  Waldo  says  in  his  ('/■Utqiie-s,  MS.,  6,  that  he  anil  Applegate 
contributed  $1,000,  and  that  he  went  around  the  valley  soliciting  subscriptions. 
*  The  bill  which  passcil  authorized  him  to  proceed  with  all  despatch  by  the 
way  of  California  to  Wasliingtou  City,  and  lay  before  the  executive  of  the 
United  Sfcites  such  oilicial  communications  as  ho  should  bo  charged  with.  It 
also  required  him  to  take  an  oatli  faithfully  to  perform  his  duties  to  the  best 
of  his  abilities;  leaving  him  to  be  compensated  by  the  government  of  the 
United  States;  and  autliorized  him  to  borrow,  if  he  could,  on  the  faith  of  the 
Oregon  government,  ^500  for  his  expenses,  wliilo  he  was  made  to  give  bonds 
to  the  governor  in  the  amount  of  !iiil,000,  for  the  faithful  execution  of  his 
trust.  Or.  Spec(nf.or,  Jan.  6,  1848.  This  was  making  the  office  of  special 
messenger  an  onerous  one;  and  so  the  legislature  nmst  have  perceived,  for 
another  act  was  passed  appropriating  $500  in  addition  to  the  Hrst  appropria- 


APPEAL  TO  CONGRESS. 


677 


from  his  knowledge  of  the  mountuins  and  plains  to  be 
traversed,  and  the  expedients  of  travel  through  a 
wilderness  country,  as  well  as  by  his  undoubted  pa- 
triotism and  personal  courage,  was  peculiarly  fitted 
for  an  expedition  of  so  much  peril  and  responsibility /° 

The  memorial  of  the  legislature  thus  des])atched 
was  a  pathetic  iteration  of  the  many  prayers  for  pro- 
tection which  had  hitherto  passed  unanswered  except 
in  empty  promises.  "Having  called  upon  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States  so  often  in  vain,"  it 
said,  "we  have  almost  despaired  of  receiving  its  pro- 
tection." "We  have  the  right  to  expect  your  aid, 
and  you  are  in  duty  bound  to  extend  it.  For  though 
we  are  separated  from  our  native  land  by  a  range  of 
mountains  whose  lofty  altitudes  are  mantled  in  eternal 
snows;  although  three  thousand  miles,  nearly  two 
thirds  of  which  is  a  howling  wild,  lie  between  us  and 
the  federal  capital — yet  our  hearts  are  unalienated  from 
the  land  of  our  birth.  Our  love  for  the  free  and  noble 
institutions  under  which  it  was  our  fortune  to  be  born 
and  nurtured  remains  unabated.  In  short,  we  are 
Americans  still,  residing  in  a  country  over  which  the 
government  of  the  United  States  has  the  sole  and 
acknowledged  right  of  sovereignty,  and  under  such 
circumstances  we  have  the  rigJit  to  claim  the  benefit 
of  its  laws  and  protection." 

But  the  prayer  of  the  logislr^ture  was  not  for  pro- 
tection alone.  The  authors  of  the  memorial  took 
occasion  to  say  that  in  the  matter  of  the  offices  to  be 
created  when  the  territory  should  be  established,  they 
would  be  gratified  to  have  the  government  patronage 


tion,  '  for  the  purpose  of  facilitating  the  departure '  of  the  messenger.  Or. 
Laws,  1843-y,  'J,  11;  PolyncKkm,  iv.  206. 

•®  There  was,  besides  these  necessary  qualitications  in  the  man  selected, 
the  western  sentiment  to  be  gratified,  wliich,  it  will  be  remembered,  was 
opposed  to  Governor  Abornethy's  action  in  secretly  despatching  his  own 
selected  agent  to  Washington  a  few  .-'onths  previous.  VVlieu  the  act  had 
been  signed  constituting  Mef>k  the  messenger  of  the  Oregon  legislative  assem- 
bly, Nesmith  produced  his  resolutions,  before  mentioned,  against  the  appoint- 
ment of  J.  Quinn  Thornton  to  any  office  in  the  territory,  whi'ih  being  printed 
in  tlie  Spcctdtor  were  conveyed  to  Washington  with  other  matter  in  charge 
of  the  messenger. 


678 


RESCUP]  OF  THE  CAFfiVES. 


bestowed  upon  those  who  were  then  citizens  of  Oregon. 
But  since  there  were  many  of  equal  merit  among  tliem, 
and  a  selection  would  be  invidious,  under  the  peculiar 
difficulties  of  their  situation,  they  judged  it  would  be 
better  to  fill  the  offices  of  governor  and  judges  with 
men  of  the  best  talent  and  most  approved  integrity 
without  regard  to  their  present  place  of  residence; 
whicii  was  the  legislative  way  of  saying  that  they 
would  submit  to  have  all  the  chief  places  given  to 
men  who  were  strangers  to  them,  rather  than  that 
Thornton  should  be  returned  as  a  United  States  dis- 
trict judge,  or  Abernethy  appointed  governor.  "The 
accompanying  documents,"  said  the  memorial,  "will 
afford  additional  information  concerning  some  of  the 
subjects  of  which  we  have  spoken."  And  in  con- 
clusion, Meek  was  commended  to  congress  for  com- 
pensation for  his  services  in  conveying  this  petition 
to  the  government." 

The  act  constituting  Meek  a  messenger  contem- 
plated a  route  by  the  way  of  California,  in  order  to 
carry  despatches  to  Governor  Mason  and  the  com- 
mander of  the  United  States  squadron  in  the  Pacific, 
Governor  Abernethy  having  written  letters  which 
were  waiting  to  be  conveyed,  asking  for  a  man-of-war 
to  be  sent  inmiediately  to  the  Columbia  River,  and 
making  a  requisition  on  the  California  executive  for 
But  Meek  decided  that  he  could  not   then 


arms. 


cross  the  mountains  into  California,  and  pass  over 
the  sierra  out  of  California  later  in  the  winter,  and 
proposed  to  accompany  the  army  to  Walla  Walla,  and 
proceed  thence  eastward  through  the  South  Pass,  a 
determination  annoying  to  the  governor. ^^  But  Meek 
knew  too  much  about  mountains  to  undertake  the 
route  marked  out  for  him,  and  persisted  in  his  inten 


"Or.  Svectator,  Dec.  25,  1847;  Cong.  Globe,  1847-8,  App.,  684-5. 

^'Or.  Archives,  MS.,  113. 

"  In  a  private  letter  to  Major  Lee,  which  found  its  way  into  the  Oreijon 
Archiven,  MS.,  10,  Abernethy  says:  'Meek  has  altogether  disappointed  ithe 
expectations  of  this  community,  for  it  was  fully  expected  of  him  he  would 
have  been  in  California  by  this  time.' 


APPLEGATE'H   EXPHDl'l'lON. 


079 


tion  of  going  to  Fort  Hall,  on  learning  which  the 
governor  sent  a  commissioner  to  Jesse  Applegate  re- 
questing him  to  go  to  California,  or  if  he  could  not 
leave  home,  to  emjjloy  some  suitable  person  to  carry 
the  despatches  to  Governor  Mason.  It  was  late  in 
January  before  this  request  reached  Applegate,  who 
immediately  organized  a  company  of  sixteen  men,  and 
about  the  1st  of  February  set  out  upon  the  mission.** 
But  notwithstanding  the  determined  character  of 
the  men  who  led  the  expedition,  and  the  urgent  naturt^ 
of  their  duties,  they  were  compelled  to  return.  An 
extraordinary  depth  of  snovA  on  the  mountains  be- 
tween liogue  River  and  Klamath  Lake  prevented 
crossing  with  horses.  To  hare  abandoned  the  horses, 
attempting  to  carry  their  blankets  and  provisions  for 
the  journey,  would  have  been  discomfiture  or  death  to 
most  of  them.  So  at  the  end  of  one  day's  painful 
march  on  snow-shoes  improvised  of  willow  sticks, 
which  sunk  into  the  seven  feet  of  soft  snow  several 
inches  at  every  step,  and  often  pitched  their  wearers 
headlong,  the  undertaking  was  relinquished,  and  the 
company  returned  regretfidly  to  the  Willamette  Val- 
ley,*" after  four  weeks  of  toil  and  hardship.**  The 
letters  to  Governor  Mason  with  which  Mr  Applegate 
was  charged  were,  on  the  11th  of  March,  placed  on 

**  Applegate 's  company  consisted,  besides  himself,  of  hia  former  associates 
in  laying  out  the  southern  route,  Levi  and  John  Scott,  Solomon  Tethcrow, 
Thomaa  and  Walter  Monteitli,  Daniel  Waldo,  John  Minto,  Campbell,  Smith, 
Hibbler,  Dice,  Owens,  Lemon,  Robinson,  and  James  Fields. 

'•'  In  a  private  letter  of  Applegate  is  an  interesting  account  of  this  day's 
struggles  in  the  snow,  too  long  tci  insert  liere.  See  Or.  Spectator,  Fob.  10, 
1848;  John  Minto,  in  Salem  Mercury,  Nov.  23,  1877;  AMand  TuUtkjk,  Dec.  7, 
1877.  Solomon  Tetherow,  to  wlioni  Applegate  refers  as  his  faithful  and  valued 
friend  and  helper  on  this  occasion,  was  of  the  immigration  of  1845,  as  else- 
where mentioned.  He  was  a  native  of  East  Tennessee,  born  in  1800.  He 
resided  for  some  time  in  Alabama  and  Missouri,  and  married,  at  the  ago 
of  21,  Misa  Iblia  Bilker.  Ho  aocoinpanied  General  Aahley  on  his  expe- 
dition to  the  head  waters  of  the  ..Vlissouri  and  Yellowstone  rivers.  He  sub- 
sequently ran  a  keel-boat  on  the  Missouri  to  Council  Bluffs,  then  a  trading 
post  of  the  American  Fur  Coiripany,  and  was  pilot  of  the  first  steamboat  on 
the  upper  Mississippi.  He  afterward  migrated  to  Texas,  but  finding  tliat  a 
sickly  country,  returned  to  Missouri,  and  finally  went  to  Oregon,  where  he 
settled  on  the  Creole  River,  'ivliore  the  town  of  Dallas  latei'  stood,  removing 
afterward  to  the  Luckiamute  in  Polk  County,  where  he  died  in  February 
1879.  Portland  Oregonian,  March  1,  1870. 

^^Or.  Spectator,  March  9,  1348. 


t&'~:< 


f  w 


«0 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


U 


board  the  brig  Ilemry,  by  which  means  tliey  finally 
reached  Cahf'ornia.'^  By  the  same  conveyance  letters 
were  despatched  to  the  American  consul  of  the  Sand- 
wich Islands,  imploring  any  assistance  he  might  be 
able  to  render. 

The  act  of  the  legislature  requiring  the  governor 
to  issue  his  proclamation  for  raising  a  regiment  of 
five  hundred  men  was  not  at  first  regarded  by  the 
executive  as  a  wise  one,  both  on  account  of  the  diffi- 
culty of  raising  the  means  to  put  them  m  the  field, 
and  of  tiie  eflect  upon  the  savages,  who  might  be  led, 
by  hearing  of  extensive  preparations  for  war,  to  a  com- 
bination against  the  settlers.  Instead,  therefore,  of 
calling  for  five  hundred  men,  he  called  for  one  hundred. 
This  dift'erence  of  opinion  led  the  legislature  to  re- 
move the  responsibility  from  the  executive  and  to 
assume  it  themselves,  by  a  resolution  passed  the  25th 
of  December,  at  which  time  no  further  nev,  j '.  ad  been 
received  from  the  upper  country,  or  from  !M^r.^or  Lee's 
company  at  the  Dalles. ^^  The  governor  having  at 
last  issued  the  proclamation  required,  trusting  to  the 
patriotism  of  the  citizens  of  the  country  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  army'"  in  the  field,  the  office  of  adjutant- 
general  was  created,  A.  L.  Lovejoy  being  elected  to 
that  position.  An  act  was  also  passetl  establishing 
the  pay  of  privates  and  non-commissioned  officers  who 
furnished  their  own  horses  and  equipments  at  one 
dollar  and  a  half  a  day  A  penalty  of  not  more  than 
two  hundred  dollars  nor  less  than  twenty-five  dollars 

''  Abernethy's  letters  are  to  be  found  in  a  manuscript  volume  of  the  Ore- 
j/nn  A  rcliire.i,  not  contained  in  Grover's  collection,  wliich  I  liave  liad  copied 
from  the  originals  in  tlie  stfvtu-house  at  Salem.  See  Or.  Arch.,  MS.,  112-13, 
1.34. 

'"Ov.  Sjtectator,  Dec.  25,  1847.  I  find  a  letter  in  the  Or.  Archh-es,  MS., 
100,  wilttcn  by  Neaniith  Dec.  27th,  to  Major  Lee,  in  which  ho  says:  'But 
little  has  a.j  yet  been  aceoniplished  owing  to  the  imbecility  of  the  executive. 
The  proclamation  which  was  authorized  for  raising  500  men  iinmediatrdy  after 
your  departure  has  been  delayed  until  the  25th ...  I  know  it  has  been  difficult 
to  obtain  means,  yet  the  governor  has  had  sufficient  at  his  disposal  to  have 
procured  you  reenforcements  and  provisions,  both  of  which  would  probably 
nave  been  acceptable  to  you  before  this. ' 

'"  Orovern  Or.  Archived,  247,  249. 


THE  HUDSON'S  BAY  COMPANY. 


081 


was  fixed  for  each  sale  or  gift  of  inuiiitioiis  of  war 
to  the  nativos.  This  act  brought  tho  higislaturo  in 
conflict  with  the  fur-tradors  at  Vancouver,  who  were 
in  the  liabit  of  paying  for  the  asHistance  of  tlu;  na- 
tives in  pasding  the  portages  at  tlie  Dalles  and  the 
Cascades  with  powder  and  ball,  and  who  thought  it 
a  hardship  to  these  people,  and  one  fraught  with 
danger,  to  refuse  them  their  accustomed  compensa- 
tion.'^" 

In  truth,  the  situation  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany at  this  juncture  was  anything  but  enviable. 
They  were  located  in  a  country  which  by  the  recent 
treaty  had  l)ecome  foreign,  and  whose  people,  more 
numerous  than  themselves,  were  prejudiced  against 
them  ;  yet  whose  laws  they  were  under  a  compact  to 
obey.  The  Americans  had  involved  themselves  with 
the  natives,  and  whether  intentionally  or  not,  the  con- 
sequences must  be  the  same.  While  the  company  were 
honestly  doing  what  they  judged  best  for  the  peace 
and  safety  of  the  country,  they  were  subjected  to  the 
ever-recurring  suspicion  that  they  were  in  some  way 
to  blame  for  whatever  evil  befell  the  people  they 
endeavored  to  serve. 

In  the  midst  of  the  anxiety  and  suspense  which 
harassed  all  minds  during  the  absence  of  Ogden  in 
the  Cayuse  country,  a  report  was  spread  that  Gilliam, 
indignant  at  the  refusal  of  the  company  to  furnish 
.$100,000  worth  of  supplies  on  the  credit  of  a  govern- 
ment which  could  not  afford  to  pay  a  salary  to  its  own 
executive,  had  determined  to  take  Vancouver  bv  force 
of  arms,  and  help  his  regiment  to  what  they  required 
from  its  stores,  tendering  a  draft  on  the  Uniled  States 
treasury  in  payment.  On  the  credit  of  this  rumor, 
Douglas  placed  some  guns  in  the  bastions,  and  made 
other  preparations  for  defence,  at  the  same  time  writ- 
ing to  Abernethy  for  an  explanation,  trusting  that  his 
letter  would  "  satisfactorily  account  for  any  unusual 

'*»  Correspondence  in  Or.  Spectator,  Feb.  10  and  16,  1848;  Or.  Laws,  1843-9, 
12,48. 


,v,i"  ■! : 


682 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


precautions  observed  in  the  present  arrangements  of 
this  establishment."  Upon  this  hint  Abernethy  has- 
tened to  reply  that  Gilliam  entertained  no  such  pur- 
pose, and  he  trusted  nothing  would  occur  to  cause 
distrust.  No  one  knew  better  than  Abernethy  what 
a  fatal  error  it  would  prove  on  the  part  of  the  Amer- 
icans to  fall  out  wdtli  the  fur  company,  to  whom  all 
the  savages  were  friendly;  and  while  it  may  be  doubted 
whether  Abernethy  did  not  equivocate  in  his  reply  to 
Douglas,  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  sincerity  of  his 
wish  to  retain  the  cooperation  of  the  company  to  as 
great  an  extent  as  possible ;  ~^  and  fortunately  the  im- 
pending wrath  of  the  irrepressible  Gilliam  was  averted. 

No  sooner  had  the  governor  issued  his  second  proc- 
lamation than  about  two  hundred  and  thirty  men 
responded  and  were  organized  into  companies,  the 
company  at  the  Dalles  being  numbered  1st-  in  the 
regiment  of  Oregon  mounted  riflerien.^" 

^'That  O  illiam  made  some  such  threats  seems  quite  certain.  Petty  grove 
says  that  (iilliam  proceeded  to  Vancouver  and  called  for  supplies,  giving 
Douglas  until  1)  o'c'i  ck  next  morning  to  comply  or  refuse,  au<l  that  Douglas 
complied.  Oiriioii,  MS.,  8,  9.  The  same  story  is  met  with  in  other  places,  and 
added  to  the  correspondence  of  Douglas  and  Aheruethy,  confirms  the  rumor  if 
not  the  fact. 

^^The  seconii  company  was  oflicered  as  follows:  Lawrence  }Iall,  cap- 
tain; 11.  D.  O'Bryant,  Ist  lieutenant;  .Fohu  Engart,  2d  lieutenant;  William 
Sheldon,  orderly  sergeant;  William  Stokes,  Peter  S.  Engart,  Tlios  R.  Cor- 
nelius, and  Slierry  Ross,  duty  sergeants;  (iilhert  Mondou,  colo-- hearer. 
Names  of  privates:  A.  P]ngart,  Tli.>-  Fleming,  D.  <,'.  Smith,  W.  R.  Noland, 
Jos.  W.  Scott,  (t.  W.  S.nith,  A.  kinsey,  John  N.  Donnie,  A.  C.  Hrown, 
¥.  H.  Ramsey,  S.  A.  liolcomb,  A.  Stewart,  \Vm  Milhern,  A.  Kennedy, 
Oliver  Lowden,  H.  N.  Stephens,  P.  (1.  Nortliup,  ^V.  W.  Walters,  J.  Q. 
Zacliary,  Sam.  Y.  (Vok,  J.  J.  (Jarrish,  Thos  Ki.isey,  .J.  S.  '•Icoggin,  Noah 
Jobe,  D.  Sluunake,  .1.  N.  Oreen,  .J.  Elliot,  W.  Williams,  J.»lia  Hoi  ;,ite,  R. 
Yarborough,  Robert  AValker,  J.  Butler,  I.  \V^  Sii'ith,  J".  W.  Lingenfelter, 
J.  H.  Licnberger,  A.  Lieuberger,  Sam.  (iethard,  Juo.  lousingnot,  A  Wil- 
liams, D.  Harper,  S.  V.  Cummings,  S.  Ferguson,  Marshall  Martin. 

The  oflicors  of  the  tlurd  conipmy  were;  John  W.  Owen,  captain;  Na- 
tlianiel  Bowman,  1st  licuteiiant;  Tliomas  Shaw,  2d  lieutenant;  J.  (J.  Rol)ison, 
orderly  sergeant;  Benj.  J.  Burch,  J.  H.  Blankenship,  James  M.  Morris,  and 
Robert  Smith,  duty  sergeants.  Nai.">s  of  privates:  (»eorge  W.  Adams,  Wil- 
liam Atliey,  Jolni  Baptiste,  Mauley  Curry,  Jesse  Clayton,  John  Dinsmore, 
Nathan  I^nglisli,  .Jolin  Fiester,  Jesse  (Jay,  Ix'ster  Hulan,  Steplu'i;  .lenkius, 
J.  Larkin,  .loshua  McDonald,  Thomas  Pollock,  J.  H.  Smith,  S.  P,  Tliornton, 
William  Wiliion,  Benjamin  Allen,  Ira  Bowman,  Currier,  George  Chapel, 
William  Doke,  Linnet,  T.  Dulield,  Squire  Elendjougli,  Henry  Fuller,  D.  H. 
Hartley,  Fleming  R.  Hill,  James  Keller,  D.  M.  McCumber,  E,  McDonald, 


tJ1 


AN  AltMY  ORGANIZED. 


683 


_Jefore  the  army  was  ready  to  proceed  to  the  Indian 
country  the  legislature  had  appointed  Joel  Palmer 
superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  and  had  also  a[)[)ointed 
a  commission,  consisting  of  Palmer,  Major  Jjce,  and 
Robert  Newell,  to  visit  the  Nez  Perccs,  and  other 
tribes  in  the  interior,  for  thy  purpose  of  preventing, 
if  possible,  their  coalition  with  the  Cayuses.  Mean 
time  news  began  to  be  received  from  Major  Lee  and 
his  force  at  the  Dalles.'^  They  had  reached  that  place 
on  Christmas  night,  after  being  detained  ton  days  by 
adverse  gales  at  Wind  Mountain.-*  Major  Lee  found 
Hinman  and  family,'"  on  their  way  to  the  Willamette 

lidwanl  Robinson,  Chris.  .Stenierinou,  Joscpli  Wilbert,  T.  R.  Zuniwalt, 
Charles  Ziunmonl. 

The  ollicers  of  tho  foirth  company  were:  II.  J.  (}.  Maxoii,  captain;  (}. 
N.  Gilbert,  1st  lieuteuai'^;  Wni.  P.  Hughes,  2(1  lieutenant;  Wni.  11.  .John- 
.son,  orderly  sergeant  v,.  S.  Tlioni;is,  T.  M.  liuckucr,  Daniel  kStewart,  and 
Joseph  R.  Ralston,  (  aty  sergeants.  Names  of  privates:  Andrew  J.  Adams, 
.rolin  Beattio,  Cha  les  Blair,  John  R.  Coatney,  Reuben  Crowder,  Jolin  W. 
Crowel,  Manly  Danforth,  Harvey  Evans,  AUtert  H.  Fish,  John  Feat,  Andrew 
Gribblo,  Wm.  Hawkins,  Rufus  Johnson,  .John  W.  .Jackson,  J,  H.  Louglilin, 
Davia  iiator,  John  Miller,  .lolm  I'atverson,  Richard  Pollard,  Wm.  Robison, 
Asa  Stone,  Thos.  Allphin,  Wm.  Bunton,  Henry  ]51acker,  Wm.  Chaiiman, 
Samuel  Chase,   Sam.   Cornelius,   .James  Dickstm,   S.    D.    Earl,  Josepii  Earl, 

D.  O.  (Jarland,  Rielr.nond  Hays,  Coalman  Hubl)ard,  Isaiah  M.  .Johns,  S.  B. 
Knox,  James  11.  Lewis.  Horace  Martin,  Jolin  McCoy,  James  Olliccr,  Henry 
Pellet,  Wm.  Russell,  .John  Striethoff,  A.  M.  Baxster,  D.  D.  Burroughs, 
Samuel  Cluk,  John  M.  Cantrel,  Asi  Cantrel,  Albert  G.  Davis,  S.  I).  Durbin, 
Sanmel  Fields,  Rezin  D.  Foster,  Isaac  M.  Foster,  Horace  Hart,  Wm.  Hock, 
Wm.  A.  Jack.  Elias  Kearney,  .lames  Killingwortli,  Isa;ic  Morgan,  N.  G. 
McDonnell,  Madison  McCully,  Frederick  Paul,  Wni.  M.  Smitii,  H.  M.  Smith, 
.Jiison  Wheeler,  John  Vaughn,  Reuben  StrietlioH,  Wm.  Vaughn,  Wm.  Shirley. 

Tho  Oiticers  of  tiie  liith  company  were:  Philip  F.  Thompson,  captain; 
James  A.  Brown,  l.st  lieutenant;    Joseph  M.  Garri.son,  '2il  lieutenant;  Georgo 

E.  Fra/.or,  orderly  sergeant;  A.  Gar'^ison,  A.  S.  Welton,  Jacob  (Jreer,  and 
D.  D.  Dostins,  duty  sergeants.  Nai.ies  of  privates:  Martin  P.  Brown,  Wil- 
liam A.  Culberson,  Harrison  Davis,  .lames  Klectrels,  William  Kids,  Alvin  K. 
Fox,  William  . I.  (Harrison,  William  Hailey,  John  A.  Jolinaon,  .1.  D.  Richard- 
son, Martin  Wriglit,  William  Smith,  E.  T.  Stone,  John  Thompson,  H.  C 
Johnson,  .Joseph  Kenncy,  Henry  Kearni'y,  Jacob  Lealio,  Dauiel  Mathony, 
William  McKay,  John  Oichard,  John  B.  Rowland,  John  Co])enliaKen,  Reuben 
Crowder,  Bird  Davis,  .John  Eldridue,  John  Faron,  C.  B.  (iray,  Roiiert  Har- 
mon, James  O.  Henderson,  <!reon  Rowland,  William  Rogers,  Thomas  Wibson, 
William  D.  Stillwell,  AVilliam  Shepard,  Alfred  Jobe,  'l'.  J.  Jackson,  .lesso 
Cadwallader,  Andrew  I.ay.sou,  J.  '. '.  Mathony,  Adam  Matheny,  Charles  P. 
Matt,  James  Packwood,  Clark  lloger.s.  Ur.  Sfirtdtor,  Jan.  'M,  1848;  Id., 
April  (J,  1848;  Alhaiiy  StitJa  /,'l<j/if.-<  Dcinocni/,  Nov.  2,  1877. 

'■"■Much  of  the  information  regarding  tiiis  period  has  been  tlrawn  from  the 
correspondence,  publisiied  and  unpuldished,  found  iu  the  Crcj/o/*  Spectalor  ai 
Jan.  (>,  1848,  and  (>/t,/o»  A rcliurs,  MS.,  97,  101,  10:i. 

■"  /i'lm'  Xar.,  M.S.,' 9. 

"^Perrin  Whitman  and  Saflfamns  were  also  of  the  party.  Tho  former,  on 
first  Boeing  tho  volunteers,  took  them  for  Indians,  became  alarnio<'    and  fled 


■' .^'li 


M 


1,1* 


^^  lb 


til 


684 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAFIIVES. 


Valley,  the  Indians  having  shown  a  desire  to  open 
hostilities  by  driving  off  some  of  their  horses.  On 
meeting  Lee,  however,  who  had  only  a  few  of  his  men 
with  him,  the  boats  being  scattered  by  the  wind,  Hin- 
man  determined  to  turn  back  and  endeavor  to  save 
the  mission  property.  Leaving  his  family  to  proceed 
to  the  Cascades,  and  there  await  his  return,  he  acc",:  i- 
panicd  Lee  to  the  Dalles,  where  they  arrived  the  21st 
oi  December,  and  whence  Lee's  first  report  to  the 
governor  was  dated  the  26th. 

Lee  found  the  natives  there  friendly,  Seletza,  the 
head  chief,  whose  men  had  been  killing  the  mission 
cattle,  declaring  that  his  people  should  pay  for  the 
projjcrty  destroyed."®  The  mission  buildings  were 
undisturbed,  though  the  property  belonging  to  emi- 
grants, left  at  Barlow's  Gate  on  the  Barlow  road, 
having  arrived  too  late  to  cross  the  mountains,  had 
been  carried  off.  A  little  of  it  was  brought  in,  but 
no  confidence  was  entertained  that  the  natives  intended 
to  do  anything  more  than  to  divert  suspicion.  In  the 
]nean  wliile  they  circulated  reports  of  a  combination 
and  general  council  of  Lhe  Nez  Perces  and  Cayuses, 
and  their  determination  to  cut  off  the  missionaries  in 
the  Nez  Perce  and  Spokane  country,  as  well  as  to 
murder  all  the  captives  then  in  their  hands.  Lee 
himself  sent  these  reports  to  the  governor,  but  quali- 
fied by  the  information  of  their  origin."'  Such  was 
the  uncertain  and  excited  condition  of  the  public  mind 


into  the  woods,  making  his  way  to  the  cabins  on  the  portage,  which  a  party 
had  bee!!  sent  to  cre'Jt.  Mortified  at  liis  error,  ho  remained  there  for  some 
time.  The  aeconiiU  lie  sent  to  Oregon  City,  by  parties  engaged  in  the  trans- 
portation of  Mnp[)be8  to  this  depot,  represented  that  tlio  Indians  had  driven  off 
all  the  stock  belonging  to  the  mission,  and  had  probably  destroyed  the 
buildings;  a  report  wliich  greatly  distnrbed  the  governor,  who  in  his  letters 
to  Lue  inquired  r.i)X'iously  concerning  the  safety  of  tiie  mission  property,  and 
any  ,  it  was  this  re])ort  which  led  him  to  meet  the  house  in  secret  session,  and 
'letermined  him  upon  calling  out  500  men. 

'■"' ' Sjletza  professes  frieiuiship,' writes  Lee,  'but  I  shall  keep  an  eye  on 
niin.'  Saffarans  in  a  letter  to  Lee,  dated  at  the  Dalles  Jan.  30th,  says;  'I 
deem  it  necessary  cat  this  crisis  to  warn  you  against  placing  too  much  confi- 
dence in  the  fidelity  and  friendship  of  Homas, '  another  chief.  The  general 
feeling  was  one  of  distrust  of  all  savages. 

'■'•  L'rav^onVs  Nar. ,  MS. ,110 


OGDEN'S  EFFORTS. 


G85 


when  the  governor's  proclamation  calling  for  five  hun- 
dred men  was  issued,  ordering  them  to  rendezvous  at 
Portland  on  t'  <■  8th  of  January,  and  to  proceed 
on  horseback,  hi  order  that  their  supplies  might 
meet  them,  a  party  was  sent  to  build  a  flat-boat  above 
the  Cascades,  and  to  transport  the  provisions  and  am- 
munition over  the  portage  and  across  the  river;  the 
route  lying  by  the  mouth  of  the  Sandy  across  the 
Columbia  to  Vancouver,  east  by  the  cattle  trail  to  a 
point  abovo  the  Cascades,  and  across  the  river  again 
to  the  south  side,  whence  the  trail  led  to  the  Dalles. 
Aberncthy  wrote  Lee  January  1st,  that  if  there  was 
a  prospect  of  a  general  war,  he  thought  of  building  a 
block-house  at  the  Cascades,  and  keeping  a  force 
there. ''^'^  He  also  wrote  that  provisions  had  begun  to 
come  in  froi-i  the  country,  and  Commissary-general 
Palmer  was  doing  all  he  could  to  hasten  them."'^  The 
impossibility  of  knowing  what  was  going  on  in  the 
Indian  country,  or  what  was  likely  to  be  required, 
augmented  his  cares  and  anxieties. 


'^Tliis  was  the  first  intimation  ever  given  of  the  value  of  that  point  for 
defensive  purposes;  or  for  anv  other,  thougli  it  had  been  passed  by  thousands 
since  1842. 

^*Tliero  have  been  recently  rescued  from  dust  and  oblivion  some  of  tlio 
documents  which  show  the  mauiKT  of  furnishing  the  first  army  of  Orogoii. 
Yamhill  County  sent  the  following:  Andrew  lleuibree,  GOO  lbs.  pork,  and  20 
bushels  of  wlieat;  Eli  Perkins,  1  hor.so,  2  ll)s.  powder,  2  boxes  cai).-i,  5  lbs. 
lead;  VVm.  J.  Martin,  1  horse  loaded  with  ])n)vi.sions;  Benj.  Stewart,  2  boxes 
caps,  2  Ib-i.  lead,  1  blanket;  John  Baker,  1  liorse;  Tho-i.  McBrido,  ^5  ea.ili; 
James  Ramsey,  .'}  l\u.  powder,  8  lbs.  Icail;  Samucd  Tustin,  §5  cash,  f)  lbs. 
lead,  2  lbs.  powder;  Joel  J.  Hendireo,  1  liorse,  2;M)  11)s.  ])<)rU,  20  liiisliel.i 
wheat;  James  Me(;inni»,  fS.i  in  orders;  James  Johnson,  ^7.73  on  Abernetlij', 
4  lbs.  load;  T.  J.  Hubbard,  1  rille,  1  jii-stol;  lliiani  Coopi^r,  1  rille,  1  mu.sket, 
GO  rounds  ammunition;  A.  A.  Sluiiner,  I  blanki^t,  1  lb.  powder;  James  Ken- 
ton, 3  pair  .shoes;  J.  M.  t'oopcr,  2  boxes  caps,  2  guns;  James  (!reen,  2  lioxes 
caps,  2  lbs.  lead;  C.  Woo.l,  1  rille;  J.  llowbnd,  1  outlit;  \V.  T.  Newby,  I 
horse;  Carney  (!ro  Iridge,  5  bii.sliels  wheat,  10.)  lb-,,  purlv;  Jr)lin  Manani_%  I 
pair  shoes;  Jolu»  viichardson,  1  Spani  ih  sadille-trec;  Solomon  AlK'n,  G  l)ar.) 
lead;  Felix  Seott,  1  gray  horse;  O.  Ri  ley,  1  ri.le,  H  boxes  caps,  100  lb*.  Hour; 
M.  Burton,  1  pair  p;ints;  Richard  Miller,  1  lior.ic,  six  boxes  cajjs;  Amos  Har- 
vey, 1  gi;i.  James  Burton,  1  sack  and  stin'U[)s.  S  il'iii  Afnri(rii,  ia  .M'uui;/ 
Stile  /i'i(i,',is  Ihniocriil,  Oet.  12,  1;>77.  Siys  Ab.'rnetliy  to  I/ee,  'Wo  are  iu)W 
getting  lots  of  ])ork,  and  some  whc:it.'  Or.  A rrlnn-.i,  MS.,  lO;}.  'I'homas 
'.'ox,  who  had  brought  a  stock  of  goo  Is  across  the  ))l,iiis  tho  ])i-cvious  Miim- 
mer,  had  a  eonsiilerable  (niantity  of  a:nmunirion  wlii  li  w:is  manuiactured  by 
liimseU  in  illiuuis,  and  which  lie  now  freely  furnished  to  the  voluuteer.j  with- 
out charge.  Or.  Literary  VuleUc,  April  1879. 


li: 

1." 

086 


KESL'Ut:  OF  THE  CAFTIVES. 


At  tlie  moment  when  Gilliam  was  ready  to  move 
toward  the  Dalles  with  an  advanced  company  of  fifty 
men,  Ogden  arrived  from  Walla  Walla  with  the  sur- 
vivors of  the  massacre.  The  letter  announcing  to  the 
governor  the  happy  result  of  his  expedit'on  was  dated 
at  Vancouver  the  8th  of  January,  and  was  as  follows : 

"  Sir  :  Mr  Ogden  has  this  niouient  arrived  with  three 
boats  from  Walla  Walla,  anil  I  I'ojoice  to  say  he  has 
brought  down  all  the  women  and  children  from  Waii- 
latpu,  Mr  and  Mrs  Spalding,  and  Mr  Stanley,  the 
artist.  Messrs  Walker  and  Eells  were  safe  and  well ; 
they  were  not  considered  to  be  in  danger.  The  re- 
ports of  the  later  murders  (•t)nunitted  at  Waiilatpu 
are  all  absolutely  without  foundation,  not  a  life  having 
been  lost  tliere  since  the  day  of  Dr  Whitman's  death. 
Mr  Ogden  will  visit  the  Falls  on  Monday  and  give 
you  every  information  in  his  power  respecting  the 
Indians  in  the  interior.  The  Cfiyuses,  Walla  Wallas, 
Nez  Perces,  and  Yakimas  are  said  to  have  entered 
into  an  alliance  for  mutual  defence. 

"  In  haste,  yours  respectfully, 

**  James  Douglas." 

In  Douglas'  letter,  written  in  the  excitement  and 
haste  of  the  reception  of  the  unhappy  company  of  the 
rescued,  there  was  an  error  concerning  the  fact  of 
tliree  nuirders  wliich  occurred  after  tlie  29th,^^  and 
under  no  circunistances  was  an  eiror  of  n  Hudson's 
Bay  officer  or  a  Catholic  priest  allowed  to  l)e  anything 
but  intentional  by  the  Protestant  American  writers 
who  have  dealt  with  tlie  subject  of  the  "W  liilatpu 
massacre;  the  infallibility  imputed  to  them  extending 
only  to  their  knowledge  of  the  truth,  but  not  to  their 
disposition  to  toll  it.  The  error  in  this  case  was  really 
immaterial,  while  the  07i  dit  of  the  last  sentence  of 
Douglas'  letter  was  of  tlie  greatest  consequence 

The    courier    bearing    tlio    despatcli    to 
Abernethy  arrived  at  Oregon  City  on  Sund;iy  morn- 

"See  Broiiillet'K  AutlierUic  Account,  57;  Deposition  of  Elam  Youag,  iu 
Orat/s  nu.  Or.,  482. 


m 

d( 


Gf)vernor 


dt 
be 


OG  DEN'S  SUCCESS. 


687 


ing,  finding  the  executive  at  church.  Even  the  usual 
decorum  of  the  sanctuary  was  forced  to  give  way. 
The  letter  was  read  to  the  congregation,  and  the 
greatest  excitement  prevailed,  of  mingled  gladness, 
gratitude,  and  sorrow. 

On  the  following  day  the  ransomed  captives''^  were 
delivered  to  the  governor  in  Oregon  City.  As  the 
boats  passed  Portland  a  salute  was  fired,  as  also  on 
their  arrival  at  the  Falls;  the  compliment  being  in- 
tended to  express  the  general  gratitude  of  the  people 
to  the  gallant  man  who  had  effected  their  release. 
On  the  17th  the  governor  indicted  a  letter  of  thanks 
as  follows : 

"  Siu :  I  feel  it  a  duty  as  well  as  a  pleasure  to  tender 
you  my  sincere  thanks,  and  the  thanks  of  this  com- 
munity, for  your  exertions  in  behalf  of  the  widows  and 
orphans  that  were  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Cayuse 
Indians.  Their  state  was  a  deplorable  one,  subject 
to  the  caprice  of  savages,  exposed  to  their  insults,  com- 
pelled to  labor  for  them,  and  remaining  constantly  in 
dread  lest  they  should  be  butchered  as  their  husbands 
and  fathers  had  been.  From  this  state  I  am  fully 
satisfied  we  could  not  relieve  them.  A  small  party 
of  Americans  would  have  been  looked  upon  with  con- 
tempt ;  a  large  party  would  have  been  a  signal  fi)r  a 
general  massacre.  Your  innnediate  departure  from 
V'ancouver  on  receipt  of  the  intelligence  from  Waii- 
latpu  enabling  you  to  arrive  at  Walla  Walla  before 
the  news  of  the  American  party  having  startcxl  from 
this  reached  them,  together  with  your  influence  over 
the  Indians,  accomplished  the  desirable  object  of 
relievins:  the  distressed.  Your  exertions  in  behalf  of 
Mie  prisoners  will  no  doubt  cause  a  feeling  of  ])leasurc 
to  you  through  life,  but  this  does  not  relieve  them  nor 
us  from  the  obligations  we  are  under  to  you.      You 


,^ 


■'I 


■■•J 


f.  ;■ 


I 


"The  price  paiil  for  the  pri.soners  was  02  three-point  blankets,  03  cotton 
yhirta,  12  guns,  01)0  loads  of  auiniuuition,  37  pounds  of  tobacco,  and  12  flints. 
Seven  oxen  and  10  bags  of  coarse  tlour,  ol>tained  from  Tiloukaikt,  for  the  use 
of  the  captive.?,  had  aUo  to  bo  accounted  for.  Or.  Spectator,  Jan.  20,  1848. 


688 


rp:scue  of  the  captives. 


have  also  laid  the  American  government  under  obli- 
gation to  you,  for  their  citizens  were  the  subjects  of  the 
massacre,  and  their  widows  and  orphans  are  the  re- 
lieved ones.  With  a  sincere  prayer  that  the  widow's 
God  and  the  Father  of  the  fatherless  may  reward  you 
for  your  kindnc^a,  I  have  the  honor  to  remain,  y  nir 
obedient  servant,  George  Abeunethy, 

"Governor  of  Oregon  Territory. 
"To  Peter  Skeeu  Ogden,  Esq.,  Chief  Factor  Honor- 
able H.  B.  Company,  Vancouver."  ^^ 

To  which  Ogden  replied  on  the  'ifith : 

"George  Abernethy,  Esq.,  Governor  of  Oregon  Ter- 
ritory. 

"Sir:  1  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your 
highly  flattering  letter  of  19th  inst.,  and  the  high 
value  you  lay  upon  my  services  in  rescuing  so  many 
fellow-creatures  from  captivity,  but  the  meed  of  praise 
is  not  due  to  me  alone.  I  was  the  mere  actinjj:  aijent 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company ;  for  without  its  power- 
ful aid  and  influence  nothing  could  have  been  effected, 
and  to  them  the  praise  is  due.  And  permit  me  to 
add,  should  unfortunately,  which  God  avert,  our  ser- 
vices be  again  required  under  similar  circumstances,  I 
trust  you  will  not  find  us  wanting  in  going  to  their 
relief.     I  have  the  honor  to  remain, 

"Yours,  most  respectfully, 

"Peter  Skeen  Ogden." 

Ogdcn's  letter  appeared  in  the  Sjwctator,  prefaced 
by  the  remark  that  "the  act  of  rescuing  so  many 
defenceless  women  and  children  from  the  bloody  and 
cruel  grasp  of  savages  merits,  and  we  believe  receives, 
the  universal  thanks  and  gratitude  of  the  people  of 
Oregon.  Such  an  act  is  the  legitimate  offspring  of  a 
noble,  generous,  and  manly  heart. "^^ 

When  Ogden  left  Vancouver  his  purpose  was  to 
stop  the  nmrders,  and  rescue  the  families  before  any 

'■'Or.  SpfCfM/o, ,  Jan.  .30,  1848. 
'»Or.  Sj>ec(ator,  Felj.  10,  1848. 


HOW  IT  WAS  DONE. 


089 


measures  their  countrymen  might  adopt  could  furnish 
the  Cayuses  with  a  motive  for  further  atrocities. 
Taking  sixteen  men,  he  left  Vancouver  on  the  7th  of 
December,  withiri  twenty-four  hours  after  McBcan's 
messenger  arrived.  Hinman  accompanied  him;  and 
on  arriving  at  the  Dalles,  finding  that  the  natives  there 
liad  the  previous  day  taken  four  horses  from  tJie  mission 
enclosure,  an  act  which  could  signify  nothing  less  than 
liostilities,  he  advised  Hinman  to  remove  his  family,  and 
all  the  Americans  at  the  Dalles,  to  the  Willamette, 
leaving  only  a  trusty  Indian  in  charge  of  the  mission 
property,  advice  which  was  immediately  adopted. 

Ogden  arrived  with  his  party  at  Fort  Walla  Walla 
on  the  evening  of  the  19th  of  December,^*  and  found 
that  none  of  the  captive  women  or  children  had  been 
killed,  though  they  had  narrowly  escaped,  having  been 
'decreed  against,'  but  saved  by  the  interposition  of 
McBean,  who,  hearing  of  the  intention  of  the  Cayuses, 
sent  his  interpreter  to  them  with  a  message  warning 
them  that  "they  had  already  gone  too  far"  in  what 
they  had  done,^^  and  requesting  them  to  withhold  their 
liands  from  further  crimes.  Ogden's  first  effort  was 
to  call  the  chiefs  together  and  hold  a  council  to  learn 
the  plan  with  regard  to  their  prisoners.  For  this 
purpose  couriers  were  immediately  despatched  to  the 
Cayuses,  and  on  the  23d  the  council  was  assembled. 


'*  Tliere  is  a  disagreement  of  dates  here.  In  Ogden's  letter  to  Mr  Walker 
he  says  he  reached  Walla  Walla  on  the  12th,  at  least  so  it  is  printed  in  the 
Spectator;  but  five  days  was  too  little  time  to  get  to  that  post  in  the  winter; 
and  12  days  was  rather  a  long  timi',  hut  many  things  might  occur  to  delay 
him,  and  as  the  other  autliorities  agree  on  tlie  19th,  I  think  it  the  true  date. 

"^'When  my  messenger,' he  says,  'arrived,  Indian  women,  armed  with 
Knives  and  other  implements  of  war,  were  already  assend)led  near  tlie  Ikiusi; 
where  the  captives  were,  awaiting  the  order  of  tlie  Chief  Tiloukaikt,  wIk.  was 
l)resent.  On  being  informed  of  my  re([uest,  he  hung  <lown  his  head  and  paused, 
then  with  a  wave  of  his  hand  peremptorily  onlered  the  women  away,  who 
abusing  him,  called  him  a  coward.*  Letter  of  McBcau,  in  Wnllti  Wnlln  Sfiitc.i- 
vinti,  Marcli  16,  18(50.  Mrs  Mary  Saunders,  lat(!r  Mrs  Husted,  disputes  with 
MeBean  the  honor  of  having  saved  the  lives  of  tlie  women  and  children  by 
getting  on  her  knees  to  Tiloukaikt;  but  I  think  the  savage  more  likely  to  liavo 
considered  McBean's  threat  than  her  prayer.  Mrs  Husted,  wlio  long  reside  I 
in  San  Francisco,  became,  like  many  others  who  were  of  adult  years  at  tliat 
time,  a  nervous  wreck,  incapable  of  reasoning  upon  the  events  which  destroyed 
her  mental  and  bodily  health. 
UisT.  Oa.,  Vol.  I.    U 


690 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


Some  indications  of  the  temper  of  the  Nez  Perces  had 
been  received  before  Ogdeji's  arrival,  through  a  letter 
from  Spalding  to  the  bishop  of  Walla  Walla,  and  also 
through  the  intercourse  of  the  chiefs  on  the  Umatilla 
with  the  same  person.  From  Spalding,  the  bishop, 
who  was  addressed  as  "Reverend  and  Dear  Friend," 
had  information  that  the  Nez  Perct^s  wished  the 
Americans  to  be  upon  friendly  terms  with  the  Cay- 
uses,  and  not  to  come  into  their  country  to  avenge  the 
massacre  at  Waiilatpu,  giving  as  a  reason  that  the 
natives  had  overlooked  the  death  of  the  son  of  Peu- 
peumoxmox  in  California,  for  which  the  slaughter  of 
thirteen  Americans  was  no  unreasonable  offset.  He 
was,  in  fact,  remaining  with  his  family  in  the  Indian 
country  as  hostages  of  peace,  and  hoped  to  be  able  to 
send  the  same  two  young  chiefs  who  carried  his  letter 
to  the  bishop,  to  Governor  Abernethy,  to  prevent 
volunteers  coming  into  the  Cayuse  country,  lest  by 
doing  so  they  should  precipitate  him  in  ruin;  and  of 
this  effort  on  his  part  to  avert  their  punishment,  the 
bishop  was  to  inform  the  Cayuses.  He  also  wished 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  to  be  informed  of  his 
situation  with  the  Nez  Perces;  and  that  they  had 
pledged  themselves  to  protect  him  only  by  his  pledg- 
ing himself  to  })revent  the  Americans  seeking  revenge 
on  the  Cayuses.^"  A  similar  letter  was  sent  to  Mc- 
Bean  at  Fort  Walla  Walla. 

This  letter  of  Spalding's  reached  the  Umatilla 
about  the  middle  of  December,  and  must  be  taken 
into  account  in  considering  what  followed.  The 
bishop  was  asked  to  imjiress  upon  the  minds  of  the 
Cayuses  that  Spalding  would  do  all  that  he  could  to 
prevent  war,  and  to  inform  the  governor  of  Oregon 
that  his  life  and  the  lives  of  the  other  Americans  at 
Lapwai  depended  on  this  promise  to  the  Indians. 
The  young  chiefs  who  brought  this  message  repeated 
the  wish  that  the  bishop  would  request  Governor 
Abernethy  not  to  send  fighting  men,  but  to  come 

38  Letter  of  H.  H.  Spalding,  in  Or.  Spectalor,  Jan.  20,  1848. 


EXCUSES  FOR  THE  MURDER. 


091 


akcii 

The 

the 

tl  to 


himself  in  the  spriiij^  and  make  a  treaty  of  peace  with 
the  Cayuses,  who  would  then  release  the  captives. 
To  this  })etition  the  bishop  replied  that  before  writing 
to  the  governor  it  would  be  necessary  to  learn  from  the 
principal  Cayuse  chiefs  whether  this  was  their  desire 
also;  and  for  the  purpose  of  learning  their  minds  pro- 
posed a  council  on  the  20th. 

Before  the  20th  came  round  there  were  signs  that 
the  Cayuses  were  beginning  to  realize  that  the  crime 
they  had  committed  was  one  which  the  Americans 
might  not  be  brought  to  overlook  even  by  promises 
of  friendship  in  the  future.  Camaspelo,  a  cliief  of 
high  rank,  sought  an  interview  with  the  bishop,  in 
which  he  declared  his  reluctance  from  the  first  to  con- 
sent to  the  murder  of  Whitman,  and  his  su])sequent 
regret,  and  his  present  intention  of  killing  his  horses 
and  quitting  the  country  forever.  To  this  Blanchet 
replied  that  peace,  he  thought,  might  be  hoped  for, 
and  counselled  that  the  chiefs  should  all  be  brought 
together  to  settle  upon  their  course  on  the  day  ap- 
pointed. Accordingly,  when  the  day  an-ivod  the 
bishop's  house  was  crowded,  Tiloukaikt,  Camaspelo, 
Five  Crows,  Tauitau,  and  a  number  of  sub-chiefs 
being  present.  The  contents  of  Spalding's  letter  was 
made  known  to  them  by  the  bishop  in  presence  of  his 
clergy. 

The  first  to  speak  upon  the  propositions  of  the 
Nez  Perces  was  Camaspelo,  who,  after  admitting  the 
ignorance  and  blindness  which  had  caused  him  to 
despair  of  the  life  of  his  people,  professed  now  to  see 
a  way  out  of  the  darkness,  and  approved  of  the  plan 
of  the  Nez  Perces.  Tiloukaikt  confessed  that  the 
missionaries  had  given  them  instructions  for  their 
good;  but  reverted  to  the  death  of  the  chief  who 
accompanied  Gray  in  1837,  and  to  the  death  of  Elijah 
in  California,  endeavoring  to  show  cause  for  what  liad 
been  done,  and  hoping  the  Americans  would  ])ardon 
him  as  he  was  willing  to  pardon  them.  Edward,  the 
son  of  Tiloukaikt  brought  forward  the  accusation  of 


092 


KESCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


poisoning,  as  made  by  Joe  Lewis,  a  id  the  pretended 
confession  of  the  dying  Rogers  to  /lie  same  effect,  .it 
the  same  time  exhibiting  a  blood-stained  Catholic 
ladder,  which  he  declared  had  been  shown  to  the 
Cayusos  by  Whitman  with  the  remark,  "You  see 
this  blood  I  it  is  to  show  you  that  now,  because  you 
have  the  priests  among  you,  the  country  is  going  to 
be  covered  with  blood  ; "  thus  placing  the  responsibility 
on  the  Catholics,  where  the  Protestants  were  willing 
to  believe  it  belonged.  Edward  even  drew  a  touch- 
ing picture  of  the  distress  and  bereavement  of  the 
captive  families,  and  i-ecountod  freely  all  the  circum- 
stances attending  the  massacre,  only  concealing  the 
names  of  the  guilty. 

At  length  all  agreed  to  the  propositions  of  the 
Nez  Perces,  if  they  might  be  allowed  to  add  a  mani- 
festo setting  forth  the  reasons  which  influenced  them 
in  committing  the  murders.  To  this  the  bishop  con- 
sented. They  then  stated  what  we  already  know,  ask- 
ing, first,  "that  the  Americans  may  not  go  to  war  with 
the  Cayuses ;  second,  that  they  may  forget  the  lately 
committed  nmrders,  as  the  Cayuses  will  forget  the 
murder  of  the  son  of  the  great  chief  of  Walla  Walla, 
committed  in  California;  third,  that  two  or  three 
great  men  may  come  up  to  conclude  peace ;  fourth, 
that  as  soon  as  these  great  men  have  arrived  and  con- 
cluded peace,  they  may  take  with  them  all  the  women 
and  children;  fiftli,  they  give  assurance  that  they  will 
not  harm  the  Americans  before  the  arrival  of  these 
two  or  three  great  men;  sixth,  they  ask  that  Ameri- 
cans may  not  travel  any  more  through  their  country, 
as  their  young  men  might  do  them  harm."^^ 

This  being  settled,  the  bishop  wrote  his  letter  to 
Abernethy,  saying  that  in  a  moment  of  despair  the 
Cayuses  had  connnitted  acts  of  atrocity  grievous  to 
the  writer  as  well  as  to  him.  Yet  he  felt  forced  to 
say  that  by  going  to  war  with  this  tribe,  he  would 
without  doubt  have  all  the  savages  in  the  country 

'^^  Broml'tet 8  AtUhentic  Account,  60-3. 


OODEN'S  A1>DRESS. 


G'X\ 


itry 


against  him.  And  would  it  bo  for  tlio  interest  of  a 
young  colony  to  so  expose  itself?  Advice  ho  had  none 
to  om}r;  he  simply  enclosed  Mr.  Spalding '«  letter  to 
liimself. 

The  Cayuses,  having  been  prepared  by  the  council 
on  the  Umatilla  to  treat  with  the  governor  of  Oregon 
on  the  terms  laid  down  alcove,  were  not  prepared  to 
receive  Ogdoii  with  the  leady  consent  with  which 
they  usually  listened  to  any  proposition  coming  from 
the  fur  company.  They  cf)uld  sec  plainly  that  their 
hope  of  securing  peace  with  the  Americans  depended 
on  retaining  Spalding  and  the  captive  families  as 
hostages.  Nor  were  they  encouraged  to  hope  for  peace, 
as  Spalding  and  Blanchet  caused  them  to  believe. 

"We  have  been  among  you  for  thirty  years,"  said 
Ogden,  "  without  the  shedding  of  blood ;  we  are  traders, 
and  of  a  different  nation  from  tlie  Americans;  but 
recollect,  we  supply  you  with  ammunition,  not  to  kill 
Americans,  who  are  of  the  s  tme  color,  speak  the  same 
language,  and  worship  the  .same  God  as  ourselves,  and 
whose  cruel  fate  causes  our  hearts  to  bleed.  Why  do 
wc  make  you  chiefs,  if  you  cannot  cont  .1  your  young 
men?  Besides  this  wholesale  butclu  i  v,  you  have 
robbed  the  Americans  passing  through  your  country, 
and  have  insulted  their  women.  If  you  allow  your 
young  men  to  govern  you,  I  say  you  are  not  men  or 
chiefs,  but  hermaphrodites  who  do  not  deserve  the  name. 
Your  hot-headed  young  men  plume  themselves  on  their 
bravery;  but  let  them  not  deceive  themselves.  If 
the  Americans  begin  war,  they  will  have  cause  to  re- 
pent their  rashness;  for  the  wai-  will  not  end  until 
every  man  of  you  is  cut  otf  from  the  face  of  the  earth ! 
I  am  aware  that  many  of  your  people  have  died ;  but 
so  have  others.  It  was  not  Dr  Whitman  who  poisoned 
them;  but  God  who  has  C(mimanded  tliat  they  should 
die.  You  have  the  opportunity  to  make  some  repara- 
tion. I  give  you  only  advice,  and  promise  you  nothing, 
should  war  be  declared  against  you.  The  company 
have  nothing  to  do  with  your  <piarrel.     If  you  wish 


I 


"!«:3'f 


■■    J 


1 

H 

1 

i        il 

1 

nil 

004 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAFnVES. 


it,  on  my  return  I  will  see  wliat  can  be  done  for  you ; 
but  I  do  'not  firoinlHe  to  prevent  war.  Deliver  me 
the  prisoners  to  return  to  tiicir  friends,  and  I  will  pay 
you  a  ransom,  tluit  is  all."'" 

Sucli  was  Ogden's  address  to  the  chiefs,  contem- 
plating, as  he  truthfully  said,  only  the  rescue  of  the 
prisoners,  without  altering  the  relations  of  the  com- 
pany toward  the  Indians,  whose  friendship  thej'  had 
long  ])osses8ed  and  did  not  nieai'  to  lose.  Neither  did 
he  intend  to  anticipate  the  action  of  the  American 
government  or  people. 

The  Indian  impulse,  shifting  as  the  sands  of  the 
sea,  gave  way  to  Ogden's  superior  will.  With  some 
weak  efforts  to  excuse  the  disposition  to  yield,  Taui- 
tau  consented  to  the  ransom  of  the  captives.  The 
Hudson's  Bay  Company's  men  were  married  to  In- 
dian women,  and  were  therefore  his  brothers ;  he  could 
not  refuse  his  brother's  request.  Tiloukaikt,  besides 
the  tie  of  blood,  recognized  the  claim  of  the  company 
upon  him  made  by  allowing  their  dead  to  be  buried 
side  by  side.  "Chief!"  he  cried,  "your  words  are 
weighty — your  hairs  are  gray.  We  have  known  you 
a  long  time.  You  have  had  an  unpleasant  lourncy 
to  this  placer  I  cannot,  therefore,  keep  the  famiUes 
back.  I  make  them  over  to  you,  which  I  would  not 
do  to  another  younger  than  yourself."  Peupeumox- 
mox  remarked  that  he  had  nothing  to  say:  the 
Americans  were  changeable;  but  he  agreed  with 
Tauitau  that  the  captives  should  be  given  up.^     The 


*^0r.,  Spectator,  Jan.  20, 1848.  Brouillet,  ia  Authentic  Account,  materially 
alters  the  ir.^tter  atul  the  meaning  of  Ogden's  address,  which  was  published 
In  the  Or.  Spcctuic';  Ictis  than  a  month  after  it  was  delivered,  and  which 
I  take  to  be  correct  iix  substance  and  spirit.  The  amount  of  falsifying  which 
the  clergy  on  both  ^ides  thought  necessary  in  order  to  avenge  sectarian 
affronts  is  something  astounding  to  the  secular  mind. 

**  Contradictory  opinions  have  i)revailed  concerning  the  complicity  of  Pcu- 
peumoxmox.  Tolmie,  in  Puijet  Soiaul,  MS.,  28,  tells  an  anecdote  that  is  in 
nia  favor.  A  messenger  from  Waiilatpu,  coming  with  the  news  of  the  massa- 
cre, was  asked  by  the  chief  what  part  he  had  m  it.  On  his  answering  that 
be  had  killed  certain  persons,  '  Take  that  fellow,'  said  Peupeumoxmox,  'and 
hang  him  to  the  nearest  tree.'  Another  statement  is,  that  when  the  Cayuses 
pi-oposcd  going  to  war  the  chief  warned  them  not  to  make  the  mistake  of 
conaidering  the  Americans  cowards  because  they  would  not  fight  when 


NONE  TOO  SOON. 


e96 


Nez  Perco  chiefs,  who  liad  not  yet  returned  to  Lap- 
ted  to  go   at    once   and    l)ring   Spalding 


wai. 


erce 
con sen 


and  the  others  from  that  station,  sliould  they  vvisli  to 
come ;  the  anxious  desire  to  escape  having  been  thus 
far  carefully  concealed  from  the  Nez  Perces.     Ogden, 
in  his  letter  to  Si>ulding,  which  the  young  chiefs  car- 
ried, advised  the  missionary  to  lose  no  time  in  join- 
ing him,  and  to  make  no  ju'omises  to  the  Nez  Percds, 
being  unaware,  })erhaps,  of  the  promise  already  given. 
He    wrote    inunediately    to    Ogden    tliat   he    should 
hasten  his  (h^purture,  and   all  tlie   more   because  the 
young  chiefs  had  assured  him  that  tiie  Cayuses  would 
exterminate  them  should  they  learn  that  the  Ameri- 
cans were   intending  to  call  them  to  account.     As 
nothing  was  more  likely  than  that  such  a  purpose 
was  harbored  by  the  Americans,  he  was  aware  of  the 
value  of  Ogden's  advice  to  hasten  to  Walla  Walla. 

A  letter  was  also  despatched  from  AValla  Walla  to 
the  Chemakane  mission,  in  which  the  purpose  of  Ogden 
to  do  nothing  which  might  interfere  with  the  future 
course  of  the  United  States  in  dealing  with  the  Cay- 
use  murderers  was  reiterated,*"  and  in  which  he  ex- 
encumbered  with  their  families  and  property,  tliougli  robhed  and  insulted, 
for  he  liad  been  in  California  and  seen  that  when  it  came  to  lighting  every 
American  was  a  man;  and  that  if  war  with  them  were  begun,  they  would  all 
be  killed  otf.  ParrixlixOr.  Anccdolcx,  MS.,  1)1-2.  There  is  a  similar  statement 
in  Rent,  of  Com.  Iiid.  Aff.,  1854,  ^l'l'ii-4.  But  I  am  of  a  difl'erent  opinion  about 
the  Walla  Walla  chief.  If  he  liad  been  against  the  Cayuses,  why  did  they 
make  his  son's  death  to  Hgtire  so  pronnnently  in  their  justification  ?  Why 
did  he  not  warn  Whitman  t  Wliy  did  he  answer  Ogden  that  Americans  were 
changeable,  but  that  he  would  agree  with  Tauitau,  one  of  the  most  bloody  of 
the  Cayuses  ?  Peupeumoxmox  was  as  wily  as  his  name  of  Yellow  Serpent 
suggested,  as  I  shall  be  able  to  show. 

'•This  letter  was  intended  to  be  sent  by  J.  M.  Stanley,  a  young  painter 
travelling  in  the  Intlian  country  to  study  savage  faces,  forms,  and  costumes; 
but  ho  seems  to  have  gone  to  Vancouver  instead.  Stanley  was  from  Ohio, 
and  was  at  that  time  known  chiefly  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.  He  travelled 
overland  to  California  by  the  Santa  ¥6  route,  and  thence  to  Oregon  on  the 
bark  Whiton  in  July  1847.  From  Oregon  City  ho  went  up  the  Columbia,  and 
visited  the  Spokane  country.  Happening  to  be  coming  down  to  Fort  Walla 
Walla  at  the  time  of  the  massacre,  he  was  intercepted  by  a  Cayuse,  who  de- 
manded, 'Are  you  a  Hudson's  Bay  man?'  'No.  'An  American  ? '  'No.' 
'  W^hat  then  ? '  'A  Buckeye  ! '  This  being  a  new  nation  to  the  Cayuse,  and 
one  with  which  he  was  not  at  war,  the  artist  was  permitted  to  proceed. 
When  he  arrived  at  the  fort  he  learned  the  significance  of  the  questions. 
After  Ogden's  arrangement  witli  the  Cayuses,  Stanley  returned  to  the  Spo- 
kane country,  where  lie  remained  till  spring.     He  was  afterward  artist  to  the 


?<' 


ill 


T 


696 


KESCUE  OF  THE  CATTIVES. 


pressed  his  great  anxiety,  whicL  had  not  permitted 
him  to  sleep  for  two  nights.  This  lotter  was  not 
written  until  the  31st  of  December,  and  the  alarm 
from  which  Ogden  was  suftering  was  occasioned  by 
the  fact  tliat  he  had  no  sooner  received  the  captives 
at  Walla  Walla,  by  agreement,  on  tlie  29th,  than 
rumors  were  received  by  the  natives  of  the  arrival  of 
the  first  company  of  the  volunteer  riflemen  at  Walla 
Walla.  The  excitem(;nt  occasioned  by  this  int«'lli- 
gcnce  it  was  feared  might  cause  Spalding's  company, 
wliich  had  not  yet  arrived,  to  be  cut  off,  and  any  such 
resumption  of  hostilities  would  certainly  be  fatal  to 
the  success  of  his  efforts  for  the  rescue  of  even  the 
W^aiilacpu  captives ;  for  the  rage  of  the  savages  would 
permit  t'lem  to  stop  at  nothing.  But  to  his  great 
relief  Spa l(Hng  arrived  on  the  first  of  Janu^iry,  accom- 
panied by  a  largo  force  of  Ncz  Percys.  After  spending 
another  night  in  earnest  council  with  these  natives, 
always  more  friendly  and  more  trac^table  than  theij: 
relatives  the  Cayuses,  ( )gden  embarked  the  ransomed 
company  for  Vancouver,^'  tliankful  to  be  able  to  do  so. 
Nor  was  lie  g(me  a  nu)nient  to  soon.  A  few  hours 
after  his  departure  fifty  ('ayuscis  arriNud  at  the  fort 
with  the  purpose  of  taking  and  killing  S})alding,  as 
they  had  all  along  declared  tlieir  hitention  of  doing, 
should  they  learn  that  any  but  peace  commitssionors 
were  on  the  way  to  their  country.      It  was  this  deter- 

Pacitic  railway  expoilition  in  1853.     Many  of  his  Iniliaii  poi  traits  wcroplacoil 
ill  tliu  Sniithsouian  lastitutiou,  and  were  dustroyod  hy  (iro  .s( mo  tinio  later. 

"K"  puj^naiit  as  wa.^  the  idea  of  what  the  white  woiiieii  an  1  girls  had  suf- 
fered jt  tlu^  hands  of  tliuir  captors,  there  were  certain  touches  </  feelm^r  ixliib- 
ited.  When  Miss  15ev/ley  \ias  sent  for  it  was  yet  earl_>  morning'.  According 
to  her  testimony,  Five  Cn.ws  prepared  a  good  breakfast  for  h  'r,  with  i.ea, 
and  placed  a  new  lilanki^t  and  huH'alo-rolte  on  the  .sail  lie  of  her  lio'  -e  to  nuike 
lier  conifortahle,  bidding  her  goodd)y  in  a  kind  in.iiner.  Spah  ing  in  his 
his  lectures  makes  Miss  Bevvh^y  say  of  her  arrival  at  the  fort:  '  As  e  rode  up, 
(rovernor  Og<leu  and  A'l-  McBea..,,  with  several  Catholic  priest  ,  came  out. 
Mr  Ogdeii  took  mo  gently  from  the  horse,  as  a  father,  and  s^  id,  '"rhank 
(rod,  I  have  got  you  .safe  at  last!  I  had  to  pay  the  Indians  .ion  for  you 
than  for  all  the  other  captives,  ami  I  •'■■ared  they  v, ould  never  ).  vc  jou  up." ' 
iSfiiff  /'/V////..1  hemotnit,  Jaii  18,  18ti'.  Stanley  related  that  ;  I'ayuse  who 
took  to  wife  a  gill  of  14  years,  after  inunlering  her  brother  and  gaining  her 
Bubinission  by  threats  against  the  lives  of  her  mother  and  sister,  ottered 
Ogden  a  large  price  for  her,  or  to  .  '-sake  his  own  people  ami  live  among  the 
white  people.    liv}it.  Com.  Ind.  Ajf'.,  10.4,  '-'lO. 


HATEFUL  INGRATITUDE. 


697 


i^y 


ilL'Oll 

ur. 
suf  • 
hib- 
ling 

iiak(! 

Iiis 

ui), 

tint. 

uiik 

you 

I'-  ■" ' 
wlio 

li.-r 

^•oil 

tlio 


mination,  well  understood  by  all,  that  decided  William 
Craig  to  quit  Lis  claim  on  the  Clearwater,  though  on 
the  best  of  terms  witli  tlie  Nez  Perces.  Bishop  Blan- 
chet  also  accompanied  Ogden  to  the  Willamette  Valley, 
but  Brouillet  and  Leclaire  remain(>d  at  the  Umatilla 
ui'til  the  20th  of  February,  when  they  too  abandoned 
the  country ;  and  their  property  left  among  the  Cayuses 
was  destroyed. 

The  recipients  s  r  Ogden's  favors  were  scarcely  dis- 
trilmted  among  the  homes  of  sympathizhig  friends  in 
the  Willamette  Valley  before  the  Presl^j'terians,  witli 
8l)alding  at  their  head,  made  an  attack  on  the  Hud- 
sonV-  Bay  (^om})any  and  the  Catholic  clergy,  openly 
accusing  th<'m  of  conspirhig  witli  the  Indians  to  de- 
stroy the  Protestant  missions  in  tin;  interior;  every 
a(^t  and  word  of  either  being  turned  into  the  acts  and 
words  of  conspirators  plotting  death  and  ruin  to  Amer- 
words  of  conspirators  plotting  death  and  ruin  to  Amer- 
icans and  Protestants.  All  were  termed  Jesuits, 
whether  Jesuit,  S(>cular,  or  Oblate;  and  fertile  imagi- 
nations, half  crazed  by  horrors  were  sown  with  sus- 
picions the  foulest  and  most  unnatural.  The  Spectator 
being  by  its  by-laws  prohibited  from  entering  into 
sectarian  discussions,  the  Orcijon  American  devoted  its 
c  ilunms  almost  exclusively  to  tlie  publication  of  the 
matter.*'  The  results  of  its  few  weeks  of  existence 
continue  to  appear  in  the  frequent  ass  srtions  published 
and  uttered  even  now  that  the  fur  ".onipany  aiid  the 
Catholic  p.riesthood  in  Oregon  were  responsible  for 
the  tragedy  of  Waiilatpu,  notwithstanding  tiie  facts. 

The  lack  of  motive  on  the  part  oi'  the  ct)mpany, 

*'^Tho  (iri'ijoii  Anieririui  was  not  the  only  paper  l)rought  into  existence 
about  this  time  with  tlic  purpose  of  gi^'ing  utterance  to  sentiments  wliieh 
were  not  admitted  to  the  cohuntis  of  the  conservative  Spirtator.  OeorgeL. 
Curry,  after  being  dismissed  from  the  editorial  chair  of  that  journal  for  rea.sons 
before  mentioned,  started  the  (hn/on  Fn'c  I'lrsn,  a  small  weekly  in  which  ho 

1)rinted  asnnich  truth,  welcome  or  unwelcome  to  the  Sjirr/nfor.,  as  pleased  him. 
t  ran  only  from  April  to  Decemtur  1848.  It  wiis  printed  from  a  ])ress  made 
in  the  country,  and  with  displiy  type  wrought  outfif  wood  }>y  hand.  Address 
of  (J.  L.  Curry,  in  Or.  Ptoneer  .Isinc,  Triuii.,  IHTo,  1'2;  tS.  /.  A'(«,n,  ii.  12.3; 
Jiidinniion'n  Mims.,  411;  I'oli/iwuiin,  v.  127;  Portland  Onyonkui,  April  'M, 
1872;  Gi/fri/'K  Has.  Or.,  MS.,  25. 


RESCUE  OF  THE  CAPTIVES. 


even  admitting  the  monstrous  idea  tliat  its  officers 
were  capable  of  such  acts;  the  lack  of  both  opportu- 
nity and  motive  on  the  part  of  the  priests,  admitting 
that  these  young  men  just  out  of  European  or  Cana- 
dian colleges  could  be  thinking  of  murder,  should  be 
sufficient  proof  that  they  did  not  instigate  the  In- 
dians. The  country  belonged  by  treaty  to  the  United 
States,  hence  the  company  had  nothing  to  gain.  The 
priests  had  not  yet  established  a  mission,  or  obtained 
control  of  the  Indians.  They  knew  that  Whitman 
intended  leaving  the  Walla  Walla  Valley,  and  would 
if  they  wished  it  sell  them  his  improvements  at 
Waiilatpu.  Why  then  kill  liim  ?  Or  why,  if  he  nrist 
be  killed,  did  the  Protestant  instead  of  the  Catholic 
Cayuses  do  the  deed?  It  was  the  Indians  nearest 
to  Whitman  who  killed  him,  even  those  almost  of 
his  own  household.  By  the  captives,  save- i  id  lib- 
erated by  those  they  now  accused,  being  iii^;.]gated 
by  sectarian  hatred,  were  put  upon  the  stand,  and 
tricked  into  saying  things  the  most  abominable  and 
absurd.  It  was  Spalding  himself  w^ho  should  have 
been  examined,  under  oath,  and  not  all  tl  ose  afflicted 
and  bewildi'red  captives  who  understood  little  or  noth- 
ing: of  the  causes  which  led  to  tlieir  tjreat  misfortunes. 
Finding  the  Protestants  taking  depositions,  the  Cath- 
olics also  resorted  to  sworn  statements ;  and  it  must  be 
admitted  that  so  far  as  the  depositions  go  the  latter 
have  the  best  of  the  cause.  But  the  rancor  on  both 
sides !  The  merely  secular  mind  shrinks  from  contem- 
plating it.*^  I  have  in  previous  chapters  stated  my 
belief  that  the  interference  of  the  Catholics  augmented 
Whitman's  troubles  with  the  Cayuses;  but  it  is  evi- 
dent to  my  mind  that  had  there  not  been  a  Catholic 
in  the  country  the  catastrophe  would  have  come  in 
the  identical  shape  that  it  did  come,  from  Indian  jeal- 
ousy alone.     Blanch et,  in  attempting  to  account  for 

^'  Ainoug  tho  writers  who  will  not  countenance  the  accusations  publislied 
in  the  On-ijon  American  in  1848  aro  Evans,  Strong,  Dowell,  Waldo,  J.  Henry 
Brown,  Victor,  Deady,  I.  I.  Stevens,  and  J.  Rosa  Browne.  Thornton  and 
(tray  continued  to  put  forth  these  horrible  ideas. 


THE  CURSES  OF  THE  CHRISTIANS. 


f)99 


its  occurrence,  uses  the  following  language ;  "At  the 
sight  of  the  good  already  done,  and  to  be  done  by 
the  army  of  the  zealous  missionaries  just  arrived,  the 
devil,  shaking  with  anger  and  rage,  resolved  to  make 
his  last  efforts  to  utterly  ruin  the  Cathojic  clergy  on 
this  coast."  ** 

The  Presbyterians  blamed  the  Catholics,  and  the 
Catholics  blamed  the  devil,  for  what  the  exercise  of 
ordinar}'  good  judgment  ought  to  have  averted,  but 
which  sectarian  pride  and  obstinacy  resolved  to  dare 
rather  than  to  avoid.  , 

**Cath.  Church  in  Or..  165. 


■  y 


f  ! 


I     I 


i     1 4  I 


i'il 


1 


.! 


fiif: 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 

1848. 

Organization  of  the  Army — Colonel  Gilliam  en  Route  fob  the 
Dalles — Thoma.s  McKay's  Canadian  Company — Captain  Enqlish's 
Company — Captain  Martin's  Company — Captain  Shaw's  Company — 
Captain  Garrison's  Company — The  Army  at  Fort  Gilliam — The 
Army  at  Fort  Lee — Meek's  Party— Peace  Measures — A  Brush 
with  the  Enemy — Official  Correspondence — Headquarters  at 
Waiilatpu — Action  of  the  Peace  Commissioners — Council  with 
the  Cayuses — The  Murderers  must  be  Delivered  up — Death  of 
Colonel  Gilliam — Major  Lee  Assumes  Command — The  Governor's 
Proclamation — Scarcity  of  Ammunition — The  War  Ended  and 
Troops  Mustered  out — Biographical  Sketches. 

The  arrival  of  the  rescued  captives  and  the  recital 
of  their  wrongs  greatly  accelerated  the  preparations 
for  war.  The  letter  of  Spalding  counselling  peace 
would  have  been  suppressed  but  for  the  request  of 
Ogdon  that  all  if  any  of  the  correspondence  should 
be  published.  But  it  was  easy  to  see  that  Spalding 
had  written  as  he  did,  because,  as  the  natives  said, 
"  he  was  in  a  hole,"  and  could  not  otherwise  get  out. 
He  had  heard,  through  the  Nez  Perces,  of  the  escape 
of  Hall,  and  supposed  he  would  have  reached  Van- 
couver or  Oregon  City,  and  that  steps  would  be  taken 
for  the  relief  of  all  who  were  left  alive.  He  rightly 
surmised  that  his  countrymen  would  wish  to  be 
avenged,  and  he  took  measures  to  warn  them  not  to 
precipitate  him  and  all  the  other  Americans  in  ruin 
by  coming  with  an  army  to  fight  the  Cayuses.  No 
humane  and  reasonable  being  could  blame  him  for  dis- 
sembling to  the  Indians  when  so  many  lives  were  at 


GILLIAM'S  ADVANCF. 


701 


stake;  but  the  dissembling  had  not.  stopped  there. 
While  the  general  judgment  declared  the  sentence  to 
be  "for  the  barbarian  murderers  and  violators.  .  .  eter- 
nal remembrance ;  let  them  be  pursued  witli  unrelent- 
ing hatred  and  hostility,  until  life-blood  has  atoned 
for  their  infamous  deeds,"  ^  Spalding  waa  om})loyed  in 
creating  a  similar  feeling  toward  the  bishop  of  Walla 
Walla,  whom  he  had  so  lately  addressed  as  his  "dear 
friend  and  brotiier,"  with  the  recpiest  to  do  all  he 
could  to  save  him.  In  the  heated  state  of  the  public 
mind,  which  was  not  prej)ared  to  reason,  the  impres- 
sion that  the  sword  had  fallet>  because  the  bishoj)  had 
cut  the  hair  sank  deeply.  If  it  were  not  so,  asked 
the  Presbyterians,  how  could  the  Catholics  remain 
when  we  have  been  driven  away?  That  (juestion  was 
answered  when  the  army  approached  the  Umatilla, 
but  the  answer  was  not  forthcoming  when  Spalding 
pointed  out  this  significant  fact  to  the  volunteers, 
who  went  away  prepared  to  encounter  the  horns  and 
hoofs  of  his  Satanic  Majesty  on  that  river.^ 

On  the  same  day  that  Ogden  arrived  with  the  fam- 
ilies from  the  missions  in  the  interior,  Colonel  (xil- 
liam  set  out  for  the  Dalles  with  fifty  men,  in  advance 
of  the  companies  mentioned  in  the  previous  chapter, 
which  were  to  follow  on  the  14th.  He  ^\as  accom- 
panied by  Meek's  overland  party ;  but  such  were  the 
difficulties  and  consequent  delays  of  the  march  in  the 
winter,  that  the  advance  did  not  reach  tlio  Dalles  till 
the  24th,  three  otlier  companioK  being  close  behind, 
and  three  others  organizing  to  follow,  besides  a  num- 
ber that  were  being  raised  for  defence  in  some  of  the 
counties.  A  company  of  infantry  was  also  forming 
in  Portland,  which  expected  to  be  ready  t..  march  by 
the  1st  of  February.     On  Frenci.  Prairie  a  company 


m 
iff  II 

m 


^Or.  Spectator,  Jan.  20,  1848. 

'  The  cxciteinoiit  hccaine  so  great  that  the  volunteerH  in  startinj.'  said  that 
their  first  shots  would  ho  for  the  bishop  and  his  priests;  and  that  ior  several 
moniiis  the  Catholic  cliurches  and  estahlishment*^  in  tlie  Willamette'  Valley 
were  in  the  greatest  danger  of  being  burned  dowu.  Blavcliet'x  Catli.  Ci  arch  in 
ih:,  173. 


TOa 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


was  raised  by  Thomas  McKay,  among  the  Canadians, 
which  action  on  the  part  of  this  noted  Indian-fighter 
gave  great  satisfactiiJii,  not  only  on  account  of  his 
reputation  as  a  warrior,  but  as  an  indication  of  the 
course  which  would  be  taken  by  the  lialf-ljreed  popu- 
lation in  the  event  of  a  pr-otractcd  war^  with  the 
natives.  A  flag  was  designed  for  and  presented  to 
Captain  McKay,  emblematic  of  the  provisional  gov- 
ei'nment,  bearing  a  lone  star  and  a  numl^er  of  stripes. 
He  presented  it  to  his  company  with  this  brief  ad- 
dress: "This  is  the  Hag  you  are  expected  to  defend, 
and  you  must  defend  it."* 

Besides  the  Canadian  company,  Marion  county 
furnished  two  others,  under  captains  Levin  N.  Eng- 
lish and  William  Martin ;''  and  Clackamas  and  Marion 

'Grim  describes  McKay  aa  mounted  and  riding  calong  the  road  haranguing 
the  Frcuoli  half-breeds  in  Cliinook.  In  an  hour's  time  lie  ha<l  IM  men  in  hii 
company.  L'liw/raiit  Aiu'C(lof<'.%  MS.,  8.  McKay's  company  was  oHicered  as 
follows:  Thomas  McKay,  captain;  Charles  McKay,  1st  lieutenant;  Alexander 
McKay,  2d  lieutenant;  P^lward  Dupuis,  t)r<lerly  sergeant;  (George  Montour, 
BaptLstc  Dorio,  David  Crawford,  and  Ciideon  Pion,  duty  sergeants.  Privates: 
John  Spence,  Louis  Laplantc,  Augustine  Rusaie,  Isaac  Oervais,  Louis  Mon- 
tour, Alexis  Vatrais,  .loscpli  Paine,  Jno.  Cunningham,  Jiio.  (Jros  Louis,  Joe 
Lenegratly,  Antoinc  Poisicr,  Antoine  Plante,  Pierre  Lacourso,  Ashby  Pearce, 
Richard  Linklotter,  Charles  Bcaucliniaiii,  Augustine  Delard,  B.  S.  Jjaderiste, 
Antoinc  Lafaatc,  Natiian  English,  Charles  Edwards,  (Jideou  (Jravellc,  Clias. 
Coweniat,  Antoinc  Boiiaupaus,  ]\'iclinl.is  liinl,  Francis  Duprcs,  William  Towie, 
Thomas  Purvis,  A.  J.  Thomas,  J.  11.  Biglcr,  Mongo,  Antoine  Ansure,  Narcisse 
Montiznic,  BJdward  Crete,  (h:  SpecUtioi;  April  G,  1848;  lloss'  Nai:,  MS.,  8-10. 

'On  Sprrtii/or,  Feb    1(5,  KS48. 

■M'apiiiiu  English's  ortici^-s  were  William  Shaw,  ist  lieutenant;  F.  M. 
Munhers. '2d  lieutenant :  William  Martin,  orderly  sergca- t;  Iliram  English, 
Ceorge  Siiaw,  ThiMiia.--  Hougs,  and  L.  •!.  Rector,  duty  sergeants.  Privates: 
•Jackson  Adams,  IN.  Abel,  Wdliam  Burton,  Joseph  Crank,  John  Downing, 
Thos.  T.  Eyre,  K.  D.  Foster,  Alex:iuder  (Jage,  Tlionias  (ircgory,  (I.  V\  . 
Howell,  Fales  Howard,  J.  H.  Lewis,  N.  <i.  McDonald,  James  OHicer,  Joseph 
Pcar.sou,  .lackson  Rowefi,  William  Sininums,  1/wis  Stewart,  Charles  Roth, 
J)aniel  Waldo,  (ieorge  ^^  sley,  VVilliaii,  Vaughn,  L.  K.  English,  jun.,  Nineveh 
Ford,  AllM'rt  Fish.  A.  i.ribble,  Sannrd  Seniers,  Thomas  Wigger,  Richaid 
Hays,  We>ley  Howell,  Richard  Jeukinn,  K.  H  March,  William  Me  Iway,  J. 
R.  Payne,  Benjanun  Simpson,  .Uexaiultr  York. 

Captain  Martin's  officers  were:  A.  E.  <  iarrison,  1st  lieutenant;  David 
Waldo,  2d  lieuteniuit;  LudwellJ.  Rector,  orderly  sergeant;  William  Cos  per, 
Fales  Howard,  .biseph  Sylvester,  lud  Ber.jamin  Wright,  duty  sergeants. 
Privates:  .1.  Allinaht,  H.  Bunlo.i,  T.  .1.  Blair,  Josipli  Borst,  George  Crab- 
tree,  Josepli  CraiiL.  Wesley  Cook.  Samuel  Center,  .lohn  (ox,  John  Eads, 
Parnel  Fowler,  S  VL  (.'rover,  Joim  Kaiser.  Clark  S.  Prinj;li',  Israel  Wood, 
Lewis  Stewart,  P  easan  (  .  Kaiser  Thoma.-?  Cauby,  .Sidney  Ford,  WilPani 
Meliiwcrs,  A.  M  fcUiinwater.  B.  l-  .Shiaw,  William  Waldo,  Silas  (J.  Pi  gl' 
<i.  K.  Vernon,  itiMtaii  Matheny,  Thouia*  T.  Eyre,  John  C.  llolgate.  Alkiwj 
Utate  RifkU  Democrat,  Nov.  '1,  1S77. 


FORTS  GILLIAM  AND  LEE. 


703 


together  two  otht^rs,  Tjucler  captains  William  Shaw  and 
J.  M.  Garrison." 


Cpll 


The  army  established,  as  it  passed  up  the  river,  a  way- 
station  for  supj)iies  ab  the  Cascade  portage,  which  re- 
ceived the  name  of  Fort  GiilianL  The  stockade  erected 
at  the  Dalles  by  Major  Lee  was  called  Fort  Lee.  The 
only  piece  of  ordnance  at  the  governor's  command  was 
the  nine-})ounder  belonging  to  Oregon  City,  which  was 
forwarded  to  the  Dalles,  this  place  being  designated 
as  army  headquarters." 

When  Colonel  Gilliam  arrived  at  Fort  Lee  there 
had  already  been  some  skirmishing.  On  the  8th 
of  January  some  savages  were  discovered  herding 
the  cattle  left  at  the  mission  by  the  innnigrants 
preparatory  to  driving  them  away ;  and  when  Major 
Lee  and  se^'eral  men  advanced  on  foot  with  the 
intention  of  preventing  it  they  were  fired  on.  There- 
upon a  running  fight  was  kept  up  for  two  hours,  be- 
t".'!en  seventeen  white  men,  some  mounted  and  others 
on  foot,  and  twenty -three  mounted  natives,  eight  only 
of  whom  were  Cayuses.  The  natives  succeeded  in 
driv'ng  off  about  i:hree  hundred  head  of  cattle,  and 
wounding  Sergeant  William  Berry. 


Three   savages 


*  Captain  Shaw  s  oftioers  were:  David  Crawford,  1st  lieutenant;  Bapti.sto 
Dori  I,  '2d  lieuti'ii  lilt;  Alisa om  M.  Smitii,  orderly  surgeaut;  George  Liiroquo, 
Vatall  Burgeii'u,  George  ^\.  Shaw,  and  Charles  McKay,  duty  sergeants. 
Privates:  .lohn  H.  Bigler,  0.  Cruiii,  .loseph  Despon';,  Williini  Felix,  Xavier 
I'laiite,  Eli  Viliell,  F.  M.  Maiikis,  Antonio  I'lante,  Cliarles  Edwards,  Andrew 
Heeher,  Aavier  Gervais,  DavidJones,  .lohn  Pecares,  .Samuel  Kinsey,  Joseph 
Pf;irsi>n,  Willi.»niTowie,  Peter  .laeksoii,  Alexander  Lahorain,  William  McMil- 
\c%  B.  F.  Nichols,  Hira;  i  Smeael,  AVilliaui  Marrill,  Francis  Poieeor,  (ieorge 
Westley. 

Captiiiii  Garrison's  orticcrs  wire:  A.  E.  (Jarrison,  1st  lieutenant:  .lohn  C. 
Herren,  2d  lieutenant;  J.  B.  Kaiser,  orilerly  sergeant;  George  Crahtree, 
<ieorge  Lanuiue,  and  .Iose[)h  Coloster,  duty  sergeants.  Privates:  E.  Bier- 
naissc.  Thorn  IS  li.  Blair,  .Jolm  C.  t'nx,  Joseph  Despart,  (.'aleh  M.  (irover, 
Isa.iah  Math<  \.  .John  Pica  d,  Wiiliani  IMiilip,  Henry  liiirden,  Silas  P.  Pugh, 
Isaiie  Wood.  \nel  Fowler  Andrew  Hubert,  Daniel  Herren,  Xavier  Plante, 
VitoUe  Bergi  ron.  Tliere  i<  a  rei)etition  of  tlie  same  names  in  two  or  more 
companies  Jiere  given,  fro  n  whieh  it  a)ii>ears  that  men  and  ollieers  were 
fre(|iiently  transferred.  Bat  as  the  itill-  were  thus  pul)lished  hy  .].  Henry 
Brown  from  the  originals,  1  let  them  stand.  They  apjieared  first  in  the 
Salfin  Mercry^  and  were  copied  into  the  Alhitni/  Utatc  Rujlits  Democrat,  Nov. 
•J  iMid  'J,  iS7'    and  AMdiiil  Tidiinjs,  of  same  date. 

''Or.  ArctUves,  MS.,  ll-i. 


'1       I 


704 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


were  killed,  and  one  wounded.  On  the  following  morn- 
ing, while  a  detachment  was  going  some  distance  from 
the  fort  to  bring  in  a  friendly  chief,  Seletza,  who  had 
been  robbed  for  refusing  to  join  in  the  hostilities,  sixty 
Indian  horses  were  captured— a  reprisal  which  hardly 
offset  the  loss  of  so  much  beef  in  a  country  destitute 
of  provisions. 

On  hearing  of  Major  Lee's  first  brush  with  the 
enemy,  the  governor  wrote  Colonel  Gilliam,  January 
2Gth,  to  select  some  of  his  best  men  and  horses,  and 
make  a  reconnoissance  in  the  neiiihborhod  of  Dcs 
Chutes  River.  "  It  will  require  great  caution  on  3''our 
part,"  he  said,  "as  commander-in-chief  in  the  field,  to 
distinguish  between  friends  and  foes ;  but  when  you 
are  certain  that  they  are  enemies,  let  them  know  the 
Americans  are  not  women,"  But  (xilliam  was  not  a 
commander  to  need  promptings  of  this  kind.  He 
meant  to  show  the  natives  that  Americans  could  figlit 
when  disembarrassed  of  their  wives,  children,  and 
herds. 

On  arriving  at  the  Dalles,  he  led  a  hundred  and 
thirty  men  to  the  east  side  of  Des  Chutes  River, 
where  Major  Lee  was  sent  forward  with  a  small  de- 
tachment to  discover  the  whereabouts  of  the  enemy, 
a  camp  being  found  located  about  twenty  miles  above 
the  crossing,  but  moving  toward  the  mountains,  with 
their  families  and  property.  Lee  at  once  charged  them, 
killing  one  man  and  capturing  two  women  and  a 
number  of  horses.  Returning  to  camp,  he  was  over- 
takcji  in  a  narrow  canon  by  a  well-armed  and  mounted 
force,  who  opened  fire,  obliging  them  to  dismount,  and 
shelter  themselves  among  the  rocks  and  bushes  of  the 
ravine,  where  the  savages  annoyed  them  until  dark 
by  rolling  heavy  stones  down  upon  them.  On  the 
following  day  Gilliam  atta-cked  the  natives  with  his 
whole  company,  killing  a,  number  and  taking  forty 
horses,  a  few  cattle,  and  about  $1,400  worth  of  other 
pj-opertv  which  had  been  stolen.  Skirmishing  con- 
tinued Tor  several  davs,  during  which  time  three  men 


SKIRMISHINO. 


706 


were  killed,  and  one  wounded  so  that  he  died  subse- 
quently at  Vancouver.'* 

In  the  mean  time  the  governor's  policy  witii  regard 
to  fighting  suddenly  underwent  a  change,  for  on  the 
'27th  we  find  him  instructing  Lee,  at  every  opportunity, 
to  assure  the  Indians  that  all  the  Americans  want  of 
them  is  to  give  up  the  murderers,  and  Ihat  they  wish 
to  be  at  peace  with  all  the  other  tribes.  At  the  same 
time  he  informed  him  that  he  thought  of  appointing 
the  three  commissioners  authorized  l>v  the  lesxislature, 
who  should  repair  to  Walla  Walla  for  the  purpose 
of  holding  a  council  with  the  various  tribes  of  the 
Columbia,  to  prevent  if  possible  a  coalition  between 
them  and  the  Cayuses;  and  tluit  he  had  selected  Joel 
Palmer,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  Robert 
Newell,  well  known  to  the  Xez  Perces  and  C^ayuses, 
and  Major  Lee  himself,  who  under  White's  adminis- 
tration had  also  become  well  known  to  the  Indians. 

In  accordance  with  this  plan  of  action,  the  governor 
on  the  21)th  directed  Colonel  Gilliam  to  remain  at  the 
Dalles  until  the  commissioners,  with  the  last  of  the 
volunteer  companies,  should  arrive;  and  repeated  to 
liim  the  instructions  he  had  given  Lee  concerning  the 
assurances  to  be  made  to  the  Indians,  that  if  they 
would  give  up  the  murderers  and  restore  the  stolen 
property  the  volunteers  should  l)e  withdrawn.  On 
the  2d  of  February  commissions  were  issued  to 
Palmer,  Newell,  and  Lee,  and  the  former  two  imme- 
diately set  about  niaking  preparations  for  departure. 

Palmer,  being  ci^mmissary-general,  deputized  A.  E. 
Wait  and  James  Taj'lor,  of  Oregon  City,  to  take  cliarge 
of  tlie  commissary  and  quartermaster  depaitmeuts  in 
his   absence."     Knowing   the    impatient  character  of 


''M 


I  •il 


*  Alexander  McDonald  was  shot  by  the  giianl  whom  lio  apiiroached  in  a, 
manner  to  induce  the  helief  that  ho  was  an  Indian.  James  I'ackwood  and 
Jackson  were  shot  by  Indians  while  herding  horses  near  the  fort. 

"In  Ilia  directions  to  Wait,  Palmer  says:  'Tlie  troops  in  the  field  must  bo 
suppliLd  with  provisions  at  all  hazards. .  .If  a  supply  cannot  be  had  by  pur- 
chasing with  such  funds  as  are  at  the  disposal  of  the  departincnit,  a  resort 
must  bo  liad  to  levying  contributions  upon  the  citizens. .  .In  doing  this  you 
will  be  particular  in  not  reducing  the  amount  of  bread-stuffs  below  the  wants 
H1.ST.  Or.,  Vol.  1.    45 


706 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


Gilliam,  the  governor  urged  Palmer  to  use  all  possible 
despateh  to  I'each  the  J)alles  l)ef()re  tlie  eoloiu;!  should 
have  moved  from  that  plaee.  The  eommissiouer.s 
arrived  at  Fort  Lee  on  tlie  10th,  accon)[)aiiied  by  the 
connnands  of  McKay  and  ICnglish,  witli  the  cannon, 
which  McKay's  men  tran.s[H:rted  round  the  Cascades 
in  a  sev^ere  snow-storm,  wliicli  detained  botli  eom})anies 
at  the  upper  landing  all  day  of  tlie  Dth,  and  also  a 
party  of  three  Hudson's  Bay  men  bearing  despatches 
to  Fort  Walla  Walla. 

Colonel  Gilliam  received  a  letter  from  the  governor 
by  the  hand  of  Conunissioner  Palmer,  in  which  he 
was  informed  that  the  connnissitjuers  had  been  ordered 
to  lujld  a  council  with  the  field-ofheers  of  the  army, 
on  the  steps  necessary  to  be  taken  in  order  to  secure 
entire  unanimity  of  action.  If  the  colonel  thought 
best  to  juoceed  at  once  to  Waiilatpu  with  the  main 
army,  he  was  to  do  so,  and  to  select  a  favorable  point 
for  erecting  a  fort ;  wood,  water,  and  grass  being  requi- 
sites. In  case  of  the  tribes  combining  and  refusing 
to  comply  with  the  demand  to  give  up  the  nuirderers, 
the  field  was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  colonel,  who  was 
only  cautioned  to  respect  the  lives  and  property  of  all 
Indians  who  were  friendly. 

This  blowing  hot  and  blowing  cold,  and  final  leav- 
ing of  everything  in  Gilliam's  hands,  was  extremely 
perplexing  to  the  conunissioners,  who,  if  they  were  to 
effect  tlie  object  for  which  they  were  delegated,  must 
meet  the  natives  hi  council  before  the  army  was  upon 
them.     The  council  with  the  field-officers  took  place  on 

of  families.  You  should  have  at  least  40  daya'  rations  in  advance.  Call  upon 
the  citizena  through  the  medium  of  the  press,  or  handbilb,  or  both,  to  come 
forward  and  aid  us.  Now  i.-i  tlie  time  to  sliow  their  love  of  country,  their 
patriotism,  who  are  friends,  ami  who  are  foe  i.  There  are  hut  two  side  i,  for 
and  against:  there  can  l)e  no  half-way  place.' 

Writing  from  Vancouver,  on  his  way  up  the  Columbia,  ho  saj-s:  'I  luive 
bought  a  keg  of  powder  and  100  pounds  of  lialls  wliich  can  be  used  as  well  as 
lead.  Secure  all  tlie  ammuniton  you  can  and  forward  speedily.  Send  cannon, 
ball,  and  canister.  I  will  make  a  portage  for  the  cannon  at  tlie  Cascades,  aa  I 
go  up.  There  are  40  pounds  of  good  rille  powder  at  Timmon'a,  on  the  Colum- 
bia Slough,  opposite  this  fort.'  Such  was  the  multiplicity  of  cares  of  the 
chairman  of  the  peace  commission,  who,  wliile  delegated  to  negotiate  for 
peace,  was  preparing  for  war    Soo  Or.  Archivtn,  MS.,  117-18. 


VISIT  FROM  THE   YAKIMAS. 


707 


tlio  1  Ith,  l)ut  tlierc  was  not  tliat  unaiiiinitv  lor  whicli 
the  governor  liopt'd,  and  no  arrangement  was  ett'ectod. 
On  the  following  day  a  coniproniiso  was  made,  the 
colonel  allowing  the  connnissionei's  to  precede  him, 
aceompanit'd  hy  Major  Lee,  eajituins  .\rcKay  and 
Thom[)son,  Meek's  l)arty,  and  men  enough  to  make 
up  a  com[)any  of  one;  hun<h-ed.  Letters  were  written 
to  be  despatched  by  Jin  Indian  messengiu-  to  the 
Catholic  mission  on  tlu;  Umatilla,  to  Fort  Walla 
Walla,  and  to  the  Nvx  Perces,  that  they  might  be 
prepared  for  the  advent  of  the  army  as  well  as  of  the 
peace  commissioners.  The  latter  were  to  proceed  on 
the  morning  of  the  14th.  In  the  mean  time  the  old 
frontiei'  method  of  warfare  prevailed,  the  innocent  and 
the  guilty  being  shot  down  indiscriminately.'"  Xews 
was  received  on  the  l.'Uh  that  a  combination  had  been 
consunnnated  between  tlie  tribes  east  of  the  l\dles, 
which  information  determined  Gilliam  to  delay  no 
longer,  but  to  march  the  next  morning  with  three 
hundred  men  for  Waiilatpu,  leaving  Captain  W^illiams 
at  Fort  Lee  with  twenty-seven  men,  including  several 
sick." 

Before  the  commissioners  could  start  on  the  14tli 
tlie}'^  received  a  visit  from  two  Yakimas  who  came 
as  messengers  from  their  chiefs  to  learn  the  inten- 
tions of  the  Americans;  saying  that  the  Cayuses 
wished  them  to  join  the  murderers;  but  that  they 
had  had  no  quarrel  with  the  white  [)eople,  who  did 
not  pass  through  their  country.  It"  the  Americans 
desired  peace,  so  did  they.     In  this  friendly  mood  they 

'"I  learii  these  things  from  a  inemoraiKhim  kept  hy  Rohort  Xowell  <luriiig 
his  journey  to  and  from  Waiilatpu.  It  was  a  strictly  private  diary,  wliirli  his 
daugliter,  Mrs  Wardwell,  of  Lewiston,  Idalio,  allowed  mc  to  copy  in  1877. 
The  following  entry  is  touching  tliu  recklessness  of  the  volunteers:  'An 
Indian  was  shot  by  one  of  our  own  people,  H.  English,  wliile  out  hunting 
horses  to-day,  Feb.  ];?th,  a  most  shameful  tiling.' 

"Newell  says  in  his  J/('»/o;'((/»/((  that  Williams  pulled  down  the  mission 
barn  to  make  pickets  anmnd  the  houses.  Palmer,  in  a  letter  to  Wait,  says 
only  .3  men  were  left  at  F'ort  Gilliam  to  protect  the  property,  anil  3  to 
run  the  boats  from  the  Cascades  to  the  Dalles.  '  The  men  have  volunteered 
to  tight  Indians,  and  not  run  boats' — so  say  the  ofiicera.  Or.  Arch'wtn,  MS., 
12.3.  Tliese  bits  of  private  information  show  the  condition  of  the  army  more 
clearly  than  the  reports  of  officers. 


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708 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


were  encouraged  to  remain,  and   sent  back  to  their 
chiefs  with  a  few  trifling  presents. 

The  discipline  of  the  army  was  bad.  Several  of 
the  men  left  at  Fort  Lee  returned  to  tlie  Willamette 
because  they  were  not  permitted  to  fight  Indians; 
and  Captain  Ross  resigned  for  some  reason  equally 
foolish ;  ^^  while  much  disorder  prevailed  in  the  com- 
missary department;  and  annoying  jealousies  were 
indulged  in  by  some  who  had  not  provided  themselves 
with  private  stores.  In  spite  f)f  these  drawbacks,  tlie 
army  maintained  a  generally  cheerful  tone  and  prac- 
tised their  military  manoeuvres  with  increasing  dex- 
terity, as  they  moved  slowly  to  the  John  Day  River 
without  encountering  any  natives  either  hostile  or 
friendly — an  indication  of  enmity  in  Indian  tactics. 
On  the  18th,  at  the  upper  crossing  of  John  Day 
River,  it  became  apparent  that  a  camp  of  the  enemy 
had  left  that  place  the  previous  night,  as  the  newly 
opened  caches  demonstrated,  and  Major  Lee  was  oi-- 
dered  in  pursuit,  returning  at  midnight  without  having 
overtaken  them. 

On  the  2b  ^er  a  hard  day's  march,  the  wagons 
not  getting  camp  with  the  provisions  until  late 

in  the  night,  and  flour  being  scarce,  the  company  of 
Captain  Maxon  took  a  vote  on  the  propriety  of  turn- 
ing back  without  orders.  On  the  following  day  CoL .- 
nel  Gilliam  remained  in  camp,  and  after  a  military 
parade,  made  a  speech  to  the  army  upon  the  duties  of 
a  soldier  and  the  dishonor  of  deserting  the  cause  in 
which  tliey  were  enlisted,  promising  that  the  men  who 
had  first  moved  in  the  nmtiny  siiould  be  reniembered 
in  a  manner  befitting  their  conduct;  which  well-de- 
served reproof  had  the  effect  to  check  desertion, 
though  it  did  not  prevent  other  infractions  of  disci- 
pline, and  the  waste  of  annnunition  by  the  firing  of 
guns  in  camp. 

On  approaching  the  Cayuse  country  the  natives 
could  be  seen  moving  off"  toward  the  Blue  Mountains, 

^''NeuxU's  Memorandii,  MS.,  4. 


Ill 

lO 


'OS 
IS, 


DES  CHUTES  DEPUTATION. 


709 


taking  with  them  their  personal  effects  and  herds. 
This  condition  of  affairs,  although,  what  might  have 
been  expected,  was  the  occasion  of  discontent  among 
the  hungry  volunteers,  who  had  not  enlisted  simply 
to  march  after  a  retreating  foe ;  and  the  distance  from 
a  base  of  supplies  was  growing  daily  greater. 

But  at  length  on  the  23d,  while  the  army  was  at 
Willow  Creek,  a  deputation  of  thirteen  Des  Chutes  ap- 
peared, bearing  a  flag,  with  a  request  for  a  council.  The 
delegation  was  headed  by  a  chief  called  Sue,  who  gave 
as  a  reason  for  not  sooner  responding  to  the  invita- 
tion, that  the  volunteers  had  flred  on  his  people  and 
compelled  them  to  run  away.  He  professed  senti- 
ments of  friendship  for  the  Americans,  even  offering 
to  join  them  against  the  Cayuses.  It  was  agreed  that 
they  should  return  to  the  Dalles  and  tliere  await  the 
commissioners,  who  would  hold  a  general  council  with 
them  when  they  came  back  from  Waiilatpu. 

These  peace  measures  were  not  regarded  with  favor- 
able eyes  by  the  army,  who  were  anxious  to  avenge 
the  killing  of  Pack  wood  and  Jackson,  but  the  Indians 
were  allowed  to  depart  unmolested.  Before  leaving. 
Sue  presented  Captain  McKay  a  fine  horse  from  the 
principal  Des  Chutes  chief,  Welaptulekt,  who  also 
sent  word  to  Gilliam  that  he  would  bring  in  all  the 
pro[)erty  left  in  his  charge  by  immigrants,  and  all  that 
had  been  stolen  by  his  peo])le,  and  return  it  to  the 
colonel  at  tlie  Dalles,  if  that  would  make  them  friends, 
to  which  Gilliam  replied  that  such  a  course  would 
be  entirely  satisfactory.'^ 

On  the  mornino'  of  the  24th,  about  davlight,  a  mes- 
senger  arrived  from  the  Catholic  missionaries  among 
the  Yakimas,  to  inform  the  connnissioners  that  this 
people  had  decided  to  follow  their  advice,  and  would 
remain  at  jieace,  desiring  that  the  governor  of  Oregon 
be  informed  of  tlieir  decision  at  the  earliest  moment 
possible,  as  if  they  feared  to  trust  to  the  friendship  of 
the  militarv.      But  no  messaije  had  yet  come  from  the 

"  Report  "f  coinmiasioiiers,  in  Or.  Spfcttitw,  April  G,  1848, 


"\i; 


■IMI 


710 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


missionaries  among  the  Cayuses,  to  whom  a  letter  had 
been  sent"  on  the  20th. 

About  ten  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  24tli, 
while  the  army  was  on  tlie  march,  tlie  commissioners 
being  in  advance  with  a  flag,  two  Cayuse  spies  were 
discovered,  and  about  noon  a  large  force  came  in  sight 
making  signs  of  hostility ;  and  when  the  commissioners 
advanced  tliey  were  warned  to  keep  olf.  They  then 
returned  to  the  volunteers,  and  the  natives  began 
closing  in  on  all  sides  to  the  number  of  four  hundred, 
about  one  hundred  being  unarmed  spectators  and 
women.  Their  first  overt  act  was  the  si  looting  of  a 
dog  belonging  to  one  of  the  men.  Then  the  battle 
began. 

It  was  a  brave  sight,  the  gayly  dressed  warriors 
mounted  on  their  painted  coursers  galloping  over  the 
field,  and  the  hills  decorated  with  motionless  human 
bronzes.  The  vanity  of  a  native  is  his  most  dis- 
tinguishing trait.  Tliese  three  hundred  Cayuses  liad 
told  each  other,  and  believed  it  themselves,  that  they 
should  have  an  easy  conquest  of  the  Americans. 
"  We  will  beat  the  Americans  to  death  with  clubs, 
and  then  proceed  to  the  Willamette  and  take  the 
women,  and  all  their  property,"  said  these  boastful 
braves,^'  wlio  had  yet  the  art  of  war  to  learn.  They 
had  an  advantage  in  the  ground  chosen,  and  in  their 
general  acquaintance  witli  the  country,  and  had  they 
been  as  great  warriors  as  they  imagined,  must  easily 
have  beaten  the  invi>ders. 

But   the  volunteers    behaved  well,  considering    it 

"This  apparent  noglect  is  explained  l)y  Brouillet  in  Aiit/wnt-ic  Account,, 
69,  where  he  says  that  tlie  Cayuses  had  been  iokl  that  the  missionaries  wouhl 
remain  among  tliuni  as  long  as  they  were  at  peace,  but  would  retire  as  soon  as 
war  should  l)e  declared;  and  that  on  tlie  19th  of  Feb.  the  Cayuses  had  gone 
to  meet  the  Americans,  whereupon  the  priests  removed  to  Fort  VValla  Walhi  on 
the  20th.  Brouillet  also  says  that  Ogden  promised  the  Cayuses  to  endeavor 
to  prevent  a  war,  und  that  he  would  send  an  express  to  VValla  Walla  to  ap- 
prise them  of  the  result;  but  that  no  such  express  came  before  the  first  engage- 
ment, and  that  the  Indian.'!  suspected  Ogdeii  of  betraying  them.  '  Had  Ogden's 
letter  arrived  in  time, '  says  Brouillet,  '  it  would  probably  have  prevented  the 
engagement,  and  induced  the  Cayuses  to  accept  peace  upon  the  terms  offered 
by  the  government. ' 

'^C.  McKay,  in  Or.  ,"•■:   ■■tator,  March  23,  1848. 


m  . 


FIGHTING   EN  ROUTE. 


711 


was  their  j)urp()se  to  kill  as  many  as  pos.sihh.'.  Yet 
ill  Indian  battles,  excejit  where  there  is  a  surprise  and 
a  massacre,  few  are  killed,  for  the  Indian  fights  from 
behind  a  tree,  and  his  white  antauonist  usuallv  adoi)ts 
the  same  tactics.  Gilliam's  troops  extended  their 
lines  until  they  embraced  in  an  almost  complete  circle 
the  wagons  and  cattle,  advancing  and  fighting,  using 
every  caution  to  avoid  an  ambush.  The  cannon  was 
twice  discharged.  l)ut  owing  to  the  scattered  positions 
of  the  enemy,  proved  of  little  use,  and  the  rifie 
became  the  sole  dependence.  The  army  continued  to 
inarch  and  fisxht  until  sunset,  when  the  natives  with- 
drew  and  the  volunteers  encamped  beside  the  road 
without  wood  or  water,  having  had  at  last  a  chance 
to  do  something  besides  waiting  and  quarrelling  among 
themselves  or  complaining  of  their  commander.  The 
loss  on  the  side  of  the  Americans  was  five  wounded, 
one  dangerously ;  while  the  Cayuses  had  eight  killed, 
including  a  chief  called  Great  Eagle  and  a  medicine- 
man, and  one  severely  wounded — the  popular  chief 
Five  Crows,  whose  arm  was  shattered  by  a  ball  from 
the  rifie  of  Lieutenant  Charles  McKay  of  the  French 
company.  Newell,  in  remarking  upon  events  of  the 
day,  says  that  the  murderers  were  eager  for  battle, 
and  that  it  was  easy  to  distinguish  between  them  and 
those  who  had  no  personal  interest  in  the  fight,  and 
would  have  avoided  it  if  possible.*"  Divided  among 
themselves,  and  in  consternation  at  the  outcome  of 
the  battle,  the  fighting  next  day  was  cautious  and 
ineffectual. 

F'or  two  davs  the  men  were  without  water,  and  with 
little  to  eat,  harassed  continually  by  the  enemy  kec})- 
ing  on  a  parallel  line  of  march.  Some  of  the  Cayuses 
approached  near  enough  to  intimate  their  desire  to 
hold  a  council  with  the  commissioners,  but  they  were 
told  that  no  interruption  could  be  allowed  the  move- 
ments of  the  army  until  water  was  found.  On  the 
night  of  the  25th  the  volunteers  encamped  on  the' 

^^  Memoranda,  MS.,  8. 


_.,a:t 


712 


THE  CAY  USE   WAR. 


west  bank  of  the  Umatilla  River,  of  which  the  enemy 
ill  the  begimiiiig  had  boastfully  said  the  Americans 
should  never  drink ;  and  notwithstanding  the  overtures 
for  a  council,  some  of  tiie  horses  were  stolen  during 
the  night. 

Crossing  the  Umatilla  on  the  2(;th,  Gilliam  marched 
to  within  three  miles  of  the  Cay  use  camp,  wJiere 
he  remained  until  the  forenoon  of  the  27th.  While 
moving,  and  in  camp,  the  Indians  swarmed  all  along 
the  hills,  the  main  body  .showing  a  determination  to 
continue  hostilities.  From  those  who  apj)roached  the 
volunteer  camp  the  commissioners  learned  that  their 
messenger  to  the  Nez  Perces  had  been  robbed  and 
sent  back  by  the  Cayuses,  and  they  immediately 
despatched  another. 

The  correspondence  of  the  Cay  use  war  is  one  of 
its  peculiar  features.  Governor  Abernethy  had  pre- 
pared a  communication  to  be  presented  to  the  Nez 
Perces  and  other  tribes  to  prevent  a  coalition  with 
the'  Cayuses.  In  it  he  had  begun  with  their  first 
intercourse  with  white  people,  reminding  them  that 
they  had  invited  and  encouraged  them  to  reside  in 
their  (ountry  and  that  their  white  friends  had  earnestly 
labored  to  do  them  good,  but  had  been  rewarded  with 
death.  Many  Americans,  he  said,  had  passed  through 
their  country  to  the  Willamette,  at  first  without 
molestation  but  latterly  had  been  robbed  and  assaulted. 
The  Cayuses  had  accused  Whitman  of  jjoisoning  them, 
when  they  could  see  that  the  white  people  as  well  as 
the  Indians  died  of  a  disease  sent  by  tlie  Creator. 
The  hearts  of  the  white  people  bled  because  of  what 
liatl  been  done  at  Waiilatpu.  It  could  not  be  passed 
by  The  murderers  and  ravishers  must  be  given  up 
to  be  punished,  and  peace  would  then  be  restored; 
but  all  who  sheltered  or  assisted  the  criminals  would 
be  accounted  equally  guilty,  and  be  subject  to  the 
wrath  of  the  great  white  race,  compared  with  which 
they,  the  tribes  of  Oregon,  were  but  a  handful.     Should 


THE  NEIGHBORING  TRIBES. 


713 


)r. 
at 

3d 

»P 
d; 
Id 
Hie 
•h 
Id 


thoy  not  take  his  advice  and  give  up  the  guilty  Cayuses, 
the  Great  Chief  of  the  Americans  would  send  his 
war-chiefs,  and  they  would  all  be  punislied  until  they 
were  glad  to  capitulate.  He  warnetl  them  that  he 
had  sent  the  new.s  of  the  massacre  to  California,  and 
asked  for  war  ships  to  be  stationed  in  tlie  Columbia, 
and  that  other  means  \vould  be  used  for  their  chas- 
tisement should  they  not  conclude  to  accept  peace  on 
his  terms;  but  that  should  they  consent  he  would 
proniisc  to  protect  them. 

A  letter  was  also  prepared  by  Spalding,  addressed 
to  the  Nez  Percds,  counselling  them  to  reniain  at 
peace.''  It  was  anticipated,  when  these  connnunica- 
tions  were  prepared,  that  the  commissioners  would 
be  able  first  of  all  to  hold  a  council  with  the  Nez 
Perces,  friendly  Cayuses,  and  Walla  Wallas ;  but  the 
vacillating  course  of  the  governor  in  authorizing 
Gilliam  to  advance  on  Waiilatpu  should  he  think 
best,  when  he  knew  that  every  instinct  of  the  com- 
mand'^r  was  for  fighting,  had  defeated  that  expecta- 
tion; hence  the  preparation  of  other  letters  to  be 
forwarded,  as  before  luentioned,  from  John  Day  River 
on  the  20th. 

Spalding's  letter,  and  one  addressed  by  Gilliam  to 
Vicar-general  Brouillet  requesting  him  to  furnish  the 
facts  concerning  the  part  he  had  taken  in  the  events 

"  Spalding's  letter  is  a  curiosity,  and  of  value  as  a  specimen  of  the  literary 
style  of  the  Nez  Perc^  school,  rather  than  for  its  importaiiue  to  the  history  of  the 
country.  It  was  written  in  Roman  letters  sis  follows:  '  Willariette,  Feb.  3,  1848 
— Nez  Perce  Chiefs:  My  Friends,  Ellis,  Kancoot,  James,  Yuainiuialkin,  Luke, 
Jacob,  Pucatash,  Yamohmohnim,  Yiiintamilkin: — quick,  meet  them;  with 
these  ilags  meet  them.  From  us,  from  the  Americans,  live  go  to  meet  you: 
Mr  Palmer,  Dr  Newell,  Mr  McKay,  Mr  Leo,  and  Mr  Gilliam.  These  meet 
you,  with  good  hearts  they  meet  you.  They  bear  a  message  from  the  great 
chief,  they  bear  it;  tlierefore  they  call  you  to  meet  them.  Keep  quiet  yo 
young  men;  do  not  go  over  to  the  Cayuses.  Wait  till  these  speak  closely 
with  you.  The  good  are  not  to  be  punislied;  only  the  bad  are  to  be  punishecl. 
The  Nez  Perces,  the  Americans  are  one,  therefore  do  you  not  depart  from  us. 
Very  many  Americana  are  going  to  seek  the  l)ad  Cayuses,  and  the  bad  only. 
There  will  soon  be  large  ships  fi'oni  California;  therefore  they  offer  to  you  a 
proposal  of  peace.  They  send  you  tobacco,  therefore  meet  them  without 
delay.  My  youngest  child  is  sick,  therefore  I  cannot  meet  you.  \Vlien  he  is 
well,  I  will  see  you,  by  the  blessing  of  God.  Ever  make  your.selves  good 
hearts.  By  tlie  blessing  of  God,  may  wc  sec  each  other.  H.  11.  Sl'ALDiNO.' 
Or.  Archk-ts.,  MS.,  120. 


'I 


714 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


preceding  and  succeeding  the  massacre  ^^ — a  precaution 
wliich  did  him  honor,  considering  the  feehng  with 
whicli  the  volunteers  iiad  been  inspired  concerning 
the  priest — were  ench)sed  in  a  packet  addressed  to 
McBean  at  Fort  Walla  Walla,  and  intrusted  to  a 
native  named  Elijah,  who  professed  to  be  a  Nez 
Percd,  and  who  had  accompanied  the  volunteers  from 
Oregon  City.  Elijah,  however,  unfortunately  or  de- 
signedly, fell  in  with  the  Cayuses  before  reaching 
Walla  Walla,  and  had  taken  from  him,  by  Tauitau, 
his  packet  and  the  presents  of  a  flag  and  some  tobacco 
which  the  connnissioners  had  sent  to  the  Nez  Perces. 
But  Tauitau,  not  daring  to  keep  the  packet,  which 
was  addressed  to  McBean,  sent  it  to  the  fort,  though 
he  intercepted  and  destroyed  the  answer,'" 

The  letter  of  the  commissioners  to  McBean  was  an 
explanation  of  the  presence  of  an  army  in  the  country, 
and  an  assurance  that  it  was  not  with  the  purpose  of 
bringing  on  a  general  war,  but  to  secure  the  punish- 
ment of  the  Cayuse  murderers,  and  if  possible  to  pre- 
vent the  other  tribes  from  joining  with  them.  "  We 
do  not  expect  you,"  they  said,  "to  take  part  in  the 
matter  so  as  to  implicate  you,  but  if  possible  to  facili- 
tate our  movements  to  restore  tranquillity ; "  and  he 
was  asked  to  apprise  them  of  the  disposition  of  the 
Nez  Perces,  Walla  Wallas,  and  other  Indians.  There 
were  some  additional  items  of  news,  with  an  expres- 
si(m  of  anxiety  lest  the  Catholic  mission  and  the  fort 
itself  should  be  in  danger,  and  the  offer  of  a  detach- 
ment to  guard  the  latter  if  necessary.^"  The  answer, 
as  I  have  said,  was  destroyed  by  Tauitau,  and  the 
commissioners  remained  in  doubt.  Tn  the  mean  time, 
it  happened  that  Timothy  and  R'  J  Wolf,  two  Nez 
Perce  chiefs,  arrived  at  the  fort  sim  iltaneously  with 
Tauitau's  messenger,  and  to  them  the  letter  of  Spald- 
ing was  given  to  be  conveyed  at  once  as  addressed ; 

'^ Brouillet's  reply  is  the  basis  of  his  Authentic  Account,  which  see  at  pages 
48-r)(),  91. 

'•Report  of  the  commissioners,  in  Or.  Spectator,  April  G,  1848. 
■">0r.  Archives.,  MS.,  125-8 


THE  ARMY  AT  WjSLLA  WALLA 


SO  that  excepting  the  failure  of  MeBean's  answer  to 
reach  its  destination,  no  serious  interruption  of  the 
correspondence  occurred.  This  was  the  position  of 
affairs  when  the  army  reached  the  UMiatilla. 

On  the  27th  the  regiment  moved  to  the  Columbia, 
the  savages  having  all  disappeared  during  the  night; 
which  movement  signified  determined  war.  To  tliosc 
who  had  asked  for  a  council  during  tlie  encampment 
on  the  Umatilla,  it  had  been  answered  that  they  must 
come  to  Waiilatpu  where  the  Nez  Perces  were  ex- 
pected, though  in  truth  nothing  was  yet  known  of  the 
disposition  of  the  Nez  Perces,  which  want  of  informa- 
tion was  the  principal  reason  for  deferring  the  meet- 
ing with  this  portion  of  the  Cayuses, 

On  the  evening  of  the  28tli  camp  was  made  near 
Fort  Walla  Walla.  Colonel  Gilliam,  with  Palmer 
and  Newell,  spent  the  night  within  its  walls,  taking 
council  with  McBcan,  whose  despatches  from  Van- 
couver, having  reached  him  at  the  same  time,  might 
be  supposed  to  express  the  sentiments  entertained  at 
headquarters.  It  was  his  opinion  that  with  good 
management  a  war  could  be  avoided,'"'  That  the 
company  should  so  desire  was  to  be  expected.  Never- 
theless two  kegs  of  powder  W'ere  obtained,  to  be  used 
if  necessary. 

Gilliam  had  an  opportunity  while  at  the  fort  of 
discussing  the  question  of  complicity  with  the  Catholic 
priests,  and  appeared  to  have  been  satisfied,  as  nothing 
further  was  said  in  that  quarter  of  the  charges  against 
them.^"     He    moved  six    miles  up  the  Walla  Walla 


'^^ NewelVs  Memoranda,  ~MH.,  10. 

^*  There  was  a  letter  written  l)y  B.  Jennings  from  Fort  Lee,  more  often 
called  Fort  Waseopam  in  the  correspondence  of  the  volunteers,  stating  that 
Seletza,  the  Dalles  chief,  alleged  tliat  the  priests  at  \Valla  Walla  liad  made 
shields  for  tlie  Cayuses,  from  which  circumstance  the  Cayuses  flattered  them- 
selves they  were  invulnerable,  and  intended  marching  through  the  country  of 
the  Sklos,  who  are  probably  a  branch  of  the  Yakiuias,  from  the  name  of  one  of 
the  Yakima  chiefs,  Skloom,  to  punish  them  for  their  neutrality,  and  thence 
down  the  north  side  of  the  Columbia  to  tlie  Willamette  settlements.  The  letter 
was  dated  February  28th,  and  addressed  to  A.  E.  W^ait.  The  same  writer 
mentioned  that,  as  acting  quartermaster,  he  was  daily  importuned  for  ammu- 


716 


THE  CAY  USE  WAR. 


River  on  the  20th,  and  encamped  near  the  camp  of 
Peupeumoxmox,  wlio  made  })r()fessions  of  frieiKlxhi}) 
for  the  Americans,  and  sold  them  some  heef  cattle. 
During  the  night  tliere  was  an  alarm  of  Indians,  but 
none  could  be  discoveretl  until  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
next  day's  maich  the  smoke  of  their  fires  could  be 
discerned  in  the  direction  of  Waidatpu. 

On  th )  2d  of  March  the  volunteers  encamped  near 
the  mission,  when  Gilliam  took  two  comj)anies  and 
visited  the  scene  of  the  massacre,  finding  that  the 
houses  had  been  burned,  and  all  the  property  carried 
oif  or  destroyed.  Wagons  and  everything  movable 
had  been  cast  into  the  fire,  and  nothing  remained  but 
a  heap  of  adobes,  broken  china,  glass,  pottery,  and 
warped  iron,  while  books,  letters,  and  many  lighter 
articles  were  scattered  about  ""^  the  enclosure,  and  tiie 
orchard  trees  were  hacked  or  cut  down.  Horror  was 
added  to  desolation,  for  strewn  over  the  ground  were 
the  mutilated  remains  of  the  victims  of  the  massacre, 
which  had  been  disinterred  by  wolves.'-^* 

This  spectacle  evidently  hardened  the  heart  of  the 
impulsive  connnander  against  peace  commissions,  and 
he  returned  in  an  impatient  mood  to  camp,  after  re- 


sol 


nition,  the  frieniily  natives  pretending  to  be  afraid  of  the  Cayuses;  and  if 
refused,  they  then  wanted  a  pass  to  go  to  Vaneouver,  in  all  i)robal)ility  to 
purcliase  powder  and  hall,  from  wliich  circumstances  he  feared  their  intentions 
were  not  gotxl.  'ihere  were  no  means  of  ascertaining  the  trutli  of  an  Indian 
report,  which  hail  always  to  he  received  with  caution.  See  Or.  Archives,  MS., 
132. 

'•'^  Among  tiie  letters  were  some  which  showed  that  Wliitman  had  been 
aware  of  his  danger.  Joel  Palmer,  in  Bronillrt's  Aut/iciillc  Account,  21. 

''^  A  tress  of  Mrs  Whitman's  hair  is  preserved  among  the  relics  in  the  Ore- 
gon arcliives  at  Salem.  Ncwdl'n  Moiionimla,  MS.,  11;  Victor's  Iticer  of  tlva 
Wcitt,  4.'!.S.  There  is  also  in  the  state  archives  a  tomahawk  said  to  have  been 
the  one  used  by  Tamahas  in  killing  Whitman.  When  Tamahas  was  about  to 
be  executed,  it  is  said  he  gave  the  hatchet  to  Stffck  Whitley,  a  chief  of  the 
l)es  Cliutes,  whose  family  presented  it  to  J)oaald  McKay,  who  in  turn  gave 
it  to  William  Logan,  Indian  agent  at  Warm  Springs  in  18'J4.  It  'vas  exhibited 
by  Logan  at  a  sanitary  fair  during  the  civil  war,  and  finally  prij.sented  to  the 
state.  It  is  not  probable,  however,  that  Tamahas  would  give  a  keepsake  to 
a  Des  Chutes  chief  when  the  tribe  had  refused  to  assist  the  guilty  I'ayuses. 
Another  and  more  probable  story  is  that  Tamahas  used  a  hatchet  obtained  by 
Tiloukaikt  of  the  (Jros  Ventres  in  183.3,  and  that  he  presented  it  to  Five  Crows 
a  few  years  afterward.  This  fact,  if  established,  would  go  to  show  that  Five 
Crows  was  fully  apprised  of  the  inteutiou  of  the  Walla  Walla  (Jayusea.  See 
Portland  Oreijoniaii,  !March  9,  18G5. 


MEEK'S   PARTY. 


717 


solving  to  niako  lii.s  hcarlquartcrs  anionf.;  tlio  ruins,  to 
wliicli  place  ho  removed  on  the  3(1.  Thiii  settled,  a 
detachment  of  a  hundred  was  sent  to  escort  Meek's 
party  of  seven  to  the  foot  of  the  Blue  Mountains, 
whence  they  were  to  make  their  way,  ])rotected  by 
their  Hudson's  Bay  cap  and  capote,  and  their  own 
strength  and  sagacity,  to  the  frontier  of  the  United 
States.*^  Three  months  had  elapsed  since  the  tra<jfedy 
of  Waiilatpu,  and  as  yet  they  had  not  been  able  to 
send  the  intelligence  beyond  the  silver-rimmed  moun- 
tain ranges  which  cut  oif  the  Oregon  colony  from  the 
inhabited  world.  In  how  great  a  degree  the  present 
attempt  was  successful  will  be  related  in  a  future 
chapter. 


26 


Amidst  rumors  that  the  Nez  Perces  were  on  their 
way  to  join  the  Cayuses,  and  the  assurances  of  Stie- 
cas  that,  while  pretending  friendship  himself,  his  people 
were  expecting  war,  the  pei  ce  commissicmers  made 
efforts  to  hold  a  preliminary  council  with  such  of  the 
Cayuses  as  professed  to  be  friendly,  they  being  almost 
altogether  of  the  poorer  and  less  influential  class.  But 
the  commander  frowned  on  'peace  talk,'  and  expended 
his  energies  on  a  fortress  constructed  of  the  adobes 
of  the  demolished  mission  buildings  which  was  named 
Fort  Waters  for  the  lieutenant-colonel.'"  While  many 
of  the  officers  were  willing  to  leave  the  commissioners 
free  to  accomplish  what  they  could,  Gilliam  opposed  his 
opinion  and  authority  to  this  unmilitary  sentiment,  and 
threatened  to  march  to  battle  on  the  morning  of  the 
6th,  the  very  day  on  which  the  Xez  Perces,  two  hun- 


I*; 


^*Mcek  was  accompanied  from  Waiilatim  only  by  his  old  comrade  of 
mountain  days,  (r.  W.  Ehl)erts,  and  liy  Jolin  Owens,  Nathaniel  Bowman, 
J;imos  Steel,  Suniuel  Miller,  .Taeob  Lcalio,  Dennis  Buris,  David  Young, 
Broiriia  Minrcllmi!/,  MS.,  '2'2.  Tlie  party  being  too  small  to  be  safe,  Gilliam 
ordered  an  escort  to  talvc  them  bjyond  the  t'ayuse  country. 

'■'"From  a  letter  of  Abernethy's  I  gather  that  he  liad  some  hope  that  Meek 
miglit  meet  the  0rej.;on  regiment,  so  unicii  talked  al>out  in  congress,  near  Fort 
Hall,  if  peace  should  have  been  concluded  with  Mexico,  (/r.  A  rchircH,  MS., 
108-9. 

^'  Newell  says:  '  Colonel  Gilliam  L^ft  the  council  in  a  luitf,  and  declared  he 
had  come  to  light,  and  light  ho  would,'  Memoranda,  MS.,  12. 


718 


THE  CAY  USE   WAR. 


(Irod  and  fifty  stroiiiL^,  under  Crait^  and  OervaiH,  liad 
appointed  to  nit'«'t  tlicni  in  council  at  \Vaiilat[)U.  No 
unity  and  little  diseipliuu  existed  in  the  army,  becauHe, 
as  Newell  said,  hohio  uien  had  joined  it  from  motives 
of  patiiotism,  otlun's  for  |)oj)ula)'ity,  a  certain  [)ortion 
for  ]»lund(>r,  and  the  course  taken  by  the  conunander 
was  not  i)\\o  U)  consolidate  factions.  (William  did  not, 
however,  attempt  to  load  tlu;  volunteers  aj^ainst  the 
Cayusos  l)efor(!  the  council,  as  ho  had  threatened.  The 
Noz  Porees  arrivixl  ahout  noon  on  the  Otli.  and  were 
received  hv  the  army  with  cheers.  On  the  7th  the 
council  o[)ened  with  the  usual  ceremony  of  smoki;i<]f 
the  calumet  of  peace.  The  letter  of  (jr»)vernor  Aher- 
uethy  was  then  given  to  the  chiefs,  who  hroke  the 
seal  with  much  c^^re,  but  beinj^  unable  to  read  it,  the 
contents  W(>re  delivered  throuiifh  an  interpreter,  while 
tiiey  listened  with  close  attention.  Ellis,  the  hcai! 
chief  of  the  Nez  Perces,  being  absent,  the  first  speech 
in  reply  was  made  by  Joseph,  next  in  authority,  a  half- 
brother  of  Five  Crows,  on  the  mother's  side,  and  like 
Five  (^rows  a  professed  ]?rotestant,  but  who,  on  hear- 
ing of  the  Cayuse  outbreak,  had  been  the  first  to 
withdraw  h  countenance  from  the  missionaries  and 
to  join  in  the  plunder  of  their  houses.  Said  Joseph: 
"Now  I  show  my  heart.  When  I  left  my  home  I 
took  the  book  (the  gospels  in  the  Nez  Perce  language) 
in  my  hand,  and  brought  it  with  me.  It  is  my  light. 
I  heard  tlie  Americans  were  cominiif  to  kill  me;  still 
1  held  my  book  before  me,  and  came  on.  I  have 
heard  the  words  of  your  chief  I  speak  for  all  the 
Cayuses  present,  and  all  my  people.  I  do  not  want 
my  children  engaged  in  this  war,  although  my  brother 
is  wounded.  You  speak  of  the  murderers.  I  shall 
not  meddle  with  them.  I  bow  my  head.  This  much 
I  speak." 

Jac(/b,  the  chief,  who  was  wont  to  practise  upon 
the  superstitions  of  the  people  to  advance  his  personal 
popularity,  as  elsewhere  mentioned,  said:  "It  is  the 
law  of  this  country  that  the  murderer  shall  die.     That 


law 
law 
wa\ 
bre 
and 


.Si'KEC'HES  OF  THE  IH1EF8. 


719 


law  I  keep  in  my  lienrt,  bccnusc  I  believe  it  is  the 
law  of  ({()(!  the  iijst  law."  lie  also  lia<l  lieard,  ;;:i  tho 
way,  that  tlic!  Aincricaiis  were  coiuiiin-  to  kill  all  his 
bretlircui,  but  he  was  not  tunicd  hack  by  tlu^  n'[)(nt, 
and  wajs  thankful  for  tho  ^ood  letti'i'  of  the  j^^ovfinor. 

Tlien  H|)<)k(!  Tanu^s,  tho  Catholic  Noz  Perce,  and 
expressed  his  pleasure  that  Spaldinjj^  had  escaped,  and 
his  conviction  that  all  the  chiefs  priscnt  desii'ed  j)eaco. 
lied  Wolf  declared  that  when  lie  heanl  of  the;  mas- 
sacre he  wont  to  Waiilat[»;;  +■>  discovtT  the  truth  con- 
<'crning  the  cons[)iracy,  and  hi  been  told  by  Tauitau 
that  not  all  the  chiefs  were  <j;"iiUy,  bat  that  the  vouui; 
men  had  connnitte<l  tho  r  urde/s.  W;'!i(»ut  sKej)ing 
lie  returned  and  reported  .o  Spaldi"  ,'  \vhat  chiefs  were 
engaged  in  killing  the  Amcricins,  and  Spalding  had 
said:  "  I  go  to  the  WiDamrUe  and  will  say,  'The  Nez 
Forces  have  savca  my  lite,'  aud  I  will  go  to  the  Wil- 
lamette and  save  yours;"  since  whicli  time  they  had 
ail  been  waiting  to  jiear  from  the  governor. 

Timothy  was  more  reserved.  He  said :  "  Yoxi  hoar 
these  chiefs,  they  8|)eak  for  all.  I  am  as  one  in  the 
air;  I  do  not  meddle  with  these  things;  tho  chiefs 
speak,  wo  are  all  of  tho  same  mind,"  Richard,  who 
accompanied  Whitman  to  the  States  in  18,'35,  was 
thankful  that  tho  governor  had  spoken  so  kindly.  His 
people  would  not  go  to  war.  They  had  been  taught 
by  their  old  chief,  Cut-noso,  to  take  no  bad  advice,  but 
to  cling  to  the  good.  Ellis  was  in  tho  butlalo  country ; 
but  ho  was  sure  that  his  counsel  would  bo  for  peace. 

Kentuck,  who  had  escorted  Parker  through  tho 
Salmon  River  country  when  he  came  to  explore  for 
mission  stations,  followed  with  an  address.  Ho  said 
ho  had  boon  much  with  the  Americans  and  French, 
and  that  none  of  them  could  say  anything  disparaging 
of  his  character.  Ho  had  fought  with  the  Anuu'icans 
against  the  Blaci.foot.  He  had  been  with  Fremont 
in  California  the  previous  summer,  not  for  pay,  but 
from  friendship  toward  the  Americans."'^     It  had  boon 

''^  In  reality  to  avenge  Elijah's  death. 


I 


ir 


720 


THE  CAYUSE   WAR. 


said  that  he  was  with  the  Cayuses  and  concerned  in 
the  murders,  but  such  was  not  the  fact.  His  people 
had  never  shed  the  blood  of  Americans;  and  he  was 
glad  to  learn  that  they  only  demanded  the  guilty  for 
punishment.'"'^ 

Camaspclo,  the  only  Cayuse  chief  who  was  present, 
acknowledged  that  his  people  had  two  hearts,  and  that 
Tamsucky  had  consulted  him  on  the  subject  of  the 
massacre  before  it  was  committed.  He  had  refused  to 
have  anything  to  do  with  it,  but  had  pointed  to  his 
sick  child,  and  answered  that  his  heart  was  there,  and 
not  bent  on  murder;  but  nevertheless  Tamsucky  had 
gone  back  to  the  other  chiefs  and  told  them  that  Camas- 
pelo  consented.  Camaspelo  might  have  said  further 
that  at  that  very  time  Whitman  had  ridden  forty  miles 
to  visit  his  sick  child,  and  yet  the  chief  had  not  warned 
him  of  danger.  But  the  commissioners  were  more 
intent  on  peace  than  on  an  examination  of  Indian 
evidence.  They  were  satisfied  to  be  told  that  some 
of  the  Cayuses  would  not  attem])t  to  screen  the  mur- 
derers, let  their  motives  for  neutrality  be  what  they 
might. 

Superintendent  Palmer  then  addressed  the  council. 
He  praised  the  Nez  Perces  for  their  reasonableness, 
and  took  occasion  to  give  them  a  motive  for  continuing 
friendly  by  saying  that*  the  Cayuses  by  their  conduct 
had  forfeited  their  lands.  At  the  same  time  he  de- 
clared that  the  land  was  ntjt  wanted  by  Americans, 
who  asked  nothing  more  than  that  the  road  should  be 
kept  open  for  their  countrymen  tt)  pass  through  to  the 
Willamette  Valley,  which,  he  added,  nmst  l)o  done. 
For  this  purpose  a  fort  would  be  built,  and  a  force 
stationed  at  Waiilatpu.  For  the  Cayuses  to  oppose 
this  demand  would  be  futile.  If  they  were  wise  they 
would  assist  in  discovering  the  criminals  in  order  that 
the  innocent  miirht  be  no  lonsfer  involved  in  the  trou- 
bles  that  threatened.  The  Nez  Perces  were  advised 
to  return  to  their  home  and  their  planting;  and  as  an 

»0/-.  Spectnfor,  April  20,  1848-  Orai/'n  Hist.  Or.,  5C2-4. 


PROPERTY  RETURNED. 


721 


earnest  of  good  faitli  on  both  sides,  William  Craig  as 
agent  should  accompany  and  reside  amongst  them,^'^ 
with  authority  to  settle  all  disputes.  A  school-teacher 
and  a  blacksmith  were  promised  them  as  soon  as  peace 
should  be  restored,  with  the  assurance  that  no  other 
white  man  should  settle  on  their  lands  without  their 
consent;  but  they  were  warned  not  to  interfere  with 
the  missionaries  still  at  Chemakane,  nor  to  molest 
immigrants  or  travellers  as  they  passed  through  tlie 
country,  or  Americans  coming  among  them  to  trade, 
to  all  of  which  they  readily  agreed.  After  addresses 
by  other  commissioners  and  Colonel  Gilliam,  tobacco 
was  distributed  and  an  American  flag  presented ;  this 
was  followed  by  an  entertainment  in  the  evening,  at 
which  the  Indians  exhibited  the  war-dance. 


Ii 
■V. 


All  this  talk  was  an  irritation  to  Gilliam,  who  beheld 
the  guilty  Cayuses  slipping  through  his  fingers  and 
moving  off  toward  the  Nez  Perce  country  while  he  was 
forced  to  confer  with  their  relatives,  lingering  only 
near  enough  to  get  news  of  what  transpired  at  tiie 
council,  but  ready  to  elude  him  when  he  should  move. 
On  the  8th  the  Nez  Perces  were  permitted  to  visit 
the  Cayuse  carmp  twenty-five  miles  away,  in  the  hope 
that  when  they  learned  the  result  of  the  council  they 
might  be  induced  to  surrender  the  nmrderers,  and  on 
the  9th  the  army  began  to  move  in  that  direction. 
After  advancing  a  few  miles  towards  the  crossing  of 
the  Touchet,  they  were  met  by  Sticcas,  coming  from 
the  Cayuse  camp  with  several  hundred  dollars'  wortli 
of  mission  and  emigrant  jjroperty  and  money,  which 
was  given  up  in  the  hope  of  winning  a  favorable 
opinion  for  those  who  consented  to  its  restoration. 

Sticcas  wished  to  hold  a  council,  to  which  request 
Gilliam  objected,  believing  it^to  be  merely  an  artifice 
to  gain  time ;  but  as  two  of  the  connnissioners  present 

"*  Craig  was  appointed  agent  Marcii  10th,  and  went  to  take  charge  of  tliO 
mission  property  at  Lapwai,  and  to  render  'all  the  assistance  in  Iiin  power  '  to 
tlie  Nez  Perci'a.   O;-.  ,1  ,r///'/r,s,  MS.,  i;};). 
Mist.  Or.,  Vol.  1.    ■iO 


"M 


722 


THE  CA^USE  WAR. 


added  their  solicitations  to  the  entreaties  of  Sticcas, 
the  volunteers  encamped,  Captain  English  with  forty- 
two  men  being  ordered  back  to  Fort  Waters  with  the 
cattle  and  other  property  brought  in  by  the  Cayuses. 
In  the  talk  with  Sticcas  which  followed,  the  chief 
announced  that  the  Cayuses  had  decided  tliat  they 
would  not  surrender  Tauitau  nor  Tanisucky,  Cilliani 
proposed  that  for  the  person  of  Joe  Lewis  he  would 
release  five  others  of  the  guilty ;  but  as  this  would  be 
in  violation  of  the  agreement  that  the  commissioners 
had  made  with  the  Nez  Perces,  they  refused  their 
consent,  and  withdrew  from  the  council,  returning 
with  English  to  Waiilatpu,  and  thence  to  Fort  Walla 
Walla,  the  Dalles,  and  Oregon  City. 

The  commander  had  long  wished  to  be  freed  from 
the  peace  commission,  which  was  daily  lessening  the 
probabilities  of  the  capture  of  the  murderers.  How- 
ever that  may  be,  Gilliam  made  his  own  agreement 
with  Sticcas,  who  returned  to  the  Cayuse  camp,  and 
soon  after  the  volunteers,  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight 
in  immber,  resumed  their  march  toward  Snake  River. 
On  the  11th  they  met  three  Indians  bearing  a  flag, 
and  drivini;  some  of  the  horses  which  had  been  stolen 
while  the  army  was  en  route  to  Waiilatpu,  which  they 
were  restoring  as  a  peace-oflering.  These  Indians 
reported  that  Sticcas  had  taken  Joe  Lewi^,  and  had 
started  with  him  to  meet  the  volunteers,  but  that  he 
had  been  rescued,  and  the  property  retaken,  which  the 
chief  was  brimjint;  to  deliver  to  Gilliam."^^  This  Intel- 
ligence  caused  Gilliam  to  hasten  forward,  as  he  now 
strongly  suspected  Sticcas  of  deception.  On  the  13th, 
while  encamped  at  a  spring  near  the  Tucannon  River, 
he  received  a  message  from  Tauitau,  wlio  professed 
friendship,  and  an  intention  to  forsake  the  company 
of  the  hostile  Cayuses,  adding  that  he  was  encamped 
on  the  Tucannon,  a  little  farther  up,  and  that  Tam- 
sucky  had  gone  to  Red  Wolfs  place  on  the  Srake 
River  in  the  Nez  Perce  country;  and  Tih^ukaikt  had 

"  Letter  of  Lieut.  Magone,  in  Or.  Spectator,  A\}Ti\  C,  1848. 


FIGHT   WITH  THE  PALOUSES. 


723 


fled  with  the  rest  of  tlie  Cayusos  down  tlie  Tucannon 
with  the  intention  of  crossing  the  Snake  River  into 
the  Palouse  country. 

To  many  connnanders  this  strategic  division  of 
the  enemy  would  luive  boded  ill,  but  Gilliam  seems 
not  to  liave  been  daunted,  and  taking  as  verity  what 
might  well  liave  been  doul)ted,  determined  to  act 
without  loss  of  time.  Mounting  his  men  after  dark, 
he  marched  for  the  mouth  of  the  Tucannon,  arriving 
before  daybreak  near  the  Indian  camp.  As  sof)n  as 
the  morning  dawned  he  advanced,  but  was  arrested 
when  within  four  hundred  yards  of  the  lodges  by  the 
approach  of  an  old  unarmed  Indian,  with  one  hand  on 
his  head  and  the  iHher  on  his  heart,  who  hastened  to 
assure  (xilliam  that  he  had  made  a  mistake,  and  that 
this  was  the  camp  of  Peupeumoxmox,  who  would  not 
fight  the  Americans.  The  nmrderers,  he  said,  were 
gone,  and  the  only  recourse  for  the  Americans  was  to 
take  possession  of  tlieir  stock  Avhich  was  feeding  on 
the  surrounding  liills.  The  volunteers  proceeding  into 
camp,  found  only  a  few  warriors  painted  and  armed, 
who  appeared  friendly.  Disappointed  in  his  purpose, 
Gilliam  could  see  no  better  course  than  to  follow  the 
old  man's  suggestion  and  drive  off  the  enemy's  stock, 
thus  crippling  him  in  his  resources. 

The  Tucamion  runs  through  a  deep  canon,  and  to 
reach  the  hills  Avhere  the  cattle  were  grazing  required 
a  toilsome  march  up  a  steep  ascent  for  a  quarter  of  a 
mile.  No  sooner  was  this  elevation  gained  than  they 
beheld  the  cattle  swinnning  across  the  Snake  River. 
The  enemy  had  outwitted  tln'in,  and  there  was  noth- 
ing left  but  to  collect  about  five  hundri'd  head  of 
stock,  mostly  horses,  and  return  to  the  Touclset. 

They  had  not  proceiMled  more  than  a  mile  in  that 
direction  when  they  were  attacked  in  the  rear  by  four 
hundred  Indians,  the  majority  being  Palouses.  A  run- 
ning fight  began,  which  lasted  all  day,  the  army  being 
obliged  to  encamp  several  miles  from  the  Touchct,  on 
a  small  stream,  where  without  food  or  fire  they  passed 


721 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


a  wretched  night.  So  much  did  the  Indians  annoy 
them  by  firing  into  camp,  that  the  captured  stock  was 
turned  out  in  the  hope  that  with  that  they  would  be 
content  to  depart.  Tliis,  however,  did  not  suffice,  for 
when  the  volunteers  were  ready  to  move  in  the  morn- 
imr,  the  Indians  swarmed  about  their  heels  and  hunor 
upon  their  flanks. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  the  battle  was  to  be  at 
the  crossing  of  tlie  Touchet.  When  within  two  miles 
of  the  ford  the  Indians  made  a  dash  to  pass  the  vol- 
unteers and  take  up  their  position,  the  river-bottom 
affording  a  thick  cover  of  shrubby  trees.  White  men 
and  reds  contended  bravely  for  precedence,  and  the 
smoke  of  their  guns  mingled  as  they  approached  the 
crossing. ^^  In  this  engagement  the  Cayuses  did  not 
show  that  apparent  ignorance  of  tactics  displayed  at 
the  battle  of  Umatilla,  and  warming  to  their  work 
kept  the  army  of  Oregon  for  an  hour  at  the  ford 
before  it  all  gained  the  southern  side.  Unequal  as 
the  numbers  were,  the  volunteers  achieved  a  decided 
victory.  Though  sustaining  a  loss  of  ten  wounded, 
none  were  killed.  The  Indians,  on  the  other  hand, 
had  four  killed  and  fourteen  wounded.^  No  attempt 
was  made  to  follow  the  Americans  across  the  Touchet. 
The  whoop  and  yell,  and  rattle  of  musketry  which 
had  been  continuous  for  thirty  hours,  ceased,  and  from 
the  farther  side'of  the  stream  came  the  wild  and  mel- 
ancholy death-song  which  attested  their  loss.  On 
the  IGth  the  army  arrived  jaded  and  famishing  at 
Fort  Waters,  having  eaten  nothing  except  a  small  colt 
for  three  days.^ 

'•'Captain  Maxon  iii  his  report  says  that  the  courage  and  detcrmi nation 
of  a  few  youn;^  men  saved  tlie  army  from  a  heavy  h).sa  and  perhaps  from 
being  eiit  to  pieces;  and  mentions  in  a  siibseipient  letter  tlie  names  of  captains 
Hall,  Owens,  and  Thompson,  sergeants  Bnrch  and  Cooke,  Quartermaster 
(iof)dluie,  Judge  Advocate  Rinearson,  and  Paymaster  Magonc.  English  being 
at  Waiilatpu  did  not  participate  in  this  battle,  nor  Tlionias  McKay,  who  had 
returned  sick  to  Walla  Walla  ■when  the  coirnnissioners  left.  See  Or.  Syccla- 
tor,  April  0,  1848;  Gray's  Hint.  Ur.,  TidS. 

^  This  is  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded  given  by  Craig  in  a  letter  found 
in  the  Or.  Arrjim:i,  MS.,  1.38.  A  writer  in  the  Cnthalu:  Mniinzim;  vii.  491, 
states  that  there  were  flO  Indians  killed;  but  this  number  is  eutii'ely  too  great. 

^Crav^ford'a  Nar.,  MS.,  121. 


DEATH  OF  GILLIAM. 


72S 


The  lai/e  expedition  and  its  results  had  demonstrated 
that  notwithstanding  the  desertion  of  the  Cayuses  by 
the  Nez  Perees,  Walla  Wallas,  and  Yakinias,  they 
still  had  a  powerful  ally  in  the  Palouse  tribe,  which 
occupied  a  sort  of  neutral  country  between  the  Nez 
Perees,  Spokanes,  and  Cayuses,  and  were  largely  aug- 
mented in  numbers  by  outlaws  from  the  surrounding 
tribes,  which  circumstance  lowered  their  rank  amoiiir 
the  savages.  But  m  their  present  rather  friendless 
condition  the  Cayuses  were  glad  to  a /ail  themselves 
of  these  or  any  other  auxiliaries. 

On  the  18th  Gilliam  held  a  council  with  his  officers, 
when  it  was  determined  that  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men  should  proceed  to  the  Dalles  to  escori  a  supply- 
train  to  Waiilatpu,  where  provisions  and  anni\unition, 
as  well  as  men  were  wanting;  and  that  the  colonel 
would  accompany  them  in  order  to  more  readiJy  con- 
fer with  the  governor  on  the  situation  of  aifairs, 
leaving  the  command  of  the  fort  to  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Waters.  Accordingly  the  companies  of  cap- 
tains Maxon  and  McKay,  with  other  officers  and  ;nen, 
set  out  on  the  20th  for  the  Dalles  with  wagons  for 
the  transportation  of  supplies.  They  had  reaciied 
the  springs  beyond  the  Umatilla  and  were  encamped 
for  the  night,  when  as  Colonel  Gilliam  was  drawing  a 
rope  from  a  wagon  to  tether  his  horse,  it  caught  on 
the  trigger  of  a  gun  and  discharged  the  contents  into 
his  body,  killing  him  instantly.  Thus  died  an  Itonest, 
patriotic,  and  popular  man,  whose  chief  fault  as  an 
officer  was  too  much  zeal  and  impetuosity  in  the  per- 
formance of  his  duties;  whose  glory  would  have  been 
to  die  in  battle,  but  who  perished  by  accident  in  the 
discharge  of  homely  labors.''^ 

The  death  of  Gilliam  left  the  conunand  temporarily 
in  the  hands  of  Captain  Maxon.  From  his  report  to 
General    Lovejoy,   which    Jie   despatched    by  C.   W. 

'^(Jilliai'i  loft  a  witc  ami  8  chiMreii.  His  boily  was  taken  to  clio  Willa- 
iiiette  for  interiiieiit  l)y  Caiitaiu  McKay,  whoso  iinpaireil  health  obliged  him 
to  retire  from  his  conunand.  Or.  Spectator,  April  G,  1848;  S.  F.  Caltfomian, 
Maya,  1848. 


I 


:iil 


786 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


Cooke  immediately  on  arriving  at  the  Dalles,  where 
he  found  Captain  Garrison  in  coumiand,  the  colonists 
learned  not  only  the  events  above  recorded,  but  that 
without  more  men  and  means  the  army  was  practi- 
cally useless.  Fort  Waters  was  but  an  enclosure  of 
adobe  walls  a  few  feet  high.  The  men  in  the  field 
were  almost  destitute  of  clothing;  the  horses  were 
worn  out  with  marching,  and  no  others  could  be  ob- 
tained, as  those  captured  had  been  claimed  by  the 
friendly  Indians.  The  time  for  which  a  portion  of 
the  army  enlisted,  three  or  four  months,  would  soon 
expire.  He  stated  that  one  hundred  and  fifty  men 
only  were  left  at  Fort  Waters,  and  almost  without 
ammunition  and  wholly  without  bread;  while  at  Fort 
Lee  there  were  but  fifty  men  and  no  supplies.  Maxon, 
having  pictured  their  condition  in  a  strong  light,  ap- 
pealed t(J  fathers  to  send  bread  to  their  sons,  who 
were  enduring  cold  and  hunger  to  keep  danger  away 
from  the  hearth-stone;  to  mothers  for  clothing  to 
shield  their  soldiers  from  the  piercing  airs  of  winter ; 
to  the  young  women  to  withhold  their  smiles  from 
every  young  man  who  refused  to  volunteer  to  defend 
her  honor  and  the  country  of  her  adoption;  and  to  all 
to  hasten  forward  the  supplies  for  which  he  was  wait- 
ing at  tlie  Dalles.'^®  This  appeal,  which  was  no  doubt 
necessary  if  the  war  was  to  be  carried  on,  was  some- 
what highly  colored  as  to  the  commissary  department 
at  Fort  Waters,  where  beef  and  bread  were  plenty 
for  some  time  after  the  departure  of  Colonel  Gilliam 
for  the  Dalles.^'  These  articles  were  obtained  by  the 
seizure  of  cattle,  and  wheat,  pease,  and  potatoes  found 
cached  by  the  Indians,  but  which  belonged  to  the 
mission  estate. 

The  people,  again  excited  by  the  report  of  Maxon 

'"Or.  SpccUitor,  April  6,  1848. 

*'  See  letter  written  ou  the  4th  of  April  by  Jesse  Cadwallader,  in  Gray's 
Hist.  Or.,  570.  The  newa  of  (iilliaiu's  death  had  not  at  that  date  reached 
Fort  Wate-s.  The  writer  complains  oidy  of  the  lack  of  ammunition,  and 
says  he  hopes  to  see  (jrUliam  back  in  a  few  days,  and  more  men  with  him.  A 
letter  froi-  Lieut,  -col.  Waters  mentions  that  they  had  repaired  the  mill,  and 
set  it  to  grinding  wheat  found  at  the  mission. 


FURTHER  RECRUITING. 


727 


and  the  fear  that  in  a  few  weeks  when  the  snow  should 
be  off  the  mountains  the  Indians  might  invade  the 
Willamette  Valley,  made  haste  to  collect  such  articles 
as  could  be  purchased  from  or  spared  by  all  classes, 
and  to  forward  them  to  the  Dalles.  In  this  work  the 
women  of  Oregon  City  heartily  joined,  organizing  a 
society  whose  purpose  was  to  support  the  army  in  the 
field,**  and  the  maidens  pledging  themselves  to  treat 
with  avoidance  and  contempt  all  able-bodied  yt)ung 
men  who  would  not  march  at  once  to  the  seat  of  war. 

The  objection  offered  by  many  to  enli'sting  or 
remaining  in  the  army  was  the  fear  of  losing  their 
land  claims  by  abandoning  them  at  this  critical  moment, 
when  it  was  expected  that  the  first  jnail  from  the 
United  States  would  bring  news  ot  the  ])assage  of  an 
act  by  congress  giving  a  certain  amount  of  land  to 
actual  settlers.  But  to  '':his  fear  the  young  ladies 
replied  that  they  would  see  that  the  soldiers'  claims 
were  respected,  and  exhorted  them  to  "  fight  on,  be 
brave,  obey  your  officers,  and  never  quit  your  posts 
till  the  enemy  is  conquered,"  promising  to  reward 
them  with  their  sympathy.^" 

The  governor  issued  a  proclamation  for  three  hun- 
dred recruits.  Meetings  were  held  in  several  counties, 
and  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  men  enlisted.*' 

Before  the  recruits  were  ready  to  march,  an  express 
arrived  from  Fort  Waters  with  letters.  Waters  wrote 
to  Governor  Abernethy,  April  4th,  that,  not  seeing 

'"The  president  of  this  society  was  Mrs  N.  M.  Thornton,  the  secretary 
Mrs  E.  F.  Thurston,  an<l  the  treasurer  Mrs  Leslie;  the  first  the  wife  of  the 
governor's  privat'e  delegate  to  congress,  the  second  tlie  wife  of  tlie  first  del- 
egate elected  uiuler  tlie  territorial  organization,  and  the  third  the  second 
wife  of  Rev.  D.  Leslie.  The  committee  appointed  to  collect  funds  consisted 
of  Mrs  Robh,  Mrs  Hood,  and  Mrs  Herford. 

"'Or.  Spectator,  April  20,  1848. 

"In  Linn  County  H.  ,1.  Peterson  organized  a  company,  the  means  to 
equip  it  being  raised  l)y  sub.scription.  Tliey  left  for  Portland  April  2r)th. 
Clatsop  County  sent  a  few  volunteers:  S.  B.  Hall,  D.  H.  Kinder,  John  Kichey, 
R.  V\  Morrison,  and  N.  H.  Evennan.  A/.,  May  4,  1848.  A  second  company 
was  raised  in  Linn  County,  officered  by  CJranville  H.  Baber,  captiiin;  Jeremiah 
Driggs,  1st  lieutenant;  J.  M.  McConnel  and  Isaac  Thompson,  sergeants. 
Three  other  companies  were  organized  at  Portland,  one  fr(w»  Lmn,  William 
Pugh,  captain;  one  from  Polk  and  Clackamas,  J.  W.  Nesmith,  captain;  and 
one  from  Yamhill  and  Tualatin,  William  J.  Martin,  captain. 


728 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


any  Indians  for  several  clays,  either  friendly  or  hostile, 
he  had  sent  an  express  to  Fort  Walla  Walla  to  gain 
some  information,  if  possible,  concerning  them,  and 
had  learned  from  McBean  and  the  chief  himself  that 
Peupeumoxmox  had  revoked  his  friendship  for  the 
Americans,  and  was  now  hostile  on  account  of  an  act 
of  the  recent  legislature  prohibiting  the  sale  of  arms 
and  ammunition  to  the  Indians.  He  complained  of 
being  placed  by  the  act  on  the  same  footing  with  the 
guilt}?  Cayuses,  and  threatened,  if  the  law  should  not 
be  abrogated,  that  his  people  would  also  Ijecome  mur- 
derers. Sixty  lodges,  said  to  contain  between  two 
and  three  hundred  warriors,  were  gathered  within  a 
mile  and  a  half  of  the  fur  company's  fort,  which  cir- 
cumstance was  considered  as  being  significant  of  hos- 
tile intentions.*^ 

News  had  also  arrived  at  the  fort  that  the  head 
chief  of  the  Nez  Perces,  Ellis,  with  sixty  of  his  men, 
had  died  in  the  mountains,  whither  they  had  gone  to 
hunt,  of  the  two  scourges,  measles  and  dysentery, 
which  had  carried  off'  so  many  Cayuses.  This  loss 
would  naturally  affect  the  superstitious  minds  of  the 
Nez  Perces,  and  it  was  thought  their  word  to  the 
commissioners  would  be  betrayed,  as  they  had  held  a 
great  feast  with  the  Cayuses  since  the  last  engage- 
ment at  the  Touchet.  The  wound  of  Five  Crows, 
who  was  with  Joseph,  was  also  likely  to  carry  him 
off^,  and  altogether  the  prospect  appeared  gloomy  in 
respect  to  breaking  up  the  alliance  of  the;  confederated 
tribes  of  the  Umatilla,  the  Walla  Walla,  and  the 
Clearwater  valleys.  Waters  also  wrote  concerning 
the  Des  Chutes  chief,  Welaptulekt,  that  he  went  to 
Fort  Walla  Walla  and  delivered  up  a  large  amount 
of  immigrant   property,  giving  as  a  reason  for  not 


taki 


*'  The  cunning  of  the  savage  character  has  frequently  been  displayed  when 
one  or  more  tribes  have  gone  to  war,  by  a  portion  remaining  friendly  in  onler 
to  act  as  go-betweens,  to  buy  ammunition,  and  carry  information.  If  such 
was  the  character  of  Peupeumoxmox 's  friendship,  the  act  of  the  legislature 
defeated  his  intention  antl  gave  him  the  provocation  he  desired  for  becoming 
hostile. 


LEE  IN  COMMAND. 


729 


takiiiij  it  to  Gilliam,  that  lie  was  feaiful  ho  would  be 
killed ;  but  as  it  was  known  that  he  had  refused  to 
accej)t  the  Hag  sent  to  him  by  the  peace  commissioners 
by  the  hands  of  his  own  men,  his  apology  to  McBean 
was  reyarded  as  a  subterfuye.  The  same  letter  con- 
veyed  the  information  that  Tamsucky,  Joe  Lewis,  and 
Tiloukaikt's  two  sons  were  on  the  road  to  Fort  Hall, 
the  latter  three  intending  to  join  the  Mormons  at 
Salt  Lake,  while  Sticcas  and  Tauitau  were  gone  to 
the  mountains  to  remain  until  the  war  was  over.  The 
other  Cayuses,  the  Palouses,  and  some  worthless  Nez 
Perces  were  conjjret'atinjT  to  m\e  the  volunteers  one 
more  battle  before  abandoning  the  country  and  going 
to  hunt  buffalo. 

Such  was  the  infonnation  which  the  commander 
of  Fort  Waters  thought  of  sufficient  im[)ortance  to 
despatch  to  the  governor.*'"  From  the  Yakima  country 
the  news  was  more  encourayfintj.  Some  of  their  chief 
men  visited  the  Dalles  to  assure  the  officer  in  com- 
mand of  Fort  Lee  that  neither  they  nor  the  Spokanes 
wished  to  be  involved  in  the  war,  though  the  Cayuses 
had  threatened  tliem  with  the  same  treatment  they 
gave  the  Americans  if  they  refused  to  join  in  the 
hostilities.  On  this  representation,  that  they  had 
resisted  entreaties  and  threats  to  make  them  go  to 
war,  they  hoped  to  get  some  ammunition ;  but  were 
told  that  until  peace  was  restored  no  ammunition 
would  be  furnished  to  any  Indians;  but  instead  of 
powder  a  })lough  was  presented  to  them,  with  which 
they  departed  apparently  satisfied." 

Indeed,  the  quantity  of  ammunition  which  the  gov- 
ernor was  able  to  send  to  the  Dalles  on  Maxon's 
demand  was  so  small  that  none  could  have  been 
spared,  had  there  been  no  other  reason  for  withhold- 
ing it.  But  such  as  it  was,  he  returned  immediately 
with  it  to  Fort  Waters,  leaving  the  Dalles  on  the  8th 
of  April  with  wagons  loaded  with  flour. 

"Or.  Spectator,  April  20,  1848.  See  alar  letter  of  William  Craig,  in  Or. 
Archives,  MS.,  138;  S.  F.  Califorman,  May  8,  1848;  Orai/'x  Jfmt.  Or.,  575-7. 
>    '•'Letter  of  Captain  Maxou,  in  (lratj.-<  Hid.  Or.,  509-70, 


'^H|- 


780 


THE  CAYUSE  WAB. 


In  Maxoii's  report  of  the  death  of  Colonel  Gilliam 
he  had  intimated  that  Major  Lee  would  be  acceptable 
to  the  army  as  its  colonel,  and  the  governor,  ignoring 
the  next  in  command,  had  connnissioned  Lee,  leaving 
vacant  the  position  of  major,  which  was  filled  by 
Lieutenant  Magone  of  the  Ist  company  of  Oregon 
mounted  riflemen.  Palmer  having  resigned  the  oflico 
of  su])erintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  Leu  was  a{)})ointed 
tt>  that  place  also,  a  combination  of  powers  which  it 
was  believed  by  some  would  go  far  toward  securing 
peace,  ^ut  however  Lee's  ))romotion  might  aflect 
the  Indian  qU(!stion,  a  difficulty  arose  between  Captain 
William  J.  Martin's  company  of  the  new  organization 
and  the  colonel,  with  regard  to  priorty  in  regimental 
number,  Martin's  company  being  numbered  the  10th, 
when  according  to  his  belief  it  was  the  9th,  and  con- 
sidering himself  unfairly  treated,  he  deserted  at  the 
Dalles  with  his  two  lieutenants  and  twelve  privates, 
and  returned  to  Portland,""  from  wiiich  place  Colonel 
Lee  had  departed  on  the  20th  of  April  with  three 
companies,  and  a  second  supply  of  flour  and  annnu- 
nition. 

The  policy  determined  upon  by  the  governor  and 
Lee,  to  be  pursued  toward  the  Indians,  was  to  treat  all 
as  enemies  who  should  be  found  armed  in  the  Cayuse 
countrj''  after  notice  should  be  given.  News  of  the 
appointment  of  a  new  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs 
having  reached  Fort  Waters  in  advance  of  the  reen- 
forcement,  Lee  was  met  by  an  express  from  the  Nez 
Perces  on  John  Day  River,  who  brought  a  request 
from  the  tribe  for  a  council,  to  settle,  amcmg  other 
matters,  who  should  be  head  chief  in  place  of  Ellis, 
on  which  account  he  hastened  forward,  arriving  at 
Waiilatpu  on  the  9th  of  May,  in  advance  of  the 
wagons   and   volunteers.      He   found   that   Tauitau, 


miir 


**  E.  Bidwell  and  H.  D.  Martin  were  the  lieutenants.  The  complaint  was 
that  they  were  marched  in  the  rear;  were  not  always  allowed  beef  when  the 
other  companies  were;  and  could  not  have  their  horses  shod  in  time  to  march 
with  them  from  the  Dalles,  but  were  ordered  to  follow  and  overtake  the  com- 
panies of  Pugh  and  Neamith.  Or.  Spectator,  June  1,  1848. 


FURTHER  COUNCILS. 


7:u 


Sticcas,  Comespolo,  ami  somo  lesser  Cayuse  chief's, 
had  returned  to  the  Umatilla,  and  were  profess- 
in<it  to  be  friendly,  but  it  was  tliou<;lit  from  the  nu- 
merous  herds  in  the  valley  that  they  were  takinjjf 
care  of  the  stock  belonging  to  the  nmrderers,  who  had 
fled  from  the  country,  Welaptulekt  was  in  contine- 
nient  at  Fort  Waters,  awaitinj^  the  judgment  of  the 
superintendent  upon  his  conduct.  Between  some  of 
the  Cayuses  and  Nez  Perces  there  was  considerabh; 
ill  feeling  because  the  majority  of  the  latter  still  de- 
clined to  be  forced  into  a  war.'*'  On  being  re<juested 
by  the  Nez  Perces  to  appoint  a  high  chief,  Lee 
nominated  Richard,  on  account  of  his  superior  attain- 
ments; and  also  a})})ointed  Meaway,  a  man  of  little 
note,  as  war-chief,  telling  the  natives  if  the  selections 
made  did  no  meet  their  ajjprobation,  to  make  a  choice 
for  themselves;  but  they  simply  left  the  matter  in 
abeyance.^^ 

After  settling  affairs  with  the  Nez  Perces,  Lee 
helu  a  council  with  the  Walla  Wallas  and  the  Cay- 
uses of  the  Umatilla,  and  found  that  the  accession  of 
men  and  ammunition  to  Fort  Waters  had  not  been 
without  effect.  "  The  friendship  of  the  Indians,"  re- 
marked Colonel  Waters,  "increases  with  our  num- 
bers." 

Peupeumoxmox,  on  being  reminded  of  his  threat 
to  turn  murderer,  expressed  much  shame  at  having 
been  guilty  of  such  folly.  "I  told  lum,  and  all 
that  were  i)resent,"  says  Lee,  "that  we  were  bound 
to  hold  this  country  until  the  nmrderers  were  pun- 
ished, the  stolen  property  returned,  and  that  which 
had  been  destroyed  paid  for;  and  then  asked  them 
what  they  were  going  to  do.  Whether  they  would 
try  to  settle  the  matter,  and  let  us  go  home  about 
our   business,  and    leave    them   to   theirs,   or   would 


m 


i  J 


*^0r.  Archives,  MS.,  139-40 

**  Richard  does  not  seem  to  have  acted  as  tlie  hea<l  of  the  Raz  Perces. 
Gray  says  tliat  he  was  '  murdered  by  a  Catholic  Indian  '  after  liis  appointment. 
His  nomination  appears  to  have  been  unpopular  with  the  older  and  more 
iuilueutial  men  of  the  Nez  Percys. 


<     I 


7» 


THE  CAYUSE   VVAK. 


they  hold  off  as  they  luwl  rlono,  and  leave  us  hero  to 
hold  th(nr  country  with  our  j^unsi*"*' 

This  was  not  a  question  easy  of  answer,  in  view  of 
the  fact  tliat  to  atteni[)t  to  deliver  up  the  murderers, 
one  of  whom,  Tihjukaikt,  was  still  in  the  l^alouse 
country,  would  involve  tliiMu  in  a  war  amon<»'  them- 
selves; while  to  refuse  to  make  the  attempt  would 
bring  them  into  hostilities  with  the  justly  incensed 
Americans.  These  hard  and  unavoidable  conditions 
caused  Peupeumoxmox  and  Tauitau  to  humble  them- 
selves before  the  superintendent,  and  to  inomise  more 
than  they  were  able  to  perform  had  their  dispositions 
in  reality  been  more  favorable  toward  it. 

On  arrlvmg  at  Fort  Waters,  Lee,  finding  the  dis- 
cipline good  and  the  men  satisfied  with  their  com- 
mander, inuned lately  offered  to  resign  his  rank  to 
Waters,  whose  right  it  was;  and  their  resignations 
being  sent  to  the  governor,  the  regiment  at  once 
elected  Waters  colonel  and  Lee  lieutenant-colonel ;  the 
whole  transaction  being  conducted  with  entire  unanim- 
ity and  friendliness,***  Preparations  were  begun  soon 
afterward  for  invading  the  Nez  Percd  country,  where 
it  was  believed  the  refuge  of  the  guilty  Cayuses  would 
be  found;  and  on  the  morning  of  the  17th  of  May  the 
regiment,  now  immbering  about  four  hundred  and 
fifty,  marched  out  from  the  fort,  leaving  only  a  small 
force  to  garrison  'he  post.  That  night  the  army  en- 
camped on  the  Coppei;  and  on  the  following  morning 
Lee  was  detached,  with  Captain  Thompson  and  one 
hundred  and  twenty-one  men,  with  orders  to  proceed 
,o  the  crossing  of  the  Snake  River  at  Red  Wolf's 
amp,  to  cut  off  if  possible  the  retreat  of  the  fugitives 
o  the  mountains,  while  Waters  would  cross  with  the 
main  force  at  the  mouth  of  the  Palouse  River,  and 
prevent  their  escape  to  the  Columbia. 

*' '  I  also  showed  them  the  bill  of  articles  taken  at  this  place,  and  those 
taken  from  iuiiiiigrants  along  the  road,  as  also  at  Barlow's  (Jate,  and  tohl  them 
wo  would  forget  nothing.'  Letter  of  Supt.  Lee,  in  Or.  Syectatcn;  June  1, 
1848. 

♦"Or.  Spectator,  Juno  1,  1848. 


WATimS  IN  COMMAND. 


733 


In  order  to  facilitate  these  oj  orations,  some  Palouse 
chiefs,  from  mercenary  motives  now  willing  to  lend 
their  aid  to  the  Americans,  agreed  to  have  canoes  in 
readiness  to  ferry  over  the  men  an<l  l)auj^'a;(e.  l^ut 
on  cominj^  to  the  place  determined  u[)on,  no  canoes  or 
Indians  were  visihle,  and  Major  Magone  with  four 
men  was  detailed  to  cross  the  Snake  Kiver  on  a  raft 
to  search  the  banks  of  the  l*alouse  for  the  promised 
ferry-man.  This  was  eft'ected  with  dithculty,  the  river 
being  high  and  rapid;  the  Indians  returning  with  the 
major,  buc  too  late  to  })r(!vent  any  further  move- 
ment that  day.  A  day  and  a  half  having  been  spent 
in  crossing  the  army  and  baggage,  the  horses  swim- 
ming, at  noon  of  the  21st  the  march  was  resumed 
toward  Lapwai  under  the  guidance  of  an  Indian  })ilot, 
who  promised  to  direct  the  colonel  directly  to  the 
camp  of  Tiloukaikt. 

On  the  22d  Waters  was  surprised  by  an  expre-^s 
from  the  Chemakane  mission,  bearing  a  letter  from 
Eells  in  reply  to  one  from  himself  inquiring  concern- 
ing the  temper  of  the  Si)okane8.  Eells  reported  that 
they  wera  not  entirely  harmonious,  but  that  he  knew 
of  none  who  excused  the  nmrderers.  As  if  to  an- 
swer for  themselves,  a  party  of  forty-three  of  this 
tribe  accompanied  the  courier,  and  offered  their  ser- 
vices, informing  the  connnander  where  a  part  of 
Tiloukaikt's  cattle  could  be  found,  and  ofTering  to 
bring  them  to  camp.  They  were  sent  upon  tliis  ser- 
vice, and  brought  in,  besides  the  cattle,  two  Indians 
claiming  to  be  Nez  Peroes,  who  were  thouglit  to  be 
snies.  On  behig  questioned,  they  declared  that  Tilou- 
kaikt had  fled  to  the  mountains,  but  that  most  of  his 
stock  was  being  herded  by  a  few  Indians  near  Snake 
River,  and  could  be  captured.  Major  Magone  was  at 
once  ordered  to  take  one  hundred  men  and  bring  in 
Tiloukaikt's  property;  and  to  capture  any  Inchans 
suspected  with  being  in  league  with  the  guilty  Cay- 
uses. 

The  order  to  capture  susj>ccted  Indians  lieing  lib- 


III 


m\ 


iiM  ! 


734 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


orally  construed  by  the  volunteers,  the  first  one  showing 
symptoms  of  flight  was  pursued  l)y  a  squad  of  nine 
men,  who  followed  and  sliot  him  while  attempting  to 
escape  across  Snake  River  in  a  oanoe.*"  Is  ear  the 
spot  where  this  unjustifiable  killing  occurred,  Magone 
found  a  small  camp  of  Indians  under  an  old  chief 
called  Beardy,  who  assured  him  that  Tiloukaikt  was 
nowhere  in  that  country,  but  had  gone  far  away.  He 
directed  the  major  to  the  camp  of  Kichard,  the  lately 
appointed  high  chief,  who  confirmed  this  statement. 
The  Indians  also  informed  him  that  an  express  of  two 
Avhite  men  had  that  morning  gone  to  Colonel  Waters 
from  Lee  in  the  Lapwai  country/"^  upon  which  he 
collected  the  stock  belonging  to  Tiloukaikt  in  that 
vicinity,  and  returned  to  the  Palouse  to  learn  the 
news  direct. 

Lee  had  been  met  at  Red  Wolf  crossing  by  the 
statement  that  Tiloukaikt's  people  had  fled  the  coun- 
try two  days  before,  leaving  all  their  worldly  posses- 
sions, some  of  which  were  in  the  vicinity  of  Lapwai. 
To  this  place  lie  had  marched,  arriving  on  the  morning 
of  the  21st,  and  remaining  several  days  to  poUect  the 
cattle  belong  to  the  Cayuses.  To  the  Nez  Perces 
who  visited  the  volunteer  camp,  Lee  said  that  his 
business  in  their  country  was  to  punish  the  Cayuses, 
and  that  since  they  had  fled  beyond  reach,  he  claimed 
all  their  property,  and  that  if  they  were  true  friends 

♦'  Major  Magone  in  his  report  says  that  on  nearing  the  river  Baptiste  Dorion 
discovered  an  Indian  and  at  once  set  off  at  full  spued,  followed  by  those  who 
were  in  front — not  that  he  onlered  the  charge;  and  that  liaving  a  poorer  horse 
he  did  not  come  up  with  them  until  the  river  was  reached,  A'heu  he  found  the 
men  shooting  at  a  canoe  in  wiiicli  no  person  was  visilde;  but  the  men  said 
tiicre  were  Indians  in  it  who  had  lied  from  the  troops,  and  who  were  no  doubt 
guilty.  W.  P.  Breeding,  who  now  resides  in  the  Palouse  country,  says  that 
2  Indians  pushed  off  from  shore  in  a  rawhide  boat  just  as  tlie  volunteers 
gained  the  shore,  and  that  Ramsey  and  Brown  hastily  nuide  a  raft  of  logs  on 
wliich  they  crossed  Snake  River,  l)eing  carried  2  miles  down  by  the  cur- 
rent before  they  effected  a  landing,  after  whicli  tln.-y  ran  back  to  a  point 
opposite  the  place  from  wliieh  tliey  started,  and  discovering  the  canoe  under 
tlio  bank,  w.atclied  until  an  Indian  raised  his  head  to  reconnoitre,  when  Brown 
shot  him.  NirJinW  1ml.  Aff.,  MS.,  I,  2. 

'*  C.  W.  Cooke  and  David  M.  (iuthrie  carried  this  express,  riding  at  night 
through  tlie  long  strctcli  of  Inihan  country.  Tfiey  were  assisted  in  crossmg 
the  Snake  River  by  Buardy's  people. 


oftlu 
ing  t( 
and  a 
Wate 
numb 

It 
that  I 
do  wit 
tlie  so 
skin 
return 

ItM 

paign 

havino- 

they  re 

cealed. 

eating  ■ 

a  doum 

incideni 

the  i)ea 

tioned  i 

was  dri 

belongo 

of  digiii 

erty  to, 

sliot  <\o\ 

for  firin 

raying  t 

only  lea 

Sacisf 

coopurat 

tlie  fu;ifii 

tamed   i 


"'  Report 

expedition  \ 
ment  to  retu 
more  genera 
these  (profea 


APFAIRS  AT  FORT  WATERS. 


735 


of  the  Americans,  they  would  assist,  without  attempt- 
ing to  hide  anything  from  him.  To  this  they  agreed, 
and  allowed  the  volunteers  to  drive  back  to  Colonel 
Waters'  camp  one  hundred  and  eighteen  liorses  and  a 
number  of  colts,  besides  about  forty  head  of  cattle. ^^ 

It  was  with  regard  to  rejoining  the  main  command 
that  Lee  had  sent  an  express ;  this  he  was  ordered  to 
do  without  delay.  His  detachment  crossed  back  to 
tlie  south  side  of  Snake  River  in  boats  made  of  the 
skin  lodges  left  behind  by  the  fleeing  Cayuses,  and 
returned  to  camp,  where  he  arrived  about  the  2Gth. 

It  was  evident  from  the  results  of  the  spring  cam- 
paign thus  far  that  there  was  nothing  to  be  gained  by 
having  a  regiment  in  the  Indian  country.  So  long  as 
they  remained,  the  guilty  Cayuses  would  keep  con- 
cealed. There  was  the  trifling  s^.tisfaction  of  confis- 
cating their  property ;  but  it  sometimes  happened  that 
a  doubt  was  raised  concerning  the  real  ownership,  and 
incidents  occurred  of  a  nature  to  embroil  them  with 
the  })eaceable  Indians.  Such  an  incident  was  men- 
tioned in  one  of  the  oflicial  reports,  where  a  com})any 
Avas  driving  to  camp  a  herd  which  it  was  supposetl 
belonged  to  the  Cayuses,  when  an  unknown  Indian 
of  dignified  bearing  forbade  them,  declaring  tlie  prop- 
erty to  be  his,  upon  which,  without  inquiry,  he  was 
sliot  down.  Colonel  Waters  wished  to  punisli  the  man 
for  firing  without  orders;  but  his  captain  interfered, 
s:aying  the  man  had  done  his  duty.'^"  Such  acts  could 
only  lead  to  a  general  war. 

Satisfied  that  it  was  hopeless  to  expect  any  real 
cooperation,  even  from  the  Nez  Perces,  in  caj)turing 
tlie  fugitives,  whom  they  were  known  to  have  enter- 
tained  up  to  the   time   the  volunteers  were  within 

"Report  of  Cnj>t.  Thompson,  in  Or.  SpcrMnr,  Julv  27,  1S48. 

^'Aic/ioIh'  IikI.  AJf.,  MS.,  2.  Major  Magoue,  inclosing  his  report  of  the 
expedition  i,.  Snake  River,  before  nicutionecl,  said:  'I  ordered  the  detiicli- 
nient  to  retnrn  to  the  regiment,  thorougldy  convince<l  tliat  I  wonld  liave  given 
more  general  satisfaction  by  ordorinc  them  to  wipe  from  the  face  of  existence 
these  (professedly)  friendly  Indians.    Or.  S^clator,  July  21,  1848. 


,,    ..hj|: 


.hill; 


736 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


two  days  of  Lapwai,  and  being  aware  that  now  that 
the  snow  was  oflF  the  mountains  the  Cayuses  could 
find  sustenance  witliout  their  herds,  Colonel  Waters 
determined  upon  closing  the  r^ampaign,  should  it  meet 
the  approval  of  the  governor.  Feeling,  also,  that  it 
was  better  that  all  the  white  inhabitants  should  remove 
out  of  the  Indian  country,  he  despatched  captains 
Thompson  and  Nesmith  to  Craig's  place  on  the  Clear- 
water to  escort  him  and  his  family  and  goods  to  the 
fort;  and  ordered  Major  Magone  with  fifty-five  men 
to  the  Chemakane  mission  to  give  Walker  and  Eells 
an  opportunity  to  leave  the  count"  y,  a'ivising  them 
by  letter  that  in  his  judgment  they  would  do  well  to 
accept  it. 

These  measures  were  adopted  without  waiting  for 
the  sanction  of  Governor  Abernetliy,  as  shown  by 
the  dates  of  the  correspondence  and  reports. ^^  Colonel 
Waters  left  Waiilatpu  June  8th  to  proceed  to  the 
Dalles,  the  letter  of  the  governor  directing  him  to  do 
so  being  dated  June  15th,  which  could  not  have  been 
received  before  he  reached  the  Dalles.  That  the 
orders  of  the  governor  agreed  so  well  with  the  pre- 
vious acts  of  the  field-officer  is  evidence  that  the  latter 
su<;<»'ested  to  the  former  his  course." 

At  Fort  Waters,  which  was  placed  under  the  com- 
mand of  Captain  William  Martin,  Colonel  Waters 
left  fifty -five  men,  which  number  he  expected  to  be 

''^  Magone  loft  ca np  for  the  Chemakane  May  26th,  and  Tho:n])son  nnist 
have  started  for  Lapw.'i  a  day  or  two  later.  He  returned  to  Fort  Waters 
tlio  day  that  Magone  left  t'heniakane  witli  the  mission  famiUes,  and  tlie 
colonel,  without  waiting  for  the  major's  detachment,  left  at  oueo  for  the 
Dalles. 

■'♦ '  Oregon  City,  Juno  15,  1848.  Sir:  On  receipt  of  this  you  will  hold  a 
council  witli  the  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  and  come  to  a  decision  in 
regard  to  remaining  in  tiie  upper  country.  In  order  that  the  remainder  may 
ri'turn  without  delay,  I  wouhl  recommend  that  one  comj)any  of  85  men,  rank 
and  till!,  ho  fornie<l  out  of  the  volunteers  tliat  may  oU'ur  their  services  to 
remain  until  the  U.  S.  troops  arrive.  Of  tliis  company,  15  couM  he  stationed 
at  Fort  liCe  and  70  at  Fort  Waters.  Of  tlio  latter,  40  or  50  could  proceed  at 
the  proper  time  to  meet  the  emigrants.  A  company  under  Capt.  Scoti  wi'l 
leave  the  heatl  of  this  valley  in  time  to  escort  the  emigrants  on  the  southern 
route.  I  thiiik  treaties  can  bo  made  holding  the  chiefs  rcsponsihle  and  pro- 
tecting the  emigration  from  molestation.  (Signed)  Oko.  Abeknetuy.' 

'Col.  Waters  ' 
Or.  ArchhrH,  MS.,  144. 


END  OF  THE  SPRIN(J  CAMPAIGN. 


787 


augmented  by  a  portion  of  Magone's  command^  only 
five  of  whom,  however,  remained.  These  were  men 
who  had  enhsted  to  serve  until  the  15th  of  September; 
and  the  object  in  leaving  the  garrison  was  to  afford 
protection  to  the  immigrants  who  might  pass  by  the 
Columbia  route,"^^  and  also  hold  the  enemy's  country 
until  they  should  be  compelled  to  give  up  the  mur- 
derers. 

At  Fort  Lee  seventeen  men  only  were  left,  under 
command  of  Lieutenant  A.  L.  Rodgers ;  the  remainder 
of  the  regiment,  which  was  joined  at  the  Dalles  by 
Magone's  detachment,  proceeding  to  Oregon  City  by 
the  Barlow  road  over  the  Cascade  Mountains,  com- 
manded by  Captain  Hall,  while  Colonel  Waters  with 
the  missionary  party  took  a  boat  from  the  Dalles  to 
that  place,  expecting  to  arrive  in  advance  and  meet 
the  companies  at  McSwain's,  on  the  Clackamas.  Not 
being  able  to  do  so  on  account  of  adverse  winds,  the 
regiment  arrived  at  Oregon  City  before  Waters,  and 
was  disbanded  by  Captain  Hall,  on  furlough,  subject 
to  the  order  of  the  governor,^  by  whom  they  were 
subsequently  mustered  out. 


The  foregoing  history  of  the  winter  and  spring 
campaign  has  been  written  from  the  official  documents, 
as  far  as  they  can  be  found,  which,  although  somewhat 
meagre,  afford  a  sufficiently  clear  account  of  the  Cayuse 
war  to  show  the  spirit  in  which  it  was  conducted,  and 
the  hardihood  of  the  volunteers  in  marching  back  and 

*^  I  find  a  copy  of  a  circular  in  Lee's  handwriting  evidently  intended  to  be 
forwarded  to  meet  tlie  immigration  at  Laramie  or  Fort  JIall,  it  being  acuord- 
ing  to  the  act  of  tlie  Icgisflaturor.  eating  the  oHico  of  suiierinteiident  of  Indian 
affairs,  that  ho  should  ^ive  instructions  to  persons  emigrating  liow  to  main- 
tain peace  with  the  Indians.  In  tliis  circular  tlicy  are  warncflof  tlie  existing 
liostilities  with  the  Cayuses  and  t'olumbia  Kiver  Indians,  and  informed  of  tho 
establishment  of  military  jtosts  in  their  country.  They  were  advised,  uidcss 
they  were  protected  by  United  States  troojis,  to  form  tliemselves  into  military 
companies,  and  consider  themselves  as  soldiers,  and  their  families  and  property 
as  tlieir  ordnance  and  baggage  train;  to  give  no  unnecessary  offence,  and  show 
no  fear.  'Experience  has  taught  ns  that  tho  best  way  to  keep  tlie  Indiina 
really  friendly  is  to  keep  them  afraid  of  us.'  Or.  Airhiirn,  MS.,  lGl-3. 

'"'Kcjit.  of  Col.  Waters,  in  Or.  Spectator,  July  27,  1848;  I'olyneniait,  v.  2; 
S.  F.  Oill/ornuni,  Aug.  14,  1848. 
TIisT.  Or.,  Vol,.  I.    47 


m 


■■■^ 


738 


THE  CAY  USE  WAR. 


forth  hundreds  of  miles  through  a  hostile  country  at 
at  a  time  of  year  when,  if  the  Columbia  River  had  frozen 
over,  as  it  sometimes  did,  they  would  have  been  en- 
tirely cut  oflf  from  supplies  or  reenforcements.  Poorly 
furnished  with  clothing  and  ammunition,  without  any 
of  the  comforts  of  home  or  society,  with  little  to  gain 
should  congress  recognize  their  services,  and  every- 
thing to  lose  sliould  fortune  be  against  them,  the  men 
of  Oregon  evinced  a  courage  and  intrepidity  honorable 
to  individuals  and  their  country ;  as  also,  in  general,  a 
self-restraint,  doing  little  injury  to  the  natives  in  per- 
son or  property,  though  often  exasperated  by  the 
recollection  of  past  barbarities,  and  the  evidence  of 
Ijresent  hostility. 

There  is,  however,  an  inside  history  which  should 
be  given  of  the  closing  acts  in  the  military  adminis- 
tration, since  it  relates  to  the  attempted  settlement 
of  the  Walla  Walla  Valley  by  the  volunteers,  and 
illustrates  what  Roberts  calls  the  'earth-hunger'  of 
these  people.  Lee  says  that  when  the  regiment  re- 
turned to  Fort  Waters  a  council  of  the  officers,  except- 
ing those  with  Magone's  detachment,  was  held  to 
decide  the  question  whether  a  command  should  be 
left  to  occupy  the  post,  and  that  on  being  put  to  vote 
there  was  a  majority  of  one  against  it,  and  prepara- 
tions were  begun  for  evacuating  the  fort.  Colonel 
Waters  then  made  a  call  for  volunteers  to  remain, 
being  unwilling  to  abandon  the  country  and  the  advan- 
tage gained ;  but  owing  to  opposition  the  order  was 
countermanded.  But  Lee,  in  order  to  induce  the 
men  to  volunteer  to  remam,  pledged  himself,  by  virtue 
of  his  office  as  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  to 
give  authority  to  some  prominent  and  rcsponsil)le 
men  to  colonize  the  country  immediately,  and  in  the 
articles  to  secure  them,  as  far  as  it  was  in  his  power, 
against  future  treaty  stipulations  prejudicial  to  their 
interests.  Tlie  men  to  whom  he  pledged  himself  wer3 
Captain  P.  F.  Thompson  of  Yamhill  and  James  Taylor 
of  Clatsop,  and  their  associates.     A  call  for  fifty  vol- 


THE  INNER  HISTORY, 


789 


10 

10 


unteers  was  again  made,  to  remain  at  Fort  Waters 
until  the  middle  of  September,  and  upon  the  promise 
of  Thompson  and  others  that  they  would  return  with 
their  families  by  that  time  to  settle  in  the  Walla 
Walla  Valley,  it  was  successful.  Lee  after  returning 
to  Oregon  City  wrote  to  Governor  Abernetliy  for  an 
expression  of  his  opinion  as  to  the  legality  and  pro- 
jiriety  of  his  action.  "  If  tlie  course  to  which  I  am 
pledged,"  said  he,  "  be  not  a  violation  of  any  law  or 
any  principle  of  our  organic  compact,  will  you  sanc- 
tion the  proceedings,  and  give  to  the  promised 
instrument  the  benefit  of  authority  and  of  your  ap- 
probation?"" 

This  proceeding  of  Lee's  which  had  an  air  of  com- 
bining tlie  military  with  the  Indian  department  to  a 
degree  not  compatible  with  his  constant  assurances  to 
the  Cayuses  that  the  murderers  were  to  be  punished 
as  individuals,  and  not  as  a  nation,'^'*  and  to  tlie  Nez 
Perces  that  no  white  people  would  be  permitted  to 
settle  in  their  country  without  their  consent,  found  a 
ready  coadjutor  in  the  governor.  To  the  inquiries  of 
Lee,  he  replied  that  the  organic  law  did  not  limit  set- 
tlers to  any  ])art  of  Oregon,  and  although  it  might 
be  impolitic  to  occupy  the  lands  of  friendly  Indians 
east  of  the  mountains,  at  that  time,  theic  could  be 
no  impropriety  in  occupying  the  country  of  the  mur- 
derers, provided  the  party  taking  possession  were 
strong  enough  to  hold  it  and  maintain  peace.  The 
only  reservation  he  asked  them  to  make  was  of  the 
lands  and  improvements  of  the  Presbyterian  board, 
to  which  the  missionaries  might  wish  to  return  and 
lay  claim,  together  with  their  other  property,'^''  Ijcfore 

^''Or.  Archhvg,  MS.,  145-.. 

'^  Sue  raliuer's  speech  to  the  Nez  Percf^s  elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  This 
sentiiuciit  Wiia  corroborated  l)y  the  speeches  of  Lee,  (xilliani,  and  AlcKay. 

'■"With  regard  to  the  Waiilatpu  claim,  the  board  sold  it  to  Kes'.  Ciishing 
Eells  for  §1,(W0.  At  the  time  of  the  massacre  there  were  about  100  horses, 
200  cattle,  and  the  sauie  number  of  sheep  belonging  to  Whitman.  The 
savages  had  taken  most  of  the  stock  before  the  army  came,  and  the  volun- 
teers consnmefl  a  jjart  of  what  was  left,  for  which  no  return  was  ever  made 
to  the  board.  Original  letter  of  Perriu  B.  Whitmau.  Iiid,  Ajf.,  Rept.  1862,  42G. 


740 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


which  time-  he  had  no  doubt  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment would  be  extended  over  it. 

By  the  same  reasoning  which  permitted  settlers  to 
occupy  and  claim  the  Cayuse  country,  because  the 
people  had  not  given  up  certain  individuals  whom  the 
law  regarded  as  criminals,  the  lands  of  the  Nez 
Percds,  Walla  Wallas,  and  Palouses  could  have  been 
seized,  for  they  too  had  sheltered  the  criminals;  and 
settlement  being  once  begun  in  the  Indian  territory 
cast  of  the  mountains,  it  would  not  stop  at  imaginary 
lines,  as  Abernethy  must  have  known.  It  was  no 
secret  tiiat  the  real  origin  of  the  disorders  in  the 
upper  country  was  the  fear  of  the  Indians  that  the 
white  people  who  were  every  year  coming  from  the 
east  meant  to  take  away  thel.  country  by  settlement, 
or  that  Whitman  had  latterly  wished  to  prevent  col- 
onization until  the  United  States  should  make  treaties 
for  that  reason.**  In  killing  Whitman  the  savages 
had  ignorantly  broken  down  the  wall  between  them- 
selves and  the  Americans,  bringing  upon  themselves 
the  very  thing  they  dreaded;  the  governor  and  the 
superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  under  the  pretence 
of  a  military  necessity,  lending  themselves  to  the  con- 
fiscation of  the  Walla  Walla  Valley. 

No  sooner  was  the  governor's  sanction  obtained 
than  the  project  was  advertised  by  proclamation  in 
the  Spectator  under  the  name  "  Forfeiture  of  the 
Cayuse  Lands,"  with  every  eulogistic  notice  of  the 
country  calculated  to  promote  immigration.®^ 

When  it  is  remembered  that  a  colonization  scheme 
was  on  foot,  the  purpose  of  the  volunteer  officers  in 

"•On  Spectator,  July  13,  1848;  American  Unionist,  Aug.  16,  1848. 

"  Lee  appended  to  the  proclamation,  for  the  information  of  any  who  might 
wish  to  join  the  colonizing  company,  that  there  were  already  in  the  country 
grist  and  saw  mills,  a  blacksmith's  anvil  and  bellows,  some  tools,  ploughs, 
harrows,  hoes,  a  quantity  of  iron,  a  crop  of  wheat,  pease,  potatoes,  and  corn, 
with  almost  every  convenience  for  forming  a  settlement.  Or.  Spectator,  July 
13,  1848.  From  this  it  would  appear  that  the  forfeiture  was  to  extend  to  tho 
mission  property.  Parrish  says  that  the  Methodists  were  driven  away  from 
tho  Dalles  by  the  provisional  government — a  singular  statement  in  tho  face  of 
the  fact  that  they  had  sold  the  station  several  months  before  the  war  broke 
out.     See  Or.  Anecdotes,  MS.,  30. 


DOWNFALL  OF  THE  PRESS YTEKL\NS. 


741 


urging  tlio  missionaries  at  Cliemakano  to  leave  the 
country  becomes  questionable.  They  may  have  thought 
it  for  the  best.  And  in  order  to  be  perfectly  logical, 
Superintendent  Lee,  when  he  arrived  at  the  Dalles, 
notified  the  Catholics,  who  were  beginning  a  station  at 
that  place,  that  it  was  desirable  that  no  more  missions 
should  be  established  until  the  presence  of  United 
States  troops  in  the  country  should  render  such  efforts 
safe  and  judicious.®^  The  bishop  of  Walla  Walla  had 
previously  asked  permission  of  the  governor  to  return 
to  his  charge,  but  Abernethy  had  taken  no  notice  of 
the  application.  Was  the  removal  of  the  Protestant 
mission  a  measure  to  prepare  the  way  for  the  suppres- 
sion of  the  Catholic  missions  ?  If  so  it  effected  nothing, 
for  Rosseau  stayed  at  the  Dalles  as  a  settler,  cultivating 
a  land  claim,  but  refraining  from  teaching  the  Indians, 
as  ordered  by  the  superintendent;  and  the  Oblate 
fathers  who  had  abandoned  the  Yakima  country  on 
the  breaking-out  of  the  war  soon  returned  thither, 
while  Bishop  Blanchet,  being  prevented  from  going 
to  the  Umatilla,  attended  the  Cayuses  en  route  as  they 
wandered  about  the  country.®^  When  called  upon  by 
the  Indian  agent,  Henry  Saffarans,  to  answer  the 
charge  of  violating  orders,  he  appears  to  have  replied 
in  a  manner  satisfactory  to  the  agent,  who  apologized 
for  troubling  him,  acknowledging  that  it  was  not  to  be 
understood  that  a  house  or  a  farm  meant  a  missionary 
establishment,  or  that  it  was  a  violation  of  orders  for 
a  man  to  attend  to  his  religious  duties  in  his  own 
domicile.^  And  in  this  manner  they  prevailed  and 
held  their  ground,  Blanchet  does  not  conceal  his 
satisfaction  tliat  the  war  resulted  in  the  total  over- 
throw of  the  Presbyterian  missions,  "  and  had  the  effect 


'■Tliis  letter  was  addressed  on  the  outside  to  'Rev.  Mr  Rosseau,'  and  on 
the  inside  to  'Messrs  Blanchet,  etc'  Or.  Spectator,  July  I'A,  1848. 

"^  Hlaiirhei's  C'ntli.  Church  in  Or.,  173. 

"*  Jirouillet'K  A  lUlicntk  Account,  83-4.  An  anecdote  is  told  by  P.  W.  Craw- 
ford, illustrative  of  the  suspicious  temper  of  the  people.  The  blacksmith  at 
Vancouver  and  an  American  named  Buell  were  employed  all  winter  making 
axes  for  the  use  of  the  hunters  and  trappers,  but  wliich  '  the  settlers  would 
hav^  it  were  battlo-axes!'  Narrative,  MS.,  14U. 


•:;  i|* 


742 


THE  CAYUSE  WAll. 


of  increasing  those  of  the  Cathohcs,  by  the  estabhsh- 
ment  of  St  Peters  at  the  Dalles."  ^^ 

In  the  month  of  August  another  difficulty  occurred 
with  the  priests  of  the  Jesuit  missions  in  the  north- 
east. The  natives  were  busy,  as  usual,  carrying 
rumors  from  post  to  post.  It  was  said  that  Peupeu- 
moxmox  had  hanged  one  of  the  nmrderers,  whom  he 
found  a  day's  march  from  Fort  Walla  Walla  on  the 
Yakima,*^  a  story  which  was  not  credited,  although 
the  regiment  before  leaving  Fort  Waters  had  sub- 
scribed to  pay  a  reward  of  fifty  blankets  for  the 
delivery  to  them  of  one  of  the  guilty  chiefs,  and  half 
that  amount  for  a  common  murderer.  That  the  Walla 
Walla  chief  should  hang  a  murderer  without  knowing 
of  the  inducement,  or,  knowing  it,  should  forfeit  the 
reward,  Captain  Martin  refused  to  believe.  The  same 
gossip  said  that  Peupeumoxmox  was  pursuing  another 
of  the  guilty  Cay  uses,  and  McBean  thought  there 
should  be  a  party  sent  to  assist  him;  but  Martin  saw 
treachery  in  the  movements  of  the  chief,  and  kept  his 
men  at  the  fort. 

Again  it  was  said,  this  time  by  the  Nez  Percds, 
that  a  war  had  broken  out  between  their  nation  and 
the  Snake  Indians,  and  also  that  two  of  the  Cay- 
uses  who  accompanied  Joe  Lewis  had  been  killed  on 
the  Boise  River;  and  again  that  many  Americans 
were  coming  by  the  Snake  River  route,  and  had 
threatened  to  kill  all  savages  they  should  meet  by 
the  way,  which  had  occasioned  the  erection  of  for- 
tifications by  the  Cayuses  on  Burnt  River,  with  a 
view  to  cutting  off  the  immigrants  at  that  pass.  And 
still  another  rumor  declared  Tiloukaikt  and  seven  of 
his  people  killed  by  Shoshones  led  by  a  Frenchman. 
These  tales  were  the  subject  of  conversation  at  Fort 
Waters,  where  almost  any  piece  of  news  was  received 


*^Catli.  Church  in  Or.,  172,  180. 

•"McBean  believed  the  story,  which  was  brought  by  Patatis,  an  Indian 
whose  word  he  said  was  more  to  be  depended  on  than  the  word  of  Peupeu- 
moxmox. Or,  Spectator,  July  13,  1848. 


AITITUDE  OF  THE  CATHOUCS. 


743 


with  avidity,*'  and  were  reported  to  the  Oregon  au- 
thorities as  all  there  was  to  report. 

At  Fort  Lee  there  was  similar  gossip,  and  Welap- 
tulekt,  who  had  lately  come  to  profess  much  friendship 
for  the  Americans,  and  was  endeavoring  to  promote 
peace  by  urging  the  Waiams  of  Warm  Springs  and 
the  Wascos  of  the  Columbia  River  to  return  horses 
and  other  property,  brought  the  story  to  Lieutenant 
Rodgers  that  the  Catholic  priests  had  promised  to 
supply  the  Cayuses  with  ammunition  with  which  to  ex- 
terminate the  Americans,  and  tliat  unless  the  Waiams 
and  Wascos  assisted  them,  they  should  also  be  killed. 
So  nmch  impressed  were  the  Indians  by  the  threats 
of  the  Cayuses  that  they  retired  from  the  river  and 
hid  themselves  among  the  mountains,  from  which  cir- 
cumstance Rodgers  became  cautious,  and  when  soon 
afterward  a  large  amount  of  ammunition  and  arms 
arrived  at  the  Dalles,  on  its  way  to  the  Jesuit  missions, 
he  intercepted  and  held  it,^  at  the  same  time  giving 
information  to  Governor  Abernethy.  The  gov o  nor 
instructed  Lee  to  write  to  M.  Accolti,  a  Jesuit,  then 
at  the  Cowlitz,  in  explanation,  telling  him  that  the 
most  effective  measures  had  been  taken  by  order  of 
the  governor  to  prevent  the  powder  and  ball  from 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians.  Accolti  replied 
that  he  did  not  object  to  the  seizure,  since  the  gover- 
nor thought  it  prudent ;  unless  it  was  intended  to  con- 
fiscate the  property,  it  might  be  brought  to  Vancouver 
and  left  there  until  the  restoration  of  peace;  but  he 
took  occasion  to  remind  Lee  that  the  law  did  not 
prohibit  the  transportation  of  arms  or  ammunition 
through  the  Indian  country,  but  only  the  distribution 


I 

! 


I'llil 


•'  To  amuse  themselves,  Martin's  company  celebrated  the  Fourth  of  July 
by  a  banquet  held  in  a  sliady  arbor  on  tlie  green  lawn,  the  table  being  spread 
■with  roast-beef  and  mutton,  coflFee,  milk,  sugar,  bread,  and  pies.  The  tniists 
were  drank  in  water.  C.  W.  Cooke  gave:  'The  words  of  young  Miss  Wick- 
liflfe,  "  The  American  flag,  the  only  thing  American  that  will  bear  stripes  I  " ' 
Or.  Spectator,  Aug.  24,  1848. 

**  There  were  1,080  pounds  of  powder,  1,500  pounds  of  balls,  .300  pounds 
of  buckshot,  anil  36  guns.  The  Oregon  army  had  not  been  able  to  procure 
more  than  500  pounds  of  powder.  Oreijon  American,  Aug.  IG,  1848. 


!    I 


744 


THE  CAYUSE   VVAU. 


of  them  to  the  Indians ;  and  explained  that  what  had 
been  seized  was  the  annual  supply  of  the  four  mis- 
sions of  Okanagan,  Co3ur  d'Alene,  Pend  d'Oreille,  and 
Flathead  River.  In  answer  to  a  remark  of  Lee,  that 
much  excitement  and  bad  feelinjj  ajjainst  the  Catholics 
existed,  Accolti  replied  that  lie  believed  it,  but  that 
Lee  must  know  that  it  was  undeserved,  and  that  the 
prejudices  grew  out  of  unjust  suspicions  and  a  grov- 
elling jealousy."^ 

This  answer,  which  contained  some  truth,  was  not 
altogether  just  to  the  Protestants,  the  more  intelli- 
gent of  whom  were  able  to  discriminate  between  fact 
and  prejudice;  nor  was  it  calculated  to  soften  the  sec- 
tarian feeling,  which  culminated  in  December  in  a 
petition  to  the  legislature  to  expel  the  Catholics  from 
the  country,  which  was  refused.  The  quarrel  ended 
by  permitting  them  to  retain  possession  of  their  other 
missions,  but  denying  them  the  Umatilla  country,  to 
which  for  a  period  of  many  years  they  did  not  return. 

All  the  fighting  and  marching  of  the  Cayuse  war 
was  executed  by  the  colonists  without  aid  from  any 
source.  The  first  intelligence  which  reached  the  out- 
side world  of  the  massacre  at  Waiilatpu  was  received  at 
the  Sandwich  Islands  in  February  by  the  English  bark 
Janet,  Dring,  master,  which  conveyed  a  letter  from 

^Or.  Archhvji,  MS.,  15C-G0.  Father  Accolti  was  born  at  Bari,  in  tho 
kingdom  of  Naples,  in  180().  Eilucated  at  Rome,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Society  of  Jesus,  June  1,  1832.  Having  determined  to  devote  his  life  to  mis- 
sionary work,  he  came  to  this  coast  iii  1844,  going  direct  from  France  to 
Oregon  l)y  way  of  Cape  Horn,  in  tho  ship  L'/ndcJlitlyalile.  His  missionary 
labors  in  Oregon  continued  till  1S.")1,  during  which  time  he  had  charge  of  the 
mission  of  St  Xavier  and  St  Paul  on  tho  north  side  of  the  Columbia  River. 
In  1851  he  came  to  San  Francisco,  when  ho  continued  his  missionary  labors 
at  Santa  Clara  and  San  Francisco.  In  18r)3  he  was  sent  to  Rome,  to  obtain 
priests  for  missionary  duty  on  this  coast,  and  with  those  who  were  selected  hu 
returneil  in  1855.  Soon  after  leaving  Rome  he  was  made  pastor  of  Santa 
Clara  College,  which  position  he  held  for  10  years.  From  Santa  Clara  he 
was  transferred  to  San  Francisco,  where  lie  was  engaged  in  missionary  duties 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  Nov.  7,  1878.  Father  Accolti  was  a  man  of 
learning  aTid  distinguished  for  his  earnest  pioty.  S.  F.  Evcnimj  Bulletin, 
Nov.  9,  1878.  Rev.  P.  Veyret,  anotlier  of  the  Jesuits  who  came  out  in 
Jjillo'dc  du  Matin,  from  Brest,  France,  was  born  at  Lyons  in  1812,  and 
became  a  memljer  of  the  faculty  of  Santa  Clara  College,  where  he  died  Dec. 
19,  1879.  San  Josi  Pioneer,  Dec.  20,  1879. 


MEANS  CF  COMMUNICATION. 


745 


Douglas  to  S.  N.  Caistle  of  Honolulu;  but  no  men- 
tion of  help  is  made  in  the  Hawaiian  journals.  The  brif^ 
Henry,  which  left  the  Columbia  River  about  the  middle 
of  March,  did  not  reach  San  Francisco  until  tiie  I'Jth 
of  April,  whence  she  sailed  for  Mazatlan  with  gov- 
ernment stores  recpiired  by  the  troops  in  Mexico.  In 
the  mean  time  the  United  States  transport  Anita,  S. 
E.  Woodworth  commanding,  with  the  military  com- 
mander of  the  northern  district  of  California,  IMajor 
J.  A-  Hardie,  on  board,  paid  a  visit  to  the  Columbia 
River  for  the  purpose  of  raising  recruits  for  the  army 
in  Mexico,""  an  errand  which  proved  fruitless  for 
obvious  reasons.  ^^ 

So  slow  were  the  means  of  communication  that  the 
letters  of  Governor  Abernethy  were  not  received  until 
June,"'"  nor  were  the  munitions  of  war  asked  for  sent 
to  the  Columbia  River  until  the  return  of  the  Henry 
on  the  9th  of  August,  when  the  volunteers  were  dis- 
banded." So  far  as  the  conduct  of  the  war  was  con- 
cerned, the  delay  was  rather  fortunate  than  otherwise. 
Had  there  been  ample  means  at  hand  when  the  fight- 
ing spirit  was  at  its  height,  a  general  and  bloody  con- 
flict would  have  been  the  result.  Both  volunteers 
and  Indians  being  short  of  ammunition,  caution  on 
each  side  became  a  necessity,  and  averted  the  spilling 
of  much  blood. 

The  United  States  Indian  agent  for  Oregon,  Charles 
E.  Pickett,  who  was  in  California  when  the  first  in- 

'•5.  F.  Calif ornian,  March  1,  1848;  Murray'^  Nnr.,  MS.,  210;  Polynesian, 
V.  2. 

"The  Anita  arrived  in  the  Columbia  March  16th,  15  days  from  San  Fran- 
cisco. She  departed  April  22d  and  arrived  at  San  Francisco  April  27th.  Or. 
Spectator,  March  23  and  May  4,  1848;  Ifonoliilu  Friend,  July  1848. 

'■^I  cannot  account  for  this  delay  except  by  supposing  that  the  Henry 
proceeded  directly  to  Mazatlan,  without  touching  at  Monterey.  She  was  9 
days  in  San  Francisco  JJiiy,  and  it  seems  unaccounbible  tliat  in  such  an  emer- 
gency the  despatches  should  not  have  been  forwar<led  at  once. 

'•'Major  Hardie  forwarded  100  riiies,  witli  25,000  rille-cartridges,  and  200 
pounds  of  rifle-powder;  2  C-pounder  iron  guns  and  carriages,  and  ammunition 
lor  the  same.  Lieutenant  E.  0.  C.  Ord  of  the  Third  Artillery  forwarded  one 
6-pounder  brass  gun,  with  210  strapped  shot  (fixed),  70  canister  shot,  28 
spncrical  shot,  and  other  artillery  service;  500  muskets  with  their  fixtures 
and  50,000  ball,  with  a  large  amount  of  ammunition.  The  invoices  were  dated 
June  27th  and  July  10th  respectively.  Or.  Spectator,  Sept.  7,  1848. 


746 


THK  CAYUSE  WAR. 


telligonco  of  tho  warlike  events  in  his  di.strict  readied 
that  country,  made  application  on  his  own  account  to 
Governor  Mason  to  be  f'urnislied  with  the  means  ot're- 
lievinjij  Oregon;  but  Mason  declined  to  assume  tho 
responsibility,  or  to  allow  Pickett  to  do  so,  saying 
that  the  governor  of  Oregon  only  would  bo  likely  to 
have  his  acts  sanctioned  by  congress,"*  and  Pickett 
was  so  far  satisfied  that  his  8ervic(!8  could  be  of  no 
avail  thac  he  remained  in  California  permanently. 

During  the  progress  of  the  Cayuso  war  the  colony 
in  the  Willamette  was  in  a  state  of  ex])ectancy  and 
alarm  very  trying  to  those  who  lived  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  settlements,  especially  to  the  scattered  families 
on  the  east  side  of  the  valley  toward  the  Cascade 
Mountains,  where  it  was  easy  to  imagir  e  danger  a])- 
proaching  them  from  the  direction  of  the  passes  into 
eastern  Oregon.  Nor  were  the  Indians  in  the  Willa- 
mette unaffected  by  the  example  of  the  Cayuses,  but 
tauntingly  remarked  that  all  the  brave  white  men 
had  gone  to  fight,  the  weak  and  spiritless  ones  only 
remaining  at  home,  and  that  consequently  they,  the 
Molalles,  and  others,  were  set  at  liberty  to  conduct 
themselves  as  they  pleased.  To  test  their  position, 
several  outrages  were  committed,  one  of  a  serious 
character,'"'  and  companies  of  home  guards  were  or- 
ganized'^ in  the  most  exposed  settlements,  ready  to 
march  at  a  n moment's  notice  or  whenever  an  alarm  was 
given.  Buti  Lie  only  occasion  when  anything  like  a 
general  c'.Li>gement  took  place  was  during  a  visit  of 
the  Klaiiidths  to  the  Molalles,  a  large  encampment 

'*5.  F.  Citlifornkm,  May  17,  1848. 

'*  An  Indian  named  Chilos,  who  had  for  6  years  been  domesticated  with 
tlio  settlers,  ravished  a  young  girl  in  the  absence  of  the  family,  and  Hed.  He 
was  pursued  and  killed.  Or.  American,  Aug.  16,  1848;  Or.  Si>fctator,  June 
1,  1^8.  Elijah  Bristow  waa  attacked,  but  repulsed  the  savages  without 
firing  on  them.  Brintow'n  Rencounters,  MS.,  3-7. 

'*R.  C.  Geer  was  captain  of  a  company  in  the  Waldo  Hills;  Allen  Davy 
of  a  company  in  the  Santifnn;  Richard  Miller  between  Abiqua  and  Butte 
creeks  in  the  northern  part  of  Champoeg  C'o. ;  and  Samuel  Parker  of  a  com- 
pany near  Salem.  R.  0.  Geer,  in  Sakin  Or,  Statesman,  in  .^aii  Joid  Pioneer, 
Sept.  1,  1877. 


AFFAIRS  ON  THK   VVILLAMETIE. 


747 


being  lojged  on  tho  head  of  Abiqua  Crock  where  it 
debouches  from  the  Cascade  Mountains.  Tlie  Klu- 
niatliH  and  Mohilles  bej^an  by  robbing  the  cabins 
erected  on  kind-cUiinis  at  sonic  distance  i'roni  cucli 
otlicr;  and  growing  bolder,  «'nt(!rt'd  the  houses  of  fam- 
ilies, ordering  the  women  to  cook  for  them;  or  killing 
their  beef-cattle.  As  these  acts  usually  pnx'eded  a 
massacre,  the  settlers  became  more  and  more  uneasy. 

At  length,  one  afternoon  in  the  early  spring,  a  large; 
party  from  the  cncamj)ment  above  mentiotu'd  sur- 
rounded the  residence  of  Kichard  Miller,  a  })romiiU!nt 
man  in  Chanipoeg  County,  making  insolent  demands 
and  uttering  the  soul-harrowing  warwhooj),  at  the 
same  time  endeav(»ring  to  cut  off  the  passage;  of  a 
neighbor  of  Miller's  who  was  seeking  refuge  at  his 
house.  It  happened  that  Knox,  from  whom  Knox's 
Butte  in  Linn  County  was  named,  was  riding  within 
sight  of  Miller's,  with  the  first  United  Statcis  mail 
that  was  carried  up  the  Willamette  Valley;  he  took 
in  the  meaning;  of  the  denumstration  at  a  i^lance,  and 
quickened  his  horse's  gait  to  a  run,  leaving  informa- 
tion at  every  house  on  the  road.  Others  mounted 
and  rode,  spreading  the  story,  and  by  morning  sixty 
men  and  lads  were  gathered  at  Miller's,  the  Indians 
haviny;  in  the  mean  time  retired  with  threats."  An 
organization  was  immediately  effected,  Daniel  Waldo 
being  elected  colonel,  and  the  volunteers,  horse  and 
foot,  set  out  for  the  Indian  encampment;  the  mounted 
men  crossing  the  Abiqua  and  proceeding  up  the  north 
side  under  Colonel  Waldo  and  Captaiii  Davy,  while 
Captain  Geer  marched  on  foot  up  the  south  side.'^ 

As  soon  as  the  Indians  discovered  the  approach  of 

"  One  account  says  150  men  were  gat  lered  at  the  house  of  J.  Warnock  in 
the  same  neigliborhooil,  and  that  tho  I.idians  had  declared  they  would  ctit 
the  throats  of  Miller's,  Warnock's,  and  Patterson's  families.  /(/. 

"The  names  mentioned  in  the  account  almvo  quoted  from  are  William 
Parker,  James  Harpole,  Wilbum  King,  James  Brown,  8.  D.  Maxon,  L.  A. 
Bird,  Israel  Shaw,  Robert  Shaw,  King  Hibbard,  William  Brisbane,  Win- 
chester, Port  Gilliam,  William  Howell,  Thomas  Howell,  George  iTowell, 
William  Hendricks,  Leander  Davis,  Len.  Goff,  (r.  W.  Hunt,  James  Williams, 
J.  Warnock,  J.  W.  Schrun,  Thomas  Schrun,  Elias  Cox,  Cyrus  Smith,  T.  B. 
Allen,  Henry  Schrun,  and  Jacob  Caplinger;  i)robably  the  most  prominent  men. 


748 


THE  CAY  USE  WAR. 


the  mounted  force  tliey  began  crossing  to  the  south 
side  of  the  Abiqua,  as  had  been  anticipated,  and  came 
upon  the  footmen  concealed  in  a  thicket  awaiting 
them.  An  exchange  of  arrows  and  rifle-balls  took 
place,  when  the  natives  hastily  retreated  up  the  creek 
with  the  loss  of  two  of  their  number.  Upon  consulta- 
tion it  was  decided  that  as  the  day  was  well  spent, 
those  who  had  families  should  return,  and  the  rest  of 
the  men  and  lads  should  encamp  at  the  nearest  farm- 
house to  be  ready  to  move  in  the  morning,  when  tlie 
pursuit  was  begun,  a  part  of  the  absentees  having 
returned. 

The  savages  were  overtaken  on  the  trail  to  Klamath, 
their  rear  being  guarded  by  a  few  good  marksmen, 
whose  arrows  flew  about  their  pursuers,  hitting  one 
man  in  the  breast,  but  without  penetrating  his  body. 
The  riflemen  soon  picked  ofl' these,  and  drove  the  rest 
before  them  to  a  spot  where  high  cliffs  intercepted 
their  passage  on  the  side  of  the  stream  they  were 
travelling,  and  the  current  was  too  swift  to  permit 
them  to  cross.  Here  they  were  driven  to  bay,  and 
compelled  to  fight,  but  they  could  do  little  to  defend 
themselves  against  the  fire  of  the  white  men's  deadly 
rifles,  by  which  seven  warriors  were  killed  and  two 
women  wounded. 

When  the  volunteers  came  close  enough  to  ascertain 
the  results  of  tlu)  battle,  it  began  to  dawn  upon  them 
tliat  they  might  have  committed  a  sad  blunder,  the 
more  disgraceful  because  one  of  the  seven  dead  warriors 
proved  to  be  a  woman,  with  a  strung  bow  in  her  hands, 
who  had  been  killed  by  the  same  shot  whici>  pierced  a 
male  victim.  In  short,  it  was  discovered  that  the  real 
marauders  had  escaped  or-  were  never  present,  and  that 
the  Indians  attacked  were  their  wives,  children,  and  a 
few  guards  left  with  the  camp.  The  weather  being 
cold  and  wet,  with  a  drizzling  snow,  the  white  men 
built  a  large  fire  in  the  edge  (-)f  the  forest,  and  carrying 
the  wounded  women  to  a  comfortable  shelter,  left  them 
for  their  relatives  to  succor,  and  returned  home.     They 


n( 


SUB-INDIAN  AGENTS. 


749 


never  boasted  of  their  valor  at  the  battle  of  the  Abi- 
qua;^'  but  the  lesson  inflicted  preserved  that  part  of 
the  Willamette  Valley  from  any  further  threatening 
demonstrations  during  the  Cayuse  war. 

On  account  of  the  feeling  of  insecurity  occasioned 
by  the  conduct  of  the  Klamaths  and  Molalles,  Felix 
Scott  was  appointed  sub-agent  of  Indian  affairs  for 
south-western  Oregon  by  Superintendent  Lee  on  the 
10th  of  April ;  and  at  tlie  same  time  informed  that  it 
was  desirable  for  him  to  raise  an  independent  company 
of  rangers  for  the  defence  of  the  southern  frontier, 
the  governor  being  ready  to  commission  the  officers 
whenever  elected.  At  the  same  time  it  was  not  con- 
cealed that  there  was  no  money,  and  no  appropriation 
made  for  paying  either  sub-agent  or  military  com- 
panies.^" But  according  to  the  views  of  such  men  as 
the  Scotts  and  others,  this  was  a  good  reason  for 
accepting  a  conmiission.  When  money  is  plenty  men 
seek  offices ;  when  money  is  not  to  be  had,  the  offices 
seek  men,  of  the  better  sort. 

On  the  12th  of  May  Scott  reported  t>)  Lee  that  as 
he  proceeded  up  the  valley  he  found  the  inhabitants 
much  excited  in  consequence  of  the  bad  behavior 
of  the  Indians,  and  their  continued  robberies.  Some 
offender-  luid  boen  flogged ;  but  that  not  putting  an 
end  to  tl.  ir  thieving  practices,  a  resolution  had  boen 
passe:\  and  a  copj'  sent  to  tlie  governor,  declaring 
that  in  future  robberies  would  be  [)unished  witli  death. 
The  killing  of  the  Klamaths  at  the  Al)i(iua  was 
referred  to  bv  the  Molalles,  with  whom   tlicv  W(;re 


"It  has  boon  a  jnattcr  of  dispute  that  such  a  hattl'.^  waH  over  fon^'ht.  as  tho 
engageincut  oil  tlie  Ahitjna;  ami,  acconliiig  to  Miiito,  this  Miuidui-  vva  .  Ino 
reason  of  tlie  silenee.  Those  who  were  not  conceriit'tl  in  it  liniglieil  at  those 
■who  were  for  'killing  scjuaws;'  and  it  was  tyeitly  agreed  to  say  nothing  al)oiit 
it.  The  matter  almost  passed  out  of  recollection,  when  it  was  revived  and 
discussed  in  1877,  and  the  facts  hroug)il  on'..  It  ihows  that  tho  early  Oregon 
settlers  did  not  v  antonly  kill  Indians  and  lioist  ••'  it,  as  they  were  accused  of 
doing  at  a  later  period.  Minto't E'rlij  l)i:"%  MS.,  41-<>;  J.  Henry  Ihowii  and 
H.  1-.  McNary,  in  WiUnutetlc  Far.a'-,  M.ir.  24,  1877;  limwn's  Or.  MUcvL, 
MS.,  57-8. 

'^  Leu's  letter  to  Captain  Set  It  is  i«\  tlio  Or.  Archives,  MS.,  1G8-9. 


i!  I 


700 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


intermarried,  as  a  „ause  ibr  their  continued  depreda- 
tions. A  company  of  six  men,  under  the  leadership 
of  John  Saxton,  who  had  started  from  Cahfornia  witli 
a  hundred  horses,  had  lost  sixty-five  of  tliem  by  the 
natives  after  reaching  the  Klamath  River,  and  had 
been  fired  on  all  day  by  the  Rogue  River  Indians,**' 
with  whom  it  was  believed  that  Molalles  were  in 
league.  At  all  events,  not  more  than  fifty  could  be 
found  in  the  Willamette,  and  their  fleeins:  before  him 
to  the  Umpqua  was  regarded  as  a  sign  of  guilt. 

Another  report  dated  June  2 1st,  addressed  to  Ad- 
jutant-general Lovejoy,  states  that  he  had  ,)r<y.''-v.ded 
with  his  company  of  independent  rangers  <'>.;  i"--r  •  'le 
Santiam  River  when  he  was  met  by  conipl.tiacs  ct  rhe 
thieving  practices  of  the  Indians,  and  had  divided  his 
force,  taking  six  men  with  him,  and  leaving  eight  with 
Lieutenant  English,  one  party  to  take  a  course  v.  hich 
it  was  intended  should  drive  the  savages  to  their  trail 
over  the  Cascade  Mountains,  and  the  other  to  inter- 
cept them  in  their  passage.  Finding  themselves  hard 
pressed  and  bec<iming  alarmed,  they  escaped  by  leav- 
ing their  plunder  and  a  couple  of  horses,  probably  in- 
tended as  indenmity  for  past  thefts;  and  being  satis- 
fied with  this.  Captain  Scott  gave  up  the  pursuit. 

On  the  7th  of  July  Scott  was  ordered  to  proceed 
to  south-eastern  Oregon  to  escort  the  innnigration  by 
the  southern  route,  and  was  authorized  to  officiate  'ii 
his  capacity  as  Indian  agent  among  any  tribes  on  the 
way.  "  I  have  reason,"  says  Lee,  "to  believe  the  Cay- 
uses  will  be  along  both  roads.  Impress  on  the  immi- 
grants their  danger.'"*'"  With  a  company  of  only 
nineteen   men   he   performed   this   important  duty,^ 


^3 


«'0r.  Spectator,  May  4,  1848. 

"^On  ArrMwH,  MS.,  109-71. 

*'^  Felix  Scott  wan  a  native  of  Mouongahela  Co.,  Va.  He  was  at  one  tiji 
lieiit.-gov.  of  Mo.,  after  wliicli  he  came  to  California  from  St  t'harles  Cc.  ■' 
tiiat  state,  ami  resiiled  for  some  timowitli  Captain  Sutter  at  Fort  Sutter,  ir; 
18t(i  he  removed  to  Oregon,  where  lie  soon  liecame  known  for  his  high  cliarat- 
ter.  Ho  resided  in  Yamhill  Co.  until  1841),  wlien  he  settled  j)ermanently  in 
Lane  Co.,  and  contrilmted  much  to  its  devehipment.  Tii  18(»3,  wi.shing  to 
drive  a  large  herd  of  cuttle  to  the  uiiuej  of  uaaturu  Ovei,  it>,  and  also  to  traua- 


ARRIVAL  OF  IMMIGRANTS. 


751 


while  the  volunteers  from  Fort  Waters  discharged 
a  similer  obligation  on  the  Snake  River  route.  The 
Indians  along  both  roads  behaved  in  a  quiet  and 
friendly  manner  to  the  immigration  of  this  year,  which 
amounted  to  about  seven  hundred  persons,  according 
to  some  authorities;^*  but  computing  in  the  usual 
manner,  of  five  persons  to  every  wagon,  tliere  would 
have  been  more  than  twice  that  number.  They 
arrived  in  better  health  and  condition  than  any  pre- 
vious body.^"" 

port  other  provisions  by  wagon,  he  opened  a  road  across  the  Cascade  Moun- 
tains by  the  way  of  McKenzio  B'ork  of  the  Willamette,  thus  realizing  the 
idea  which  led  to  the  misfortunes  of  a  large  part  of  the  immigration  of  1845. 
Over  this  road  he  drove  700  cattle  and  8  heavy  wagons  at  the  lirst  attempt. 
Beiiig  improved  subsequently,  it  became  a  good  pass  between  the  head  of  the 
Willamette  Valley  and  eastern  Oregon.  la  1857  Captain  Scott  returned  to 
the  States  to  bring  out  some  valuable  blood  stock.  Returning  in  1858  by 
the  soutliern  route,  he  was  murdered  by  the  Iiulians  near  (ioose  Lake,  while 
temporarily  separated  from  tlie  company  with  two  other  men,  wlio  were  also 
murdered.  All  the  stock  and  money  belonging  to  Scott  were  taken.  He  was 
about  70  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  his  ileath.  His  sons,  settled  in  Lano 
Co.,  were  Felix,  jun.,  Rodney,  HarrisoUj  and  Marion.  Felix,  jun.,  died  in 
Arizona  in  Nov.  1879.  EmjcHe  Presn,  in  Or.  Statesman,  Jan.  25,  1859;  Drew, 
in  I{i"porl  Com.  I  ml.  Aff.,  l'8G3,  58. 

•''.S'.  /''.  Calijorninn,  Nov.  1848. 

"'I  find  the  following  names  of  men  who  arrived  in  1848:  Tliomas  Adams, 
W.  F.  Adams,  \X.  L.  Adams,  William  Armpriest,  T.  W.  Avery,  W.  W. 
Bristow,  E.  L.  Bristow,  Rov.  \Vilsou  Blain,  ^\'illianl  Brunson,  Dr  D.  S.  Baker, 
An<lrc\v  Bowjra,  Isaac  Belknap,  (Jeorgo  Belknap,  C.  Belknap,  II.  Belknap, 
]i.  B.  Branson,  (i.  J.  Basket,  Andrew  Baner,  \V.  Betliers,  William  Burns, 
Ball,  .Tusse  W.  Bylknap,  CJeorge  H.  Brown,  Benjamin  C'loavei-,  D-T-iil  ("!!i-ip. 
man,  I'eter  D.  Cline,  Jesse  Chapman,  Adam  Cooper,  J.  A.  Cloninger,  Cotfoy, 
Daniel  Cushman,  Suth  Catlin,  Jacob  Conser,  Thomas  Clark,  John  S.  Crooks, 
Rinehart  Cripe,  Benjamin  Cripc,  (,'hriotian  Clyne,  Reuben  Dickens,  L.  Davij, 
John  Davis,  Jolin  Dennis,  Anderson  Do  Haven,  James  Davidson,  James  Emery, 
(I.  Emcrick,  S<)l>)mon  Emerick,  Thomas  (iatcs,  E.  (iarther,  Levi  (irant,  Barrel 
...  (Iritfiii,  (iriilin,  GrifHn,  William  (Jrecnwood,  P.  Oearhart,  (ieorge  (Jraham, 
Daniel  Hathaway,  Robert  Houston,  Richard  Hutchison,  Abitlia  Hawley, 
And'-'jw  Hagey,  Martin  Hagey,  P.  Hagey,  Henry  Henninger,  Nathaniel  Ham- 
lin, P.  Hibbert,  H.  N.  V.  Holmes,  Hooker,  A.  B.  Holcomb.  John  L.  Hicklln, 
J.  M.  Hendricks,  Frank  Harty,  S.  Haima,  (ieorge  Irvin,  William  M.  King, 
Orrin  Kellogg,  Joseph  Kellogg,  (1.  Kittredgc,  Clinton  Kelley,  David  Linen- 
berger,  Lyman  Liitourette,  Jolm  J.  Lindsay,  William  Lindsay,  Lindsay,  E.l/;ar 
Lindsay,  .J.  Lewis,  Josepli  D.  Lee,  Nicholas  Lee,  Jacob  Miller,  Christian 
Miller,  .John  Mc(ice.  Isaac  Miller,  John  M.ller,  Henry  Moody,  John  Moore, 
li  Moore,  Simon  Markham,  E.  L.  Maasey,  Han'en  McAlliot  ,'r,  Isaac  Newton, 
Norria,  M.  Neff,  Isaac  Owens,  Rev.  Jos.  E.  Pnrrott,  Ira  Patterson,  Reuben 
Pigg,  David  Priestly,  William  Porter,  Stephen  J'orter,  John  Purvine,  Farley 
Pierce,  A.  Prussel,  Jesse  Parrish,  Riley  Root,  James  Robinson,  .1.  (J.  Ramsey, 
Horace  Rico,  Pliny  Rieliison,  Calel)  Riciiey,  A.  H.  Roljcrt.".,  ,lohn  V..  Ricl;- 
nell,  John  Stipp,  Fendall  Sutiierlin,  Rev.  John  W.  Starr,  Buford  S;)ii!li, 
^L  Shelley,  Christopher  Shuck,  H.  Straiglit,  James  Sliiel  Is.  i>avid  Stone, 
Nathaniel  Stone,  Daniel  Trulinger.  John  Trulinger,  Nathan  Trtdinger,  ( laiiriel 
Truliugcr,  Watt  Tucker,  Robert  II.  Thompson,  James  Valcutme,  Ijaac  Wyatt, 


illi- 


76'i 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


Thomas  Wyatt,  Elias  D.  Wilcox,  Nathaniel  Wilcox,  Leonard  Williams,  Willis 
^\'illlal!ls,  Isaac  Winkle,  Samuel  Welch,  W.  B.  Walker,  W.  M.  Walker,  A. 
S.  Watt,  T.  1).  Winchester. 

Aliio  8.  Watt  was  born  in  Knox  Co.,  Ohio,  Jan.  15,  1824;  went  to  Mo.  in 
1838,  autl  to  Oregon  in  1848.  He  was  married  in  1850  to  Mary  E.  Elder,  and 
settled  in  Yauihill  Co.  He  was  a  member  of  tlie  senate  in  1878;  has  been  clei  k 
of  the  court,  surveyor,  and  farmer,  and  a  useful  and  honorable  citizen. 

E.  L.  Ivlassoy,  well  known  in  Orejjon,  at  the  breaking-out  of  the  mining 
excitement  of  ISOl  removed  to  Walla  Walla,  where  ho  was  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  18()7  while  travelling  in  Idaho  lie  had  his  feet  frozen,  from  the  effects  of 
which  he  died  in  August  of  tluit  year.    Walla  Walla  Statesman,  Aug.  JK),  18G7. 

Burrel  B.  ftrilfin  settled  in   Linn  Co.,  where  he   discovered   in   1851  a 

mountain  of  bluish  gray  marl  near  the  junction  of  Crabtree  and  Thomas 

forks   of   the   Santiam.     The   stone   was   easily  worked,    and   hardened   on 

cxiiosuro  to  the  air,  and  came  to  be  much  used  in  place  of  brick  for  hearth- 

H  and  chimney-pieces.     In  1852  Mr  (irilfin  removed  to  t'  -  Rogue  River 

V,  where  lie  discovered  in  1875  valualjle  ores  of  ciuuabar  and  antimony 

Jacksonville.  Oreijoman,  Sept.  25,  1875. 

,eorge  A.  Barnes,  a  native  of  Lockport,  Monroe  Co.,  New  York,  first 

emigrated  to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  from  there  to  Oregon  in  1848.     He 

went  to  the  gold  mines  in  California,  after  which  he  settled  on  Puget  Sound, 

with  the  history  of  which  he  has  since  been  identified. 

David  Stone,  who  was  captain  of  the  company  w  itli  which  Barnes  travelled, 
settled  in  the  Cowlitz  Valley,  a  few  miles  north  of  the  Columbia. 

Thomas  W.  Avery  emigrated  to  Oregon  with  his  parents  at  the  age  oi  15, 
and  in  1849  went  to  tlie  gold  mines  in  California,  from  which  he  returned 
in  1857,  wlien  he  settled  in T)ougl;i3  Co.  Working  as  a  carpenter  and  teaching 
in  a  country  school,  he  continued  to  reside  in  the  Umpqua  Valley  until  18(i2, 
when  lie  went  to  Salem  to  study  law  in  the  office  of  Bonham  and  Curl.  He 
Wiis  elected  to  the  Democratic  state  convention  in  18G4,  and  commenced  tlio 
practice  of  law  in  Umatilla  County,  and  was  in  the  legislature  in  180G.  In 
connection  with  J.  C.  Dow  he  established  the  Columbia  Prcxs,  the  first  news- 
paper at  Umatilla.  He  died  of  consumption  in  Salem  in  the  autumn  of  18G7. 
tialcni  Capital  C/ironick,  Dec.  14,  18G7. 

Mrs  Susan  Sturges,  born  in  111.,  May  14,  1839,  married  Andrew  Sturges 
in  Oregon  in  1855,  and  died  at  Vancouver,  in  Washington  Ter.,  April  28, 
187G,  her  husband  and  6  children  surviving.  Portland  Advocate,  May  11, 
187G. 

Mrs  .Tacob  Conser,  born  in  Richmond  Co.,  Ohio,  July  31,  1822,  removed 
with  her  jjarents  to  111.,  where  she  was  married  Feb.  28,  1839,  and  emigrated 
to  Oregon  with  h'>r  husband  in  1848.  She  died  at  Walla  Walla  while  on  a 
visit  to  a  sister  residing  tliere,  April  18,  1879.  San  Jose  Pioneer,  May  10, 
1879. 

Nathaniel  Hamlin,  an  immigrant  of  1848,  died  in  June  1SG6.  Seattle 
Wcdii/,  June  18,  ISGG. 

Kl'v.  Clinton  Kelley  was  born  in  Pulaski  Co.,  Ky.,  June  15,  ISOt'.  He  joined 
the  Metliodist  cliurch  at  tlie  age  of  19,  and  devoted  his  life  to  preaching. 
Before  he  was  20  he  married  Mary  Baston,  who  died  in  1837,  leaving  him  5 
children.  He  married  in  the  following  year  Jane  Burns,  who  also  died, 
leaving  one  child.  He  tlien  married  Maria  Crane,  by  whom  he  had  9  children. 
Being  opposed  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  he  determined  to  emigrate  to  a 
country  where  his  numerous  family  could  be  educated  to  become  useful  citi- 
zu'iis,  and  chose  Oregon  for  his  home,  wliero  le  was  widely  known  as  '  Father 
Kelley,'  and  as  a  nover-tiring  advocate  of  temperance.  He  died  at  his  resi- 
dence near  E;ist  Portland,  June  19,  1875,  leaving  an  honorable  memory. 
Dri-iininirn,  Juno  2G,  1875;  Or.  Citij  Entei-pri-ie,  Juno  25,  1875;  Portland  Tein- 
jieraiire  Star,  .Iuiie25,  1875;  Salem  Stall's. nan,  Juno  2G,  1875. 

W.  W.  Bristow,  son  of  Elijali  Bristow,  who  emigrated  in  184G  with  his 
brother,  E.  L.  Bristow,  anil  other  members  of  the  family,  followed  his  father 
iu  1848,  and  all  settled  in  Lane  County,  then  the  southern  part  of  Liun.     Mr 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


753 


Bristow  was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens  of  that  part  of  the  country;  was  a 
Tiiember  of  the  first  state  seiiatf,  and  of  the  state  ciniotitiitional  convention, 
and  active  in  securing  the  hicatioa  of  the  state  university  at  Eugene  City. 
In  his  family  he  wiis  as  gentle  as  he  was  enterprising  in  affairs  of  public 
interest.  He  died  at  Eugene  City,  Dee.  10,  1874.  Eu'/eiie  City  Guard,  Dec. 
1874;  nonelmr,,  Pl<umle„ln;  Dec.  VI,  1874. 

J.  M.  Hendricks,  brother-in-law  of  W.  W.  and  p].  L.  Bristow,  also  settled 
at  Pleasant  Hill  in  Lane  County,  where  he  died  in  the  spring  of  1878.  His 
son,  T.  G.  Henilricks,  was  a  prominent  merchant  of  Eugene  City.  San  Jwe 
Pioneer,  April  6,  1878. 

Nicholas  Lee  was  born  in  Pike  Co.,  Ohio,  February  11, 1818.  On  coming  to 
Oregon  he  settled  in  Polk  Co.,  near  Dallas.  He  engaged  in  merchandising 
in  1SG2,  but  retired  to  give  place  to  his  son,  Joseim  I).  Lee,  in  187(J.  His 
dcivth  occurred  July  11,  1870,  at  the  farm  where  he  settled  in  1848.  Dalhis 
Ifaiiizcr,  July  18,  1879. 

yrancen  Ella  Reynolds,  born  in  Tenn.  in  1815,  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  1848, 
an«'  I',  ided  with  her  sister,  Mrs  Wells,  at  the  time  of  her  death  on  the  25111 
of  Novendier,  1879.  Porllnml  Atbrtcafp,  Dec.  4,  1879. 

William  Porter  of  Aumsville,  Marion  Co.,  hat.  never  been  farther  away 
from  his  home  than  Oregon  City,  in  his  27  years'  residence  in  Oregon,  until 
summoned  to  Portland  by  the  U.  S.  district  court,  to  appear  as  a  juror.  Ho 
has  contributed  pleasing  articles  to  the  columns  of  tiio  Farmer,  but  the  journey 
across  the  plains  satisfied  completely  his  love  of  travel.  Salem  Farmer,  Juno 
25,  1875. 

John  L.  Hicklin,  born  in  Kentucky,  June  1793,  first  removed  to  Indiana 
and  finally  settled  in  Washington  Co.,  Tualatin  plains,  vircgon,  in  1848, 
where  he  continued  to  reside,  surrounded  by  a  large  family.  He  died  Oct.  14, 
1870,  after  a  long  and  exemplary  life.  Porllaml  Staiida:,i,  Oct.  27,  1876. 

David  Linenberger  emigrated  from  Virginia.  In  1851  he  removed  to  Sis- 
kiyou Co.,  Cal.,  where  he  engaged  in  mining.  He  died  Sept.  7,  18(58.  Yreka 
Union,  Sept.  12,  18G8 

Rev.  Joseph  E.  Parrott,  a  man  of  fine  talents  and  a  firm  Methodist,  was 
born  in  Missouri  in  1821,  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  1848,  and  married  Susan 
Garrison  in  1851,  who  died  in  August  1S()9.  On  the  31st  of  May,  1870,  he 
married  Mrs  L.  A.  Wonlen.  On  the  3d  of  September,  1872,  ho  died  at  his 
home  near  Lafayette  in  Yamhill  Co.  Portland  Advocate,  Sept.  19,  1872. 

Buford  Smith,  who  settled  in  Marion  Co. ,  after  a  long  residence  removed 
to  northern  Cal.,  where  he  remained  a  few  years,  and  returned  to  Oregon, 
having  lost  his  health.  Ho  survived  the  change  but  a  short  time,  and  the 
once  energetic  and  always  genial  pioneer  of  1848  passed  to  his  rest  at  the  ago 
of  70  years,  Nov.  6,  1870.  Sa'"m  Farmer,  Nov.  12,  1870. 

Mrs  Elizabeth  Smith,  wife  of  Buford  Snutli,  was  killed  by  the  accidentiil 
discharge  of  a  g"n  in  Nov.  1876.  Their  sons  were  A.,  Cliarles,  and  William 
Smith,  who  resided  at  Silverton  in  Marion  County.  S(dem  Statenman,  Nov.  24, 
1870. 

William  Greenwood  was  born  in  Hardy  Co.,  Va.,  September  13,  1800. 
On  the  12tli  of  August,  1828,  he  married  Klizabetli  Jane  Bramel,  ami  in  1832 
remove  to  St  Loui.s,  Mo.,  and  2  yeara  later  to  near  Burlington,  Iowa,  emigrat- 
ing in  U  <  to  Oregon,  aiul  settling  on  Howell  Prairie.  He  was  always  an 
upright  ai.d  industrious  citizen.  Ho  was  elected  to  the  state  senate  in  1802, 
serving  4  years.  His  death  occurred  May  IS,  1S09,  from  injuries  received  by 
acciilent,  leaving  2  sons  and  2  daughters,  and  a  large  estate.   Id.,  Aug.  9,  1809. 

Mrs  Jane  Belknap,  wife  of  JeHso  Belknap,  dieil  Dec.  10,  1870.  Born 
in  Penn.  in  1792,  she  emigrated  with  her  parents  to  western  N.  Y.  in  1790. 
At  the  age  of  10  -she  became  a  convert  to  Methodism,  and  on  setlling  witli  her 
husbauil  in  Benton  Co.,  kept  open  house  to  tliC  ministry,  entertaining  Bishop 
Simpson  on  his  first  visit  to  Oregon  to  preside  over  t!ie  lirst  annual  conferencu 
of  the  Metiiodist  clnirch.  She  had  a  largo  family  of  children.  Her  husband 
survived  her.   J'nrtlaiid  Adiyx'ate,  Dec.  21,  1870. 

Kev.  .John  W.  Starr  was  born  in  Va.  in  1795,  removed  to  Oliio  in  child- 
HisT.  Or.,  Vol.  I.    48 


754 


THE  CAYUSE  WAR. 


hood,  and  from  that  state  in  1839  to  Van  Bnren  Co.,  Iowa,  emigrating  in  1848 
to  Oregon  and  locating  in  Benton  Co.  He  was  an  ardent  preacher  of  his  faith 
from  youth  to  old  age.  Id.,  March  20,  1869. 

Caleb  Richey  died  in  Pleasant  Valley,  Nev.,  Nov.  28,  1875.  Reno  State 
Journal,  Dec.  18,  1875. 

Jesse  Parrish  died  in  Marion  County,  Oregon,  in  Sept.  1878.  Oh/mvia 
Tramcrlpt,  Oct.  5,  1878. 

J.  J.  Lindsay  was  born  in  Ripley  Co.,  Ind.,  Dec.  25,  1838,  and  emigrated 
with  his  parents  to  Oregon.  They  remained  but  one  winter  in  the  Willamette 
V  alley,  going  to  Cal.  in  1849,  and  remaining  there,  where  the  elder  Lindsay 
died  in  18ol.  His  subsequent  history  belongs  to  California.  Sonoma  Co.  Hist . 
o22. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


OREGON'S  ENVOYS— ERECTION  OF    A  TERRITORIAL 
GOVERNMENT. 

1848. 

Journey  of  Thornton — Adventures  of  Meek — The  Piou.s  Lawyer  and 
THE  Profane  Trafi-er— Intekvik'.vh  with  the  President— Memorials 
TO  Congress — The  Ordinance  of  1787 — Bills  hefore  Cok(  hess — The 
Slavery  Question — Warm  Discussions — Final  Passage  of  the  Bill 
Creating  the  Territory  of  Oregon — Appointment  of  Officials — 
Anxiety  of  President  Polk — Return  of  Joe  Meek  with  a  Live 
Governor — Lane  and  Meek  at  San  Francisco  Bay — Arrival  in 
Oregon — Lane's  Proclamation — Decline  of  Mission  Influence. 

Let  us  now  follow  the  two  Oregon  messengers  to 
the  national  capital,  and  see  what  they  did  there. 
Thornton,  in  the  United  States  sloop  of  war  Ports- 
mouth, Captain  Montgomery,  arrived  at  Boston  the 
5th  and  at  Washington  the  11th  of  May.^  Though 
no  one  in  Oregon  but  Abernethy  and  his  counsellors 
knew  exactly  his  errand,  Thornton  has  represented  it 
as  most  comprehensive,  embracing  a  petition  for  no 
less  than  twenty-one  favors  from  congress,  among 
which  was  the  old  formula  of  the  United  States  juris- 
diction. He  also  asked  for  grants  of  land;  for  con- 
firmation of  the  colonial  land  law  and  the  other 
legislative  acts  and  decisions  of  the  courts,  which  had 
been  asked  for  by  the  memorial  of  the  legislature  of 
1845;  for  money  to  pay  the  debt  of  the  provisional 
government;  for  troops  to  protect  the  settlements, 
and  the  immigrants  on  the  road ;  and  for  steam  pilota^re 

'  Thornton  8  Or.  and  Cal.,  ii.  248.  In  another  place  Thornton  says  he  arrived 
in  Boston  on  the  2d.  Or.  Pioneer  Askoc.,  Trans.,  1874,  85, 

(755) 


756 


TEKRITORIAL  (iOVERNMENT. 


and  light-houses,  besides  Indian  agents,  and  the  ex- 
tinction of  the  Indian  title,  which  were  by  no  means 
original  requests. 

Thornton  says  that  he  had  an  interview  with  the 
president  on  the  13th  of  May,  having  previously  con- 
versed with  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  to  whom  he  car- 
ried a  lettter  from  Abernethy,  and  that  soon  after  the 
visit  to  the  executive  he  prepared  a  memorial  to  con- 
gress, which  was  presented  by  Benton  to  the  senate. 
He  does  not  say  that  he  presented  the  memorial  of  the 
"free  citizens  of  the  United  States  resident  in  Ore- 
gon," which  was  placed  in  the  mail-bag  of  the  Whiton, 
and  transferred  with  other  mail  matter  to  the  Ports- 
mouth, but  one  of  his  own.  Yet  it  was  the  petition  of 
the  citizens  which  was  presented  by  Benton,  and  that 
too  on  the  8th  of  May,  before  Thornton,  according  to 
his  own  account,  reached  Washington  from  New  York, 
where  he  tarried  two  or  three  days.  The  mail  had 
reached  Washington  before  him.^  If  Thornton  me- 
morialized congress  subsequently,  it  does  not  appear 
upon  the  records.  However,  it  is  safe  to  presume  that 
his  letters  from  Abernethy  secured  him  friendly  recog- 
nition, and  that  but  for  the  appearing  of  a  second  and 
duly  authorized  messenger  of  the  colonial  government, 
the  special  mission  of  Thornton,  whatever  it  was,  would 
have  received  some  consideration. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Meek  did  not  leave 
Walla  Walla  until  the  end  of  the  first  week  in  March. 
He  arrived  in  Washington  the  last  week  in  May, 
having  performed  the  journey  across  the  continent  in 
the  stormy  spring  months  in  less  than  half  the  time 
occupied  by  Thornton  in  sailing  around  it.  The  party 
had  found  the  snow  on  the  Blue  Mountains  not  so 
deep  but  that  a  trail  could  be  broken  by  the  men  walk- 
ing and  leading  their  horses  and  pack -mules.  Beyond 
Fort  Hall  in  the  mountain  passes  travelling  was  more 
difficult,  but  they  were  assisted  by  some  friendly  natives 
and  by  a  man  famous  among  trappers,  Peg-leg  Smith, 

» Cong.  Globe,  1847-8,  737. 


THORNTON'S  EFFORTS. 


767 


whom  they  found  in  the  Bear  River  country.  At 
Fort  Bridger  they  obtained  fresh  horses,  and  avoiding 
the  hostile  tribes  between  Independence  Rock  and 
Ash  Hollow  by  travelling  at  night  and  lying  perdu  by 
day,  supplying  themselves  afresh  at  forts  Laramie 
and  Rubideau,  they  succeeded  in  reaching  the  irontier 
just  as  the  immigrants  were  crossing  the  Missouri 
River  on  the  4th  of  May,"^ 

Here  all  his  remaining  men  left  him ;  and  after  a  brief 
visit  to  his  relatives  in  Missouri,  Meek  hastened  to 
Washington,  being  forced  to  make  diplomacy  supply 
the  place  of  money  *  with  steamboat  captains  and  stage 
proprietors,  and  arriving  at  the  capital  in  a  costume 
sufficiently  ragged  and  bizarre  to  command  the  atten- 
tion of  men,  small  or  great,  anywhere  in  the  world. 
Nor  was  the  messenger  at  all  indifferent  to  his  exalted 
position  and  the  mighty  power  of  dress.  The  rags 
and  dirt  which  covered  him,  and  which  might  have 
been  the  envy  of  any  Peter  the  Great,  were  v^^orth 
jnore  to  him  at  this  juncture  than  twelve  suits  of 
broadcloth.  He  would  see  the  president  at  once,  be- 
fore civilization  should  rob  him  of  any  particle  of  this 
prestige,'^  It  was  better  than  a  bear-fight,  better  than 
a  Blackfoot's  scalp,  the  glory  of  being  forever  known 

^Ehhert's  Trapper's  Life,  MS.,  24-31;  Bameg'  Or.  and  Cnl,  MS.,  2. 

*  The  moneyless  condition  of  both  the  Oregon  messengers  was  about  equal. 
Thornton  states  that  at  one  time  he  had  only  a  lialf-dime;  but  remembering 
to  pray,  that  day  his  wants  were  supplied. 

*  In  Mrs  Victor's  River  of  the  Weil,  439-62,  is  an  amusing  account  of 
Meek's  delmt  in  Washington.  The  book  was  in  fact  written  by  Airs  Victor  at 
the  suggestion  of  Meek,  who  furnished  the  incidents  of  his  life,  on  which 
thread  is  strung  a  sketch  of  the  America!,  fur  companies  and  of  the  colonial 
history  of  Oregon.  All  that  part  of  the  iiook  relating  to  the  movements  of 
the  fur  companies  and  Mock  s  personal  aflFairs  was  written  from  notes  fur- 
nished by  Meek;  the  remainder  was  gathered  from  various  other  sources.  Of 
Meek's  characteristics,  to  vliich  I  have  referred  in  his  biography,  Mrs  Victor 
geems  to  have  had  a  ready  appreciation,  ami  to  liavt  presented  him  very  nearly 
as  he  was — a  fine  man  spoiled  by  l)eing  thrust  out  into  an  almost  savage  life 
in  his  boyhood. 

Frances  F.  Victor,  nie  Fuller,  was  a  native  of  Rome,  New  York;  her  father 
was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  her  mother,  Lucy  A.  Williams,  of  tlio  Rhode 
Island  family  of  tliat  name.  Her  father  removed  to  AV'ooster,  Ohio,  in  her 
girlhood,  where  her  education  was  completed.  Most  (Jhio  people  of  tlie  period 
of  iSol  will  remember  a  volume  of  poems  ))ro«ght  out  by  Frances  and  lier  sis- 
ter Metta  Victoria,  about  this  time,  and  while  tlie  authors  were  still  in  tlieir 
teens.     The  sisters  married  brothers  by  the  name  of  Victor.     Frances,  who 


768 


TERRITORIAL  CJOVERNMKNT. 


as  tlic  roughest  and  most  roliclcHonio  plenipotentiary 
the  great  republican  capital  had  ever  seen. 

It  little  concerned  Meek  that  his  relative  was  the 
president's  secretary.  Was  he  not  a  great  American 
citizen,  very  free  and  quite  unceremonious,  and  the 
representative  of  other  great  American  citizens  who 
looked  out  on  a  sea  toward  the  sunset  ?  Two  days 
had  not  jiassed  before  the  apartments  of  the  White 
House  were  as  famili;it  to  him  as  the  canons  of  Snake 
River.     Yet  he  was  not  wholly  void  of  comjtunctions." 

He  began  to  feel  in  due  time  that  after  all  in  v/L  t-' 
soever  appertained  to  greatness,  there  should  be 
applied  the  eternal  fitness,  and  so  he  permitted  a 
tailor  to  trust  him  for  a  suit  of  *  store  clothes.'  On 
the  29th  of  May  President  Polk  laid  before  both 
houses  a  special  message  on  Oregon  affairs,  in  which 
he  quoted  some  passages  from  the  memorial  of  the 
colonial  legislature,  forwarded  by  Meek,  touching  the 
neglect  of  congress,  and  reminded  members  that  in 
his  annual  messages  of  1846  and  1847  he  had  urged 
the  immediate  organization  of  a  territorial  govern- 

continiied  to  write  as  inclination  jirompted,  removed  to  the  Pacific  coast  in 
18C3,  with  her  husband,  who  belonged  to  the  engineer  corps  of  the  United 
States  navy,  and  who  after  resigninj^  perished  in  the  foundering  of  the  steamer 
Pacific  in  November  1875.  Mrs  Victor  displayed  great  industry  during  her 
residence  in  California  an<l  Oregon,  in  studying  the  natural  and  historical 
features  of  the  coast.  She  wrote  many  magazine  articles  and  letters  of  travel, 
and  besides  the  liicer  of  the  West,  Hartford,  1870,  published  in  San  Francisco 
All  Over  Oreipn  and  Washington,  and  a  volume  of  western  stories  and  poems 
called  The  N^ew  Penelope. 

*  Mrs  Victor  gives  Meek's  own  account  of  his  feelings,  which  do  him  no 
discredit.  '  He  felt  that  the  importance  of  his  mission  demanded  some  dig- 
nity of  appearance — some  conformity  to  established  rules  and  precedents. 
But  of  the  latter  he  knew  absolutely  nothing;  and  concerning  the  former  he 
realized  the  absurdity  of  a  dignitary  clothed  in  blankets  ancl  wolf -skin  cap. 
"Joe  Meek  I  must  remain, "he  said  to  himself  as  he  stepped  out  of  the  train, 
and  glanced  along  the  platform  at  the  crowd  of  porters  with  the  names  of 
their  hotels  on  their  hatbands.  Learning  that  Coleman's  was  the  most  fash- 
ionable place,  he  decided  that  to  Coleman's  he  would  go,  judging  correctly 
that  it  was  best  to  show  no  littleness  of  heart  evt'i  in  the  matter  of  hotels. 
After  an  amusing  scene  at  Coleman's,  which  at  once  ijitroduced  him  to  the 
cognizance  of  several  senators,  he  repaired  to  the  presidential  mansion,  where 
his  cousin  Knox  Walker  was  private  secretary,  to  whom  also  he  made  him- 
self known  in  his  peculiar  style  of  badinage.  Walker  insisted  on  his  being 
seen  by  Mrs  Polk  as  well  as  the  president.  Says  Meek:  "W^hen  I  heard 
the  silks  rustling  in  the  passage,  I  felt  more  frightened  than  if  a  hundred 
Blackfeet  had  whooped  in  my  ear.  A  mist  came  over  my  eyes,  and  whea 
Mrs  Polk  spoke  to  mo  I  couldn't  think  of  anythmg  to  say  in  return." ' 


THE  SLAVERY  QUESTION 


700 


ment.  The  colony  on  the  Pacifif  Huaboard  wore  now 
as  then  in  need  of  federal  aid,  and  were  justly  entitled 
to  it/  Again  he  called  attention  to  the  wnnt  of  a 
territorial  organization,  recommending  that  a  regi- 
ment of  mounted  men  be  raised  for  the  relief  of  Onv 
gon,  that  Indian  agents  be  appointed  to  reside  among 
the  different  tribes,  and  an  u[)pr()i)riation  made  to  en- 
able them  to  treat  for  the  restoration  and  [)reservation 
of  peace.  This  he  said  should  be  done  in  time  to  allow 
troops  to  reach  the  territory  that  year. 

Before  entering  upon  congressional  proceedings 
following  Meek's  arrival,  I  shall  refer  briefly  to  what 
had  been  done  since  the  treaty  of  184G,  settling  the 
boundary  question.  It  was  not  because  congress  had 
been  unmindful  of  Oreijon  that  the  colonists  had  been 
compelled  to  wait  so  long  for  the  jurisdiction  oi"  the 
United  States.  The  Oregon  boundary  was  hardly 
determined  before  the  even  more  momentous  ques- 
tion was  asked,  How  much,  if  any,  of  this  new 
domain  shall  be  slave  territory?  In  these  days  no 
topic  so  engendered  bitter  contest  on  the  floor  of  con- 
gress as  that  of  slavery.  It  was  enough  to  secure  its 
failure  in  the  senate  that  Douglas'  bill**  for  establish- 
ing a  territorial  government  in  Oregon,  of  which  men- 
tion has  already  been  made  as  having  passed  the  lower 


^Cwif/.  OMie,  1847-8,  788-9;  S.  F.  CaU/ornioii,  A[ay  3,  17,  1848;  Home 
Mmhiiari/,  22,  6.3;  Amei:  Quart.  Jieg.,  i.  541-2. 

"t'otif/.  Globe,  1845-G,  24.  Thornton  has  audaciously  claimed  to  have  Ijcoii 
the  author  of  this  bill  which  was  before  congress  with  hardly  any  alteration 
from  Dec.  184G  until  its  passage,  with  a  few  additions  in  Aug.  1848.  Ho 
particularly  alleges  that  he  'incorporated  a  prov'  .  ,,i  prohibiting  slavery  in 
Oregon.     This   I  took,' he   says,  'from   the  or  •   .;  of    1787;   and   I  was 

induced  to  make  it  a  part  of  the  bill,  not  only  because  of  my  own  convictions 
on  the  subject  of  human  rights,  but  also  for  the  reason  that  the  people  of 
Oregon  had,  under  the  provisional  government,  steridy  pronounced  a  rigid 
interdiction  of  slavery.'  Or.  Pioneer.  Annoc,  Tniii-s.,  1874,  87.  Benton  said 
in  the  senate  Dec.  8,  1845,  that  the  colonists  had  presented  their  form  of 
government,  'subject  to  the  ratification  of  the  United  States  government,' 
and  it  was  well  understood  l)y  the  friends  of  Oregon,  and  its  enemies  also  for 
that  matter,  that  the  ordinance  of  1787  was  the  liase  on  which  the  structure 
of  a  government  for  that  territory  was  to  be  erected.  Therefore  for  Tliorn- 
ton  to  claim  that  he  framed  this  part  of  Douglas'  bill,  or  had  anything  to  do 
with  the  fi'aming  of  it,  is  brazen  assumption.  But  this  is  not  all.  He  declares 
that  he  '  felt  a  vehement  desire  to  so  multiply,  in  Oregon,  the  springs  of  knowl- 
edge,' that  he  'framed  the  20th  section  of  the  act  of  congress  of  August  14, 


780 


TKURITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


house,  January  1(5,  1847,  incorporated  the  ordinance 
of  1787,  on  which  were  founded  the  (organic  Uiws  of 
the  provisional  jnpt)vernnient  of  Orep)n  accorthn*:;  to 
the  expressed  desire  of  the  colonial  k'gislatu.'c  of  1845, 

1848.*  This  Hcction  is  nuinhcred  in  DmiglaH*  bill  section  18,  and  reads:  '  That 
wlieii  the  lands  in  siiid  territory  shall  be  surveyed  under  the  direction  of  the 
govorntncnt  of  the  United  States,  preparatory  to  bringing  the  same  into 
market,  sections  numbered  10  and  'Mi  in  each  township  in  saul  territory  shall 
be,  and  the  same  is  hereby,  reserved  for  the  purposes  of  being  applied  to  schools 
ill  sai<l  territory,  and  in  the  states  and  territories  to  be  erocted  out  of  the 
same.'  Or.  Oen.  L<iw»,  1843-72,  <)3-5. 

Thornton  goes  on  to  say  that  the  consideration  which  decided  him  '  to  make 
the  '2()th  section  a  part  of  the  territorial  l)ill, rather  than  of  the  land  bill, to  which 
it  more  appropriately  belonged,  '  was  the  same  which  governed  him  in  framing 
sec.  17,  relating  to  tlio  transfer  of  civil  and  criminal  suits  from  tiio  courts  of  the 
provisioi,  li  government  to  those  established  under  the  territorial  government, 
namely,  the  best  interests  of  the  jieople.  One  is  yet  more  astonished  at  Judge 
Thornton's  audacity  in  view  of  the  facts  being  open  1»)  any  one  taking  the  trouble 
to  look  into  the  proceedings  of  congress  from  1845  to  1848,  or  to  a  lilo  of  the 
Orcijoii  SjMicMor  for  1847,  where  in  the  issue  datctl  Sept.  Kith  is  Douglas' 
bill  of  Dec.  184(5,  as  it  passed  the  house,  and  was  at  first  amendc<l  by  the 
Bonate,  containing  not  only  tiio  ordinance  of  1787,  and  •'''i  section  granting 
the  IGth  and  3(jth  sections  for  school  purpo.ses,  but  the  «  >n  relating  to  the 
transfer  of  the  cases  already  in  the  Oregon  courts  to  tli  ict  courts  of  the 

United  States;  as  well  as  a  provision  for  having  al'  ies  forfeitures, 

actions,  and  causes  of  action  recovered  under  the  new  organization  in  the 
same  manner  they  would  have  been  under  the  old;  the  only  difference  between 
this  section  of  the  act  aa  it  finally  passed  and  the  first  draught  of  the  bdl,  being 
that  in  the  former  it  is  numbered  15,  instead  of  17;  and  that  two  provisos 
were  added  to  tliis  section  before  the  bill  became  a  law,  to  guard  the  constitu- 
tionality of  the  penalties  and  forfeitures,  and  to  prevent  jumses  of  the  inter- 
pret'ition  of  the  old  laws.  The  change  in  the  numbers  was  effected  by  the 
introduction,  during  a  course  of  amendments,  of  several  new  sections,  to  tlie 
disarrangement  of  the  former  numbering.  There  is  nothing  in  the  bill  of 
which  'Ihornton  particularly  claims  authorship  that  was  not  in  the  original 
bill  of  1840.  Yet  he  talks  about  his  efforts  to  neutralize  the  hostility  to  this 
measure,  when  no  opposition  in  congress  ever  appeared  to  granting  this  land. 
In  his  Aiitohioi/ntplii/,  MS.,  45,  he  says,  in  reference  to  the  schotd-land  sec- 
tion, 'I  will  frankly  admit  that  when  to  this  section  (the  10th)  of  the  public 
lands,  the  3Cth  was  added  by  the  passage  of  the  bill,  the  thought  that  prov- 
idence had  made  me  the  instrument  by  which  so  great  a  boon  was  bestowed 
upon  posterity,  tilled  my  heart  with  emotions  as  pure  and  deep  as  can  be 
experienced  by  man; '  after  which  he  talks  about  being  recognized  as  a  bene- 
factor of  his  race  when  his  toils  and  responsibilities  shall  be  over.  See  Or. 
J'ioiwer  Annoc,  Trait.'t.,  1874,  95.  I  have  endeavored  to  get  the  true  and  full 
history  of  the  first  grant  by  congress  of  the  30th  section  of  the  public  lands 
for  school  purposes.  After  going  over  the  congressional  records  and  finding 
tliat  so  far  as  I  could  discover,  Oregon  was  the  first  recipient  of  this  bounty, 
I  wrote  to  the  commissioner  of  the  United  States  land-oflice  at  Wtishingtoii 
to  learu  if  possible  more  about  the  matter;  but  found  from  his  reply  that  he 
could  learn  from  me,  inasmuch  as  he  wrote  that  the  '  act  to  establish  the  ter- 
ritorial government  of  Minnesota '  was  the  first  instance  of  the  grant  of  the 
3(ith  in  addition  to  the  ICtli  section  for  sciiool  purposes,  of  diite  March  3, 
1849,  0  months  after  the  passage  of  the  Oregon  bill,  containing  the  grant 
of  these  two  sections.  I  therefore  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  reiterated 
petitions  of  the  e;irly  colonists,  notiibly  of  the  Methodist  missionaries  and  Dr 
White,  to  congress,  the  president,  and  the  friends  of  Oregon,  to  remember 


BII,LS  BKFORi-:  CONtiRESS. 


761 


as  shown  l)y  tin;  resolutions  attacluul  to  the  nien)oi'ial 
of  that  l)0(ly,^  to  which  Benton  drew  attention  Decem- 
ber 8,  1845. 

When  the  Oregon  messenger  arrived  'ie  found  two 
bills  before  conyfress  for  the  estai)lis]inK'nt  of  Oregon 
Ti^rritory.  Douglas,  who  had  8te|)|)(>d  .'u-ross  from  the 
house  of  representatives  to  the  8enate-chani'i,LM',  and 
was  chairman  of  the  committee  on  territories,  intro- 
duced, January  10,  1848,  a  bill  which  in  place  of  the 
section  rejected  by  the  senate  at  tlie  ])revious  session 
contained  one  sanctioning  the  colonial  laws  of  Oregon, 
which  being  twice  read  was  referred  back  to  the  com- 
mittee, and  reported  February  7tli  without  amend- 
ments, to  go  through  the  ordeal  of  southern  opposition 
when  it  came  to  del  ,lo.  It  was  not  until  the  20th 
of  April  that  Douglas  was  able  to  obtain  the  consent 
of  the  senate  to  make  bills  relating  to  territories  the 
special  order  for  the  2Gth ;  and  when  that  day  came 
round,  the  California  claims  and  the  $;J,000,000  aj)prQ- 
priation  being  under  discussion,  the  Oregon  bill  was 
postponed,  so  that  nothing  had  been  done  in  the  senate 
for  Oregtni  when  on  the  8th  of  May  the  citizens'  me- 
morial was  received,  nor  yet  when  on  the  29th  the 
legislative  petition  was  presented,  together  with  the 
special  message  of  the  president,  and  when  Washington 
was  full  of  rumors  concerning  the  affairs  of  Oregon, 
emphasized  by  the  presence  of  two  men  from  that 
distant  territor}^  with  requests  from  individuals  and 
the  colonial  government  for  congressional  action. 

On  the  31st,  Bright  of  Indiana,  in  the  absence  of 
Douglas,  brought  up  the  Oregon  bill,  when  Benton 
moved  an  amendment   authorizing   the    president  to 


their  eflForta  in  beh.alf  of  the  American  title,  hy  liberal  grants  of  land  for 
educational  purposes,  had  first  led  to  this  generous  provision  as  made  by  the 
Oregon  bill  of  1846.  The  precedent  once  established,  however,  the  other  ter- 
ritories of  an  even  or  subsequent  date  came  into  the  same  rich  inheritance, 
due  probably  to  the  influence  of  far-ofl'  Oregon  on  national  legislation,  but 
never  in  any  sense  due  to  the  influence  or  the  care  for  posterity  due  to  J.  Q. 
Thornton  as  alleged.  Actx  Jil  .s'c.s.s.  ,?67/(  Con;/.,  120.  I  shall  have  occasion  iu 
another  place  to  refer  to  similar  unfounded  iiretensions. 

*  See  chapter  XVIII,  on  the  amendment  of  the  organic  laws. 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


raise  a  regiment  of  volunteers  in  the  territory  to 
serve  fc^r  twenty  months,  wliioh  was  agreed  to.  This 
amendment  was  followed  by  one  by  Hale  of  New 
Hampshire,  who  moved  that  the  12th  section  of  the 
bill  of  the  last  session,  touching  the  ordinance  of  1787, 
should  be  inserted  in  the  place  of  its  substitute  in  the 
})resent  bill;  but  as  the  subject  was  one  of  importance 
to  the  whole  country,  desired  the  debate  on  it  i)ost- 
poned  until  the  I'ith  of  June. 

Bright  opposed  the  amendment  of  Hale,  on  the 
ijround  that  it  would  raise  discussion  and  retard  the 
passage  of  the  bill,  whereas  it  was  of  the  utmost  im- 
portarce  that  it  should  be  pressed  to  an  immediate 
vote.  Niles  of  Connecticut,  on  the  otlier  hand,  ob- 
jected to  the  unusual  urgency  displayed  by  the  western 
senators,  and  proposed  to  make  Bent<^n's  amendment 
a  separate  bill  and  pass  it  immediately,  while  the  re- 
mainder of  the  territorial  bill  should  take  time  for 
examination.  Hannegan  of  Indiana,  however,  ex- 
pressed a  determination  to  vote  against  the  amendment 
of  Benton.  The  whole  of  Oregon,  he  said,  lay  within 
the  boundary  from  which  slavery  was  excluded  by 
the  Missouri  compromise ;  which  statement  being 
challenged,  he  declared  that  no  sane  man  believed 
that  slavery  would  ever  exist  in  Oregon,  and  hoped 
the  bill  W(juld  be  passed  without  delay.  "  He  appealed 
to  every  man  not  to  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  the  cries  of 
our  citizens  in  Oregon,  surrounded  by  hostile  Indians, 
and  not  to  be  turned  from  it  by  this  wicked  and 
useless  question  being  agitatea." 

Benton  followed  with  an  eloquent  appeal,  saying 
that  the  Oregon  settlers  had  deserved  well  of  congress 
for  then  enterprise,  and  now  the  neglect  of 
ment  had 


e.ioouraged  thi 


goverri- 


murderous  outrages  which 
compelled  the  settlers  to  send  an  express  encounter- 
ing the  hardships  and  dangers  of  a  winter  journey 
across  the  mountains  and  plains  to  ask  for  the  inter- 
position of  an  ungrateful  government.  He  closed 
by  calling  on  senators  of  every  variety  of  opinion  to 


GENERAL  DISCUSSION, 


7G3 


unite  in  passing  the  bill  and  preventing  any  further 
Indian  massacres. 

Then  Westcott  of  Florida  took  occasion  to  resent 
an  insinuation  against  the  judiciary  coniniittee,  that 
it  had  retarded  the  passage  of  !he  bilP"  by  thrusting 
on  the  senate  the  question  of  free  territory.  "It  was 
not,"  he  said,  "thrust  on  the  senate  by  that  coniniittee, 
but  by  the  liouse  bill  (of  1847);  and  it  was  not  then 
or  now  thrust  on  the  senate  by  any  senator  from  the 
south.  It  was  not  thrust  upon  them  by  the  com- 
mittee on  territories.  The  amendment  was  entirely 
unnecessary,  as  it  is  already  in  the  bill  under  consider- 
ation. The  laws  of  Oregon  already  inhibit  slavery. 
These  laws  were  submitted  to  the  judiciary  committee 
last  session,  and  will  be  found  among  tlie  documents. 
If  the  bill  should  pass  as  it  has  been  reported,  it  will 
contain  a  perfect  inhibition  of  slavery."  ^^  In  conclu- 
sion he  ^ave  notice  that  he  would  move  to  amend  the 
bill  by  substituting  the  bill  of  the  previous  session  as 
amended  by  i;he  setiate.  Davis  of  Mississi[)pi  declared 
that  no  one  could  more  earnestly  desire  that  Oregon 
might  have  a  territorial  government  than  himself, 
but  he  wanted  time  for  consideration.  The  laws  of 
lowa,^''  he  declared,  were  not  atlapted  to  Oregon, 
which  required  different  ordinances.  He  would  recom- 
mend the  recommitment  of  the  bill  to  the  judiciary 
committee,  with  instructions  to  report  immediately. 

Berrien  of  Georgia  suggested  that  the  shortest  way 
to  a  final  vote  would  be  to  ado[)t  Westcott's  amend- 
ment of  substitutinii-  the  former  senate  bill ;  and  Cal- 
houn  was  not  dis[)osed  to  interpofje  any  delay  which 
his  duty  did  not  imperatively  require.  He  wished  to 
give  a  government  to  the  territory  of  Oregon  inime- 

'•This  is  a  rofercnce  to  the  aiaenilmcnts  niade  l>y  the  judiciary  I'oininittec 
of  tlie  senate  to  the  Oregon  hiU  at  the  previous  session,  which  were  rejectcil 
by  the  house.     They  may  he  found  in  the  l}r.  Sjifctdtoi;  Sept.  Ki,  1847. 

"('o«f/.  Glolie,  1S47-8,  805.     See  Tliornton's  pretensions  in  note  8. 

''■"I  find  several  references  to  the  fact  that  tlie  Oregon  hill  was  dra^v^l  up 
on  the  plan  of  the  territorial  acts  of  Iowa  and  Wisconsin.  Jil.  Hriglit  says, 
page  8{M),  that  '  tl  e  hill  is  substantially  the  same  as  the  bills  for  the  admission 
of  Wiscousiu  and  Iowa,  with  the  exception  of  the  12th  section.' 


76i 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


diately.  At  the  close  of  the  day's  proceedings  the 
Oregon  bill  had  not  advanced  a  step  toward  its  pas- 
sage. 

On  the  following  day  the  consideration  of  the  bill 
was  resumed,  when  Hale  of  New  Hampshire  offered 
an  amendment  which  was  only  another  fagot  to  the 
flame  of  southern  opposition  to  free  territory,  era- 
bodying  as  it  did  the  conditions  of  the  ordinance  of 
1787,  as  well  as  confirming  the  laws  already  in  force 
in  Oregon  not  incompatible  with  the  remainder  of  the 
act,  subject  to  alteration  or  modification  by  the  gov- 
ernor and  legislative  assembly;  and  extending  the 
laws  of  the  United  States  over  that  territory.  This 
was  objected  to  as  a  firebrand,  and  Hale  offered  to 
withdraw  his  amendment  for  the  present,  to  be  re- 
newed if  he  deemed  it  best  on  seeing  the  course  taken 
by  the  bill. 

Calhoun  of  South  Carolina  replied  to  a  proposition 
of  Bright  to  strike  out  the  obnoxious  12th  section,  to 
which  Hale  objected,  that  the  removal  of  that  section 
would  not  be  a  removal  of  the  difficulty.  ''There  are 
three  questions  involved,"  said  Calhoun:  "first,  the 
power  of  congress  to  interfere  with  persons  emigrat- 
ing with  their  (slave)  property  into  the  state ;  second, 
the  power  of  the  territorial  gov(^rnment  to  do  so;  and 
third,  the  power  of  congress  to  vest  such  a  power  in 
the  territory ; "  and  recommended  either  Westcott's 
amendmont  by  substitution,  or  the  passage  of  the 
military  section  as  a  separate  bill. 

Miller  of  New  Jersey  expressed  sur})rise  that  the 
people  of  Oregon  had  not  the  right  to  prohibit 
slavery.  Whence,  then,  had  they  derived  the  right  to 
sanction  slavery  I  To  pour  oil  on  the  billows,  Dick- 
inson of  New  York  suggested  leaving  out  the  12th 
section,  and  permitting  the  people  of  Oregon  to  settle 
for  tliemselves  tlie  question  of  free  territory.  To  this 
})roposal  Bagby  of  Georgia  gave,  by  implication,  his 
consent,  by  saying  tliat  congress  had  no  more  riglit 
over  the  territory  than   over  any  other  property  of 


COMPROMISE  BILL. 


765 


the  United  States;  and  denying  that  it  could  "erect 
a  wall  around  a  territory  in  which  citizens  of  other 
states  could  not  meet  without  leaving  their  property 
behind  them."  For  him,  he  wished  the  I'ith  section 
stricken  out.  At  the  same  time  he  called  Dickin- 
son's doctrine,  that  Oregon  could  make  its  own  laws, 
a  monstrous  one,  and  called  his  suggestion  an  "attempt 
to  stir  up  agitation  in  reference  to  a  territory  into 
which  it  was  generally  admitted  slavery  was  never 
likely  to  enter;"  whereupon  Hale  retorted  that  this 
was  a  "southern  firebrand"  which  was  now  thrown  in. 

Bagby  again  "deprecated  the  new  doctrine  as  to 
these  ephemeral  things  called  territorial  governments, 
by  which  any  twenty  thousand  settlers  on  the  public 
lands  might  set  up  a  government,  and  demand  the 
right  to  enact  their  own  laws."  Foote  of  Mississippi, 
though  declaring  that  he  did  not  wish  to  enter  ui)on 
the  discussion  of  the  question  of  slavery  at  that  time, 
as  it  "might  enable  an  individual  to  whom  the  aboli- 
tionists were  attracted  to  increase  his  popularity," 
announced  that  he  would  vote  for  the  bill  if  the  12th 
section  should  be  stricken  out.  Hale  replying  to  the 
personalities  <^f  Foote,  the  debate  ended  in  remarks 
of  no  pertinency  to  the  history  of  the  Oregon  bill. 

The  third  day  was  but  a  repetition  of  the  t^ o  pre- 
ceding, except  that  some  new  voices  were  heard  in  the 
debate.  Things  were  said  of  the  Oregon  government 
that  would  have  roused  the  resentment  of  its  founders 
could  tliey  have  heard  them,  and  at  every  renewal  of 
the  contest  it  was  evident  that  the  prospect  for  Or(\gon 
darkened.  At  lenj^th  Houston  of  Texas,  j:()[)ing  to 
put  an  end  to  the  discussion,  moved  to  amend  the  12th 
section  by  inserting  a  modifying  clause,  which  was 
agreed  to,  but  did  not  prevent  the  I'ocurronce  of  the 
motion  to  strike  out  the  section.'^     A  vote  being  taken 

'■'The  following  is  the  paragniph  so  ohnoxious  to  southerners,  with  tho 
amendment  ill  italics:  'Sec.  12.  And  he  it  fiirtlier  enacted  that  tho  inhal)i- 
tants  of  the  saitl  territory  shall  he  entitled  to  all  the  riglits,  privileges,  and 
iininnnitiea  heretofore  granted  and  secured  to  tlie  territory  of  Iowa  and  to  its 
inlia))itants;  and  the  existing  laws  now  in  force  in  tho  territory  of  Oregon, 


766 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


on  striking  out,  resulted  in  a  two-thirds  majority 
against  it,  which  was  the  end  of  that  day's  proceedings. 

I  need  not  follow  the  bill  through  the  ensuing  six 
weeks  of  discussion.  On  the  13th  of  July  it  was  re- 
committed to  a  select  committee  on  the  organization 
of  territorial  governments  in  Oregon,  California,  and 
New  Mexico,  which  reported  a  bill  on  the  18th  to 
establish  these  several  territories.  This  bill  was  in- 
tended to  be  a  compromise,  and  granted  to  Oregon 
the  right  to  organize  by  a  popular  vote,  and  by  th^ 
"temporary  adoption  of  their  present  laws  prohibiting 
slavery,  until  the  legislature  could  adopt  some  law  on 
the  subject;"  while  organizing  the  other  two  territo- 
ries without  this  privilege,  by  appointing  governors, 
senators,  and  judges;  their  legislatures  to  have  no 
power  to  make  laws  concerning  slavery.^*  It  did  not 
take  away  the  liberties  granted  by  the  1 2th  section  of 
the  original  Oregon  bill,  the  modifications  being  slight, 
but  withheld  from  California  and  New  Mexico  even 
the  right  to  send  a  delegate  to  congress.  It  was  with 
this  powerful  sedative  the  committee  proposed  to  quiet 
the  agitation  on  the  question  of  slavery  in  the  terri- 
tories until  Oregon  could  be  organized  withouc  over- 
turning the  free  principles  upon  which  the  people  had 
erected  an  independent  government,  which  they  might 
choose  to  retain  rather  than  yield  to  the  subversion 
of  their  rights  enjoyed  under  their  own  organic  laws. 

The  contest  then  continued  upon  the  propriety  of 
yoking  Oregon,  "a  native-born  territory,"  with  terri- 
tories hardly  a  month  old  and  peopled  by  Mexicans 
and   half-Indian  Californians.     But  after   daily  dis- 

uniler  tlie  authority  of  tlie  provisional  govcmmont  established  by  the  people 
thereof,  shall  continue  to  be  valid  and  operative  therein  so  far  as  the  same 
shall  not  be  incompatible  with  the  provisions  of  this  act,  or  in  violation  qf 
any  rights  by  the  law  or  constitution  of  the  United  States  ivsted  or  secured  to 
the  citizens  of  the  United  States  or  any  qf  thr,„,  subject  nevertheless  to  bo 
altered,  modified,  or  repealed  by  the  governor  and  legislative  assembly  of  the 
said  territory  of  Oregon;  and  the  law'i  of  the  United  States  are  hereby  ex- 
tended over  and  declared  to  be  in  forco  in  said  territory,  so  far  as  the  same 
or  any  provision  thereof  may  he  applicable.'  Cont}.  Olobe,  1847-8,  812. 

"M,  950;  Demly's  Hist.  Or.,  MS.,  .3;    Clarke,  in  Ovcr'ind  Monthly    x 
411-13;  Benlona  Thirty  Years  View,  ii.  'J2'd-U. 


EVADING  THE  ISSUE. 


7«7 


cussion  for  another  week,  and  at  the  close  of  a  thirty 
hours'  session,  at  eiglit  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
27th  of  July,  the  compromise  bill  was  passed  ^^  by  a 
vote  of  thirty-three  to  twenty- two,  and  sent  to  the 
house,  which  almost  at  once  voted  to  lay  it  on  the 
table,  upon  the  ground  that  it  did  not  settle,  but 
would  only  protract,  the  vexed  question  to  which  it 
owed  its  birth. 

But  while  senators  were  thus  evading  the  final 
issue  which  all  felt  must  soon  be  met,  the  lower  house 
had  not  been  free  from  agitation  on  the  same  subject. 
On  the  9th  of  February  Smith  of  Indiana  reported  a 
bill  to  establish  a  territorial  government  in  Oregon. 
This  bill  as  introduced,  by  comparison  with  the  Doug- 
las bill  of  1846,  appears  to  be  nearly  identical.  It 
was  made  the  special  order  of  the  house  for  the  28th 
of  March.  Several  debates  were  had,  but  little  af- 
fecting the  passage  of  the  bill  up  to  the  time  of 
Meek's  arrival  in  Washington,  and  the  president's 
message  to  congress  on  the  subject  of  furnishing  a 
government  to  that  territory  at  the  earliest  practica- 
ble moment.  Fear  of  the  delay  which  the  inevitable 
discussion  of  slavery  was  likely  to  involve  led  to  the 
proposition  to  refer  the  message  to  the  committee  on 
military  affairs,  in  order  that  troops  might  at  once  b*^ 
sent  to  Oregon ;  but  this  motion  was  not  allowed,  and 
the  bill  took  its  course  through  the  arguments  for  and 
against  slavery  in  the  territories,  as  the  senate  bill 
had  done.  The  only  amendments  agreed  to  were  a 
proviso  in  the  first  section  confirming  to  each  of  the 
missions  in  Oregon  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  of 
land,'"  the  introduction  of  several  new  sections  offered 
as  amendments  by  the  committee  on  commerce,  con- 
cerning the  establishment  of  a  collection  district,  ports 
of  entry  and  delivery,  extending  the  revenue  laws  of 
the  United  States  over  Oregon,  and   appropriating 

'*  See  text  of  bill  in  Cong.  Gloh,  1S47-8,  1002-5. 

'"This  proviso,  introtluced  in  the  territorial  act,  when  aland  bill  had  already 
been  reported,  but  without  the  prospect  of  passing  at  that  sesaioa,  explains  a 
liart  of  rhoriitoa'a  errand. 


768 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


money  for  the  erection  of  light-houses  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Columbia  and  at  the  entrance  to  Admiralty 
Inlet;  a  section  forbidding  the  obstruction  of  the 
Oregon  rivers  by  dams  which  would  prevent  the 
free  passage  of  salmon;  and  a  section  appropriating 
$10,000  to  be  expended  under  the  direction  of  the 
president,  in  payment  of  the  services  and  expenses  of 
the  persons  engaged  by  the  provisional  government  to 
convey  coninmnications  to  and  from  the  United  States, 
as  also  the  purchase  of  such  presents  for  the  Indians 
as  might  be  required  to  make  peace  with  them.^'^ 

It  is  asserted  by  Thornton  that  he  secured  the 
amendments  on  commerce,^^  and  knowing  nothing  to 
the  contrary,  I  shall  hope  that  he  did  so,  because  he 
should  have  done  something  to  earn  the  money  for 
his  expenses,  which  charitable  members  of  congress 
were  induced  to  procure  for  him  out  of  the  public 
treasury.  The  bill  as  it  now  stood,  with  the  ordinance 
of  1787  and  all,  passed  the  house  on  the  2d  of  August 
by  a  vote  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  to  seventy- 
one,  and  was  sent  to  the  senate,  where  for  nine  days 
it  received  the  same  discursive  treatment  to  which 
the  senate  bill  had  been  subjected,  but  was  finally 
passed  between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  Sunday  iiioming, 
August  13th,  after  an  all-night  session. 

Seldom  was  there  so  determined  opposition  to  a 
bill  as  that  offered  by  the  southern  senators  to  the 
establishment  of  Oregon  Territory :  not,  as  they  them- 
selves said,  from  a  want  of  sympathy  with  the  people 
of  that  isolated  section  of  the  country,  who  were,  as 
all  believed,  still  engaged  in  a  blood^''  contest  with  hos- 
tile savages ;  nor  froui  a  conviction  that  slavery  would 
strike  root  in  this  far  northern  soil;  but  only  from  a' 
sense  of  the  danger  to  their  sacred  institution  from 
extending  the  principles  of  the  ordinance  of  1787  to 

"  By  the  language  of  this  appropriation  the  §10,000  was  intended  for  Meek 
and  Ilia  associates.  Meek  received  a  large  share  of  it,  and  the  Indians  not 
any.  See  Virtor'n  Hiwr  of  the  West,  458-<)'2.  Tliorntou  also  received  money 
ior  his  expenses,  probably  from  the  contingent  fund. 

^''Or,  Pioneer  Assoc.,  Tram.,  1874,  94. 


FINAL  PASSAGE  OF  THE  BILL. 


769 


the  territory  acquired  since  the  pa;^sage  of  that  ordi- 
nance.^^ From  their  point  of  view  the  people  of  the 
southern  states  were  defrauded  of  their  inheritance  in 
the  vast  possessions  of  the  federal  Union  by  the  exclu- 
sion of  slavery  from  any  part  of  the  common  territory 
of  the  United  States.  They  claimed  the  right  to  go 
whither  they  pleased,  and  to  carry  their  Imman  chat- 
tels with  them,  fiercely  combating  the  opposition  of 
the  northern  men  that  negroes  were  not  property,  in 
the  usual  acceptation  of  the  term. 

It  had  been  agreed  that  congress  should  adjourn  on 
Monday  the  14th,  and  the  policy  of  the  opposition 
was  to  defeat  the  Oregon  bill  by  preventing  the  ayes 
and  noes  from  being  taken.  Almost  the  whole  of 
Saturday  was  consumed  in  debate,  in  which  Calhoun, 
Butler  of  South  Carolina,  Houston,  Yulee,  Davis, 
and  other  eminent  southerners,  argued  the  question 
over  the  same  familiar  ground  with  no  other  object 
than  the  consumption  of  time.  Benton  only  had  re- 
plied at  any  length. 

In  the  evening  session,  after  a  speech  by  Webster, 
the  debate  was  continued  till  after  midnight,  when  a 
motion  was  made  to  adjourn,  which  was  defeated. 
Butler  then  moved  to  go  into  executive  session,  when 
an  altercation  arose  as  to  the  object  of  the  motion  at 
that  time,^**  and  the  motion  being  ruled  out  of  order, 

"Maaon  of  Virginia  said:  'The  ordinance  of  1787  was  a  compact  formed 
between  the  United  Statea  government  and  the  people  of  the  north-west  terri- 
tory before  the  constitution  was  formed.  The  history  of  that  ordinance  id 
shrouded  in  secrecy,  as  the  journals  were  not  made  public.  But  it  is  well 
known  that  there  was  much  conflict.  The  item  concerning  slavery  was  tlio 
result  of  compromise ...  Some  states  came  into  the  mca.sure  with  dithculty 
and  sonu!  with  a  protest.  Virginia  would  never  have  boon  a  party  to  that 
compact,  never  would  have  made  the  cession  she  did,  liad  slie  supposed 
her  right  to  extend  her  population  whither  she  would,  would  have  beea 
denied. .  .There  are  now  3,000,000  of  slaves  penned  up  in  the  slave  states,  and 
they  are  an  increasing  population,  increasing  fiister  than  the  whites.  And  are 
the  slaves  to  be  always  confined  within  what  may  bo  deemed  their  prisoa 
states?'  Cowj.  Globe,  1847-8,  SK):?. 

'■'"Thornton,  in  his  Huftory  of  the  Promionnl  Ooivriinirnt,  in  Or.  Pio.  er 
AxHoc.,  Tram.,  1874,  91,  gives  some  particulars.  He  says  Butler  made  the  lo- 
tion  to  go  into  executive  session  for  the  purpose  of  inquiring  into  the  cou. .  act 
of  Benton,  who  he  had  alleged  communicated  to  the  reporter  of  tlio  New  York 
Unald  some  proceedings  done  in  secet  session;  tliat  Butler  called  Benton's 
act  dishonorable;  and  that  Benton  sprang  toward  him  a  rage,  with  clinched 
His    (>u.,  Vol,  I.    49 


770 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


a  vote  was  taken  on  appeal,  and  the  chair  sustained. 
In  this  manner  the  night  was,  hke  the  day,  wellnigh 
wasted,  without  coming  to  a  vote  on  the  Oregon  bill. 
Toward  morning,  Foote,  who  had  already  spoken 
several  times,  rose  again,  when  he  was  called  to  order. 
The  friends  of  the  bill  thinking  the  best  way  to  bring 
matters  to  a  conclusion  was  to  humor  the  Mississippian, 
entreated  that  he  might  be  allowed  to  proceed;  and 
he,  declaring  his  ability  to  speak  until  Monday  night, 
commenced  at  the  history  of  the  creation,  as  given  in 
the  books  of  Moses,  and  talked  on  in  a  rambling  strain 
until  after  nine  o'clock  Sunday,  when  it  may  be 
assumed  that  his  spirits  began  to  flag,  and  he  sat 
down.  Benton  then  hastened  to  recede  from  some 
amendments  which  he  had  offered,  but  which  the 
house  had  refused  to  accede  to ;  and  the  bill,  restored 
to  its  precise  form  as  it  passed  the  house,  was  finally 
passed  by  the  senate,  the  long  and  trying  ordeal  was 
over,  and  Oregon  was  a  Territory  of  the  United  States, 
on  her  own  terms. ^^  The  rule  disallowing  bills  to  be 
presented  for  signature  on  the  last  day  of  the  session 
was  suspended,  and  this  one  was  signed  on  the  14th 
of  August,  tlic  president  returning  it  to  the  house 
with  a  message,  in  which  he  reviewed  the  question  of 
free  and  slave  territory  at  some  length,  deprecating 
the  agitation  arisirc^*  from  it,  and  predicting  that  it 
would,  if  not  checked,  dismember  the  union." 

Oregon  had  indeed  been  granted  a  territorial  organ- 
ization with  all  that  usually  accompanied  such  creative 
acts,  the  appropriations  amounting  to  $20,500,'"^  besides 
the  salaries  of  all  the  territorial  officers,  including  the 


hand  aiid  violent  gestures,  calling  Bullcr  a  liar. 

ators 

another ' 


The  two  whito-haired  seu- 


;or8  were  separated  by  their  friends,  Butler  saying,  '  I  will  see  you,  sir,  at 
lother  time  and  place;  and  Beaton  rejoining  iu  great  heat,  'that  ho  coulil  ho 
en  at  any  time  or  place,  but  that  wlicn  ho  fought,  ho  fought  for  a  funeral ! ' 
See  aho  Clarke,  iu  Overland  Mont/ili/,  x.  412. 

'^^Nilen'  lieij.,  Ixxiii.  274;  Benton's  Thirty  Yearn,  ii.  711. 
'"  For  the  territorial  act  of  Oregon,  see  Oeneral  Laws  qf  Oregon,  1843-72, 
52-63;  Comj.  Globe,  1847-8,  1079-80. 

»»For  public  buildings,  $5,000;   for  territorial  library,  $5,000;  for  light- 
houses, $15,000;  for  contingent  expenses,  SI, 500  annually. 


LAND  DONATION. 


771 


members  of  the  legislature,  which  would  bring  a  sum 
of  money  into  circulation  annually  sufficient  to  afford 
partial  relief  to  the  currency  of  the  country.'^*  But 
the  subject  of  land  titles  had  not  been  touched,  except 
so  far  as  to  secure  the  missions  in  the  possession  of 
six  hundred  and  forty  acres  each,  and  except  that  the 
territorial  act  deprived  every  one  else  of  all  the  title 
they  formerly  had  under  the  provisional  government. ^^ 

The  omission  to  provide  the  Oregon  settlers  with 
their  long-promised  donations  was  not  through  either 
the  injustice  or  intentional  neglect  of  congress,  but 
simultaneously  with  the  territorial  bills  both  houses 
had  been  notified  that  a  land  bill  would  follow.  Sen- 
ator Breese  of  Illinois  on  the  3d  of  January  asked 
leave  to  bring  in  a  bill  to  create  the  office  of  surveyor- 
general  of  public  lands  in  the  territory  of  Oregon,^* 
and  to  grant  donation  rights  to  settlers.  In  the  house, 
notice  of  two  bills  on  the  same  subject  was  given  by 
McClernand  of  Illinois  January  31st,  and  by  Johnson 
of  Arkansas  February  10th.  McClernand's  bill  was 
referred  to  the  committee  on  public  lands,  of  which 
Collamer  of  Vermont  was  cliairman,  who  reported  it 
back  April  25th,  with  an  amendatory  bill,  and  there 
the  subject  of  land  donations  remained  while  the  bat- 
tle was  being  fought  over  the  ordinance  of  1787. 
When  that  fight  was  over  it  was  too  late  to  move  in 
the  matter  at  that  session.  Ha  subsequent  course  will 
be  related  elsewhere."^ 

For  the  relief  of  Oregon  in  the  matter  of  troops  and 


**  Salary  of  the  governor,  who  was  also  Indian  agent,  $3,000;  3  U.  S. 
judges,  $2,000;  secretary,  $1,503;  legislators,  $."]  pur  iiay  and  mileage;  chief 
clerk,  $5  per  day;  other  officers,  $3;  marshal  the  fame  as  the  marshal  of 
Wisconsin. 

^  'AH  laws  heretofore  passed  in  said  territory  making  grants  of  land  or 
otherwise  affecting  or  euounibcring  the  title  to  lands  shall  be,  and  are  hereby 
declared  to  be,  null  and  void.'  Sec.  14  of  territorial  act,  in  Gen.  Laws  Or., 
1843-72,  60. 

■'^Con,j.  Olohe,  1847-8,  95. 

"'It  is  uiteresting  to  know  that  the  widow  of  Captain  Robert  Oray,  wlio 
first  entered  the  C'()lumbia,  had  a  bill  for  relief,  on  the  ground  of  discovery, 
before  the  house  committee  on  public  lands  at  this  and  a  previous  session. 
See  memorial  of  Martha  Gray,  m  Or.  Spectator,  Sept.  3,  184C;  Comj.  Ohbe, 
1847-8,  679. 


772 


TERRITORIAL  (iOVERNMElIT. 


munitions  of  war,  nothing  was  don*;,  or  could  have 
been  done  in  time  to  have  averted  a  erushingf  disaster 
to  the  colony,  had  the  Indians  not  been  checked.  The 
Mexican  war,  which  had  only  been  brought  to  a  close 
in  the  sunnner  of  1848,  had  made  a  licavy  draft  upon 
the  treasury,  and  the  arniy'"**  was  at  that  time  small. 
The  government  was  averse  to  enlisting  men  especially 
for  Oregon,  inasmuch  as  the  rifle  regiment  which  had 
been  raised  for  service  there  and  along  the  road  to 
the  Columbia  would  now  be  marched  to  its  original 
destination,  from  which  it  had  been  diverted  by  the 
war  with  Mexico,  so  soon  as  its  ranks,  thinned  by  bat- 
tle, desease,  and  desertion,™  could  be  recruited.  In- 
stead of  raising  a  new  regiment,  or  ordering  away  the 
men  in  garrisons,  it  was  concuded  by  the  secretary  of 
war  to  furnish  the  material  likely  to  be  required  from 
the  companies  and  stores  already  on  the  Pacific  coast. 
Accordingly  orders  were  despatched  to  John  Parrott, 
navy  agent  at  San  Francisco,  to  forward  orders  to 
Commodore  Jones  to  send  "men,  arms,  amnmnition, 
and  provisions  to  Oregon,"  and  also  to  forward  by  any 
3afe  conveyance  $10,000,  to  be  paid  over  to  the  gov- 
ernor. But  this  order  was  not  issued  until  the  12th 
of  October,  when  peace  had  been  restored.^" 

During  the  progress  of  affairs  from  May  to  August, 
the  two  informal  Oregon  delegates  had  been  charac- 
teristically employed.  Thornton,  with  a  serious  air 
and  a  real  love  of  scholarlv  association,  sought  the 
society  of  distinguished  men,  profiting,  as  he  believed, 
by  the  contact,  and  doubtless  being  often  consulted  upon 
Oregon  affairs.  He  asserts  that  he  was  approached 
while  in  Washington  by  an  agent  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company  who  wished  to  sell  the  possessory  rights 
of  that  corporation .  in  Oregon  to  the  United  States 
for  the  sum  of  $3,000,000,  and  that  he  became  involved 

■^"The  total  strength  of  the  army  after  the  discharge  of  the  volunteers  en- 
listed for  the  war  was  S.StMJ.  Cong.  GMk,  1847-8,  lOOO. 
"The  rifle  regiment  was  reduced  to  427  men.  Id. 
^30th  Contj.,  M  Se^.,  H.  Ex.  Doc.  1,  18-20. 


THE  FUK  COm-ANY'S  RIGHTS. 


773 


in  some  trouble  with  the  president  for  his  course  in 
refusinj^  to  sanction  the  purchase.^'  That  he  became 
the  object  of  Polk's  dislike  may  be  true;  but  that  the 
president  cared  for  his  opinion  is  hardly  j)robable. 

With  regard  to  the  proposition  of  the  Hudson's 
Bay  Company,  I  learn  from  various  sources  that  the 
senate  had  under  consideration  a  proposal  to  purchase 
its  possessory  rights  in  Oregon,  ui)on  the  representa- 
tion that  the  anomalous  condition  of  the  comiHiny 
after  the  treaty  would  lead  to  trouble.  Sir  George 
Simpson  and  Mr  Finlayson  paid  a  visit  to  Washing- 
ton'^^  about  this  time,  and  the  matter  was  in  the  hands 

"The  cause  of  the  trouble  was  really  not  so  iiiucli  tlio  fact  that  lie  din- 
approved  of  the  purchase,  which  aiiy  one  was  at  liberty  to  do,  as  the  manner 
taken  to  show  his  di8a(jproval.  As  the  matter  is  stated  by  himself,  he  re- 
ceived a  call  at  liis  lodgings,  from  Knox  Walker,  the  private  secretary  of  the 
president,  who  brought  with  liim  and  introduced  aMrOeorge  N.  Saunders, 
whom  he  left  with  Tliornton  when  he  took  his  leave.  The  hitter,  according 
to  Thornton,  procee<led  to  make  an  attempt  to  bribe  him  to  advocate  the 
justice  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company's  pretensions,  and  offered  liiin  §'25,000 
to  write  such  letters  as  lie  should  (lictate,  to  two  memljers  of  the  cabinet. 
The  pious  plenipotentiary's  reply,  if  we  may  believe  him,  was  to  threaten  to 
kick  Siiiuulers  down  the  stairs,  when  that  person  saved  him  the  exertion  by 
going  of  his  own  accord.  Not  satisfied  with  this,  Thornton  wrote  a  letter  to 
the  prcaident,  which  brought  him  finother  visit  from  Walker,  who  urged  him 
to  withdraw  the  letter,  intimating  that  it  would  lie  better  for  his  private 
interests  to  do  so,  but  that  he  still  refused.  Tlie  story  soon  after  transpiring 
through  a  communication  to  the  Knv  York  Ilenilil,  written  by  Thornton,  and 
signed  '  Achilles  de  Harley, '  the  president  took  unii)rage,  and  not  only  refused 
to  appoint  liim  to  the  place  of  one  of  tlio  judges  for  Oregon,  but  also  to  pay 
his  expenses  as  a  messenger  from  Oregon  out  of  the  §10,000  appropriation. 
According  to  S.  A.  Clarke  in  tlic  Orrrlaiifl  Moiiililij,  May  1873,  who  wrote 
from  Thornton's  dictation,  Robert  Smith,  from  the  congressional  district  of 
Alton,  Illinois,  went  to  the  pre>ii<lent  for  money  for  Thornton's  expenses,  and 
was  refused.  Benton  was  then  solicited  to  interest  himself  for  Thornton,  but 
put  the  business  off  on  Douglas,  who  being  refused,  tlireatened  to  fumisli 
Thornton  with  money  to  stay  over  to  the  next  session,  when  he  would  move 
for  a  committee  of  inquiry  to  investigate  the  matter,  in  wliich  tlie  president 
was  concerned.  This  threat  biouglit  Mr  Polk  to  terms,  and  the  sum  of 
$2,7 oO  was  jjaid  to  Thornton,  though  he  was  obliged  to  return  to  Oregon  with- 
out an  office  either  for  himself  or  the  coterie  lie  represented.  Sucii  is  the 
explanation  furnished  by  Thornton  of  tlie  failure  of  his  mission  to  AVashingtoii, 
and  which  ho  has  repeatedly  made,  in  his  HiMonj  of  Omjon,  MS.,  1-G;  in  his 
Autobio(/rap/ii/,  MS.,  48-55;  in  the  statement  made  to  Mr  Clarke,  and  on  other 
occasions.  The  real  reason  of  Thornton's  returning  enipty-lianded  was  not 
any  quarrel  of  the  kind  here  narrated,  but  the  citizeius  memorial  and  the 
Nesinith  resolutifm  of  the  Oregon  legislature,  before  spoken  of,  wliich  Meek 
carriftd  to  Wasliiiigton  along  with  oth<!r  documents.  While  there  waa  no 
iralice  in  Meek,  he  wouM  have  been  sure  to  have  his  own  sport  with  the 
governor's  private  delegate,  tlie  more  so  that  Tliornton  professed  to  lie 
allocked  at  tlie  giddy  ways  of  the  authorized  messenger. 

^'Extract  from  Montreal  Ihrail,  in  A'/fcv'  licj.,  Ixxiv.  2S)0-7. 


^ 


774 


TEUUITORIAL  (JOVEKNMENT. 


of  tlic  British  charge  d'affaires,  Crampton.  Tho 
Hudson's  I>ay  Conipuny  i)laced  a  high  value  upon 
their  property  and  lands  in  Oregon  as  guaranteed 
to  them  by  tho  terms  of  the  treaty  of  18iG;  and  as 
the  latter  were  liable  to  be  occupied  at  any  time 
by  American  settlers  who  held  in  no  respect  their 
possessory  rights,  they  were  anxious  to  sell.  The 
United  States  did  not  deny  their  right  to  do  so.  The 
only  question  was  as  to  the  i)rice  that  was  set  upon 
them."*^  Sonu'  of  the  senators,  on  j)olitical  grounds, 
had  favored  the  proposition  from  the  lirst;  '  ut  oth- 
ers, better  acquainted  with  Oregon  local  affairs,  as 
Benton  and  Douglas,  called  for  information,  and  the 
secretary  t)f  state  laid  the  whole  matter  before  them, 
declaring  that  as  adviser  of  the  president  he  could 
not  counsel  its  acceptance  without  first  ascertaining 
the  value  of  the  property,  but  that  if  he  were  in  the 
senate  he  should  vote  for  the  purchase,  as  it  would 
prevent  tho  troul  .o  and  annoyance  likely  to  ari  j  rom 
the  joint  navigation  of  the  Columbia  River.' 

In  the  following  year  negotiations  on  this  subject 
wei'e  interrupted,  Buchanan  declining  to  entertain  the 
company's  proposition  to  sell,  for  the  reason  that  the 
British  government  interposed  an  injunction  upon  its 
officers,  restraining  tliem  irom  transferring  to  the 
United  States  any  of  the  rights  secured  to  it  by  the 
treaty,  the  principal  of  which,  in  the  estimation  of 

**  A  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Jownnl  of  Commerce,  under  date  of 
August  7,  1848,  says:  'The  senate  have  before  them  in  secret  session  tho 
proposition  of  the  Hudson's  Biiy  Company  and  the  Puget  Sound  Company 
tor  the  conveyances  to  the  United  States  of  all  their  Tandy,  buildings,  im- 
provements, fields  of  cattle,  forts,  etc.,  and  all  their  possessory  riglits  south 
of  49°,  as  well  as  the  territory,  etc.,  north  of  that  piirallul.  The  governor  of 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  Sir  John  Henry  Pelly  represented  to  Lord 
Palmerston  tho  expediency  of  tho  transfer  of  the  territorial  rights,  prop- 
erties, and  interests  of  the  two  companies  to  the  U.  S.  government,  and 
Lord  Palmerston,  readily  embracing  tho  project,  instructeil  Mr  Crampton, 
the  British  charge  d'affaires,  to  bring  it  before  tliis  government.  His  letter 
to  Mr  Buchanan's  is  strong;  and  Mr  Buchanan's  comnmnication  to  the  senate, 
urging  the  acceptance!  of  the  proposition,  preaents  incontrovertible  arguments 
in  favor  of  it.  Mr  Calhoun  and  Mr  Webster  are  in  favor  of  itj  and  to-day  I 
learn  that  Mr  Benton  and  Mr  Hanuegaa  have  taken  the  matter  in  hand.' 
Polynesian,  v.  150;  Nileji'  Be;/.,  Ixxiv.  97. 

"*  Extract  from  New  York  Herald,  in  N lies'  Re<j.,  Ixxiv.  224. 


UETUKN  OF  THOUNTON. 


776 


this  ^ovommcnt,  was  the  free  navigation  of  t)io  Co- 
lunihiu,  Tliver.''  Later,  negotiations  were  resumed, 
but  not  until  the  estabhshnient  of  a  eolleetlon  district 
in  Oregon  had  shown  the  British  goverrnnent  and  the 
company  that  the  free  navigation  of  American  waters 
was  of  Httle  consequence,  associated  as  it  was  witli 
the  obhgation  to  pay  duties  on  Enghsh  goods,  on 
the  same  footing  with  citizens  of  the  United  States. 
When  that  discovery  was  made,  the  vahie  of  their 
possessory  rights  was  nmch  lessened,  and  senators 
were  not  so  ready  to  buy.  Tlie  reader  wlio  will  re- 
member Benton's  remarks  on  tlie  2d  article  of  the 
treaty  of  1840,  in  secret  session,  knows  that  even  at 
that  time  he  comprehended  the  im[)ortance  of  the 
blunder  made  by  the  British  embassador  in  regard  to 
this  article;  and  it  does  not  appear  likely  that  Thorn- 
ton was  better  informed  on  the  subject  than  senatt)rs 
who  had  for  years  been  engaged  in  the  discussion  of 
the  Oregon  Question  from  all  points  of  view,  or  that 
the  Hudson's  Bay  Conqtany  regarded  his  opinion  as 
worth  $25,000,  The  publication  of  a  letter  contain- 
ing a  charge  against  the  president  of  bribery,  or  of 
consenting  to  bribery,  whether  written  by  himself,  or 
by  another,  as  he  has  since  declared,  but  emanating 
from  him,  would  be  very  good  reason  for  regarding 
him  with  disfavor. 

Soon  after  the  adjournment  of  congress  Thornton 
received  a  little  more  than  the  sum  allowed  by  the 
territorial  bill  for  mileage  of  a  delegate,  and  repairing 
to  New  York,  took  passage  on  the  Sylvie  De  Grasse 
for  Oregon,  where  he  arrived  in  May  1841).^*' 


'•''Washington  letter,  in  Allfs'  lie;).,  Ixxiv.  312. 

'®The  person  whom  Tliornton  accuses  of  approaching  hitn  with  the  offer 
of  a  bribe,  George  N.  Saunders,  has  had  a  notorious  record  as  a  politician, 
and  was  not  above  attempting  to  make  the  agents  of  the  Hudson's  my  Com- 
pany pay  for  his  assumc(l  iuHuence  in  their  affairs.  He  was  described  as  of 
an  amiable  and  joyous  temperament,  but  lacking  in  principle.  He  was  for 
some  years  editor  of  the  Deitiocnitic  Review,  which  his  management  converted 
from  a  respectable  mpgazino  into  a  reckless  and  disreputable  publication. 
Yet  he  was  wont  with  it  to  make  senators  and  membcns  tretnble,  see  Voirj. 
Glolie,  1851-2,  pt.  i.  712,  and  was  often  called  the  president-maker.  In 
1853  ho  was  commissioned  consul  to  London.  New  York  cor.  Or.  SUUeniium, 


77G 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


President  Polk,  who  was  elected  on  the  issues  con- 
nected with  the  Oregon  Question,  was  desirous  of 
having  the  new  territory  established  during  his  ad- 
ministration. It  was  already  the  middle  of  August 
when  the  bill  passed,  and  it  was  a  long  journey  to 
Oregon  by  whatever  route  the  territorial  officers 
might  choose.  No  time  was  lost  in  making  the  ap- 
pointments; the  appointees  being  urged  to  set  out 
at  once  for  the  Pacific  coast.  The  president's  first 
choice  for  governor  was  General  Janes  Shields  ^^  of 
Illinois;  but  the  appointment  being  declined,  the 
position  was  offered  to  another  general  of  the  Mexi- 
can war,  Joseph  Lane  of  Indiana,  who  was  requested 
to  organize  the  government  before  the  4t]i  of  March 
following.     Lane    accepted.^*^     The  other   appointees 

Oct.  4,  ]8~)S.  He  is  described  by  a  writer  in  tbo  Botiton  Trnmcri'pt,  in  Id., 
Sept.  16,  1802,  as  the  head  and  director  of  all  knavish  expedients  to  secure 
the  election  of  Buchanan  in  1850.  '  Nobody  knew  how  ho  obtained  his  money 
or  acquired  his  right  to  command;  but  money  ho  had  ii.  abundance,  and  his 
right  to  command  was  not  disputed.  There,  with  his  shining  shock  of  bro\vn 
hair,  curling  over  the  lowest  of  human  ff)reheads  and  tlio  most  impudent  of 
human  faces,  he  freely  dispenseil  the  "  inlluence  "  which  carried  Pennsylvania 
for  Buchanan  in  spite  of  the  (Quaker  vote.  His  reward  was  tiie  office  of  navy 
agent  in  the  city  of  New  York.'  He  became  a  defaulter  to  the  government 
to  the  extent  of  .$21,000  in  18G1.  He  settled  in  Louisville  and  preached 
secession,  and  afterward  went  to  ', 'anada,  where  he  led  the  rebel  fugitive  ele- 
ment, and  where  he  told  ( !eorge  Augustus  Sala  that  tlicj'  were  plotting  atroci- 
ties in  connecti(m  with  the  war  which  would  '  make  tlie  ^^•orld  shudder.' 
Boixi  Cili/  Statexmati,  July  13,  ISCo;  Portland  Orvijoiiinn,  No>'.  9,  1805;  Id., 
June  17,  1807. 

^'  Shields  was  bor-  in  Altinore,  County  Tyrone,  Ireland,  in  1810,  and  emi- 
grated to  America  ac  the  age  of  10.  In  18!V2  he  settled  at  Kaskaskia,  Illi- 
nois, in  the  practice  of  the  law.  Ho  was  elected  to  tlie  legislature  in  18.%, 
and  was  auditor  of  the  state  in  18150;  was  appointed  judge  of  tho  supreme 
court  in  1843,  and  commissioner  of  tho  geuerul  lund-otiice  in  1845.  At  tho 
breaking-out  of  tho  Mexican  war  he  recei\ed  tlio  appointment  of  l)r'gadier- 
general  in  tlie  United  States  a;-my,  and  was  brevi^tted  major-genera!  for  dis 
tingui-shed  services.  He  served  six  years  in  tlic  U.  S.  sena+c,  noing  elected  in 
1841)  from  lUinois,  juid  afterward  two  years  from  Minnesota  Territory.  Ht; 
was  for  a  short  time  in  California  and  Mexico,  and  afterwards  served  as  a  gen- 
eral in  tho  union  army.  In  1878  ho  was  E.gain  elected  to  the  U.  S.  senate 
from  Missouri,  but  died  a  few  weeks  after  taking  his  seat,  iu  June  1879. 
dnmrs  I'uh.  Lif,;  MS.,  .W;  JVilcn'  Ii<y.,  Ixxiv.  113,  337;  S.  F.  Call,  June  3, 
1879;  Salt  Lake  S.   \V.  Ilvmld,  Juno  4"  1879. 

■'"Joseph  Lane  was  born  in  Buncombe  Co.,  N.  C,  in  1801.  From  healthy 
parentage  and  pure  mountain  air  ho  derive<l  a  strong  ron.stitutiou,  and 
tliough  not  a  largo  man,  ho  was  well  knit,  tough,  and  wiry,  with  a  lively 
and  ambitious  disposition.  His  father  removed  to  Kentucky  when  he  was  a 
cliild.  At  15  he  'eft  tiio  paternal  roof  to  seek  his  fortune,  as  sons  of  southern 
and  western  men  were  wont  to  do.  Ho  married  at  tho  age  of  II,).  In  1820  he 
setthd  iu  Indiana.     Struggling  with  poverty  and  inexperience,  tho  gift  of 


OFFICERS  APPOINTED. 


777 


! 


were  Knitziiig  Pritcliett  of  Pennsylvania,  secretary; 
William  P.  Bryant  of  Indiana,  chief  justice;  James 
Turney  of  Illinois  and  Peter  H.  Burnett  of  Oregon, 
associate  justices;  Isaac  W.  R.  Bromley  of  New  York, 
United  States  attorney ;  Joseph  L.  Meek,  marshal ; 
and  John  Adair  of  Kentucky,  collector  for  the  dis- 
trict of  Oregon.'"'  Of  these,  Turney  declined,  and 
O.  C.  Pratt  was  given  the  })osition.  Burnett  declin- 
ing, William  Strong  of  Ohio  was  named  in  his  ])lace. 
Bromley  also  deciined,  and  Aniory  Holbrook  was  ap- 
pointed in  his  ster'.J. 

Meek,   now  United    States  marshal,^"  received   liis 
commission  anr.  that  of  Governor  Lane  on  the  20tli 


tongue,  which  ""^ve'  ileserted  him,  made  liim  early  a  man  of  mark,  and  he 
was  elected  ca';'  ,iu  of  the  local  militia,  whi';h  at  that  time,  when  the  late 
war  with  Engiiiud  and  the  frequent  Indian  wars  kept  alive  tlie  military 
spirit,  was  considered  as  a  posit  on  of  honor  and  trust.  At  this  evidence  of 
the  esteem  of  hid  fellows,  young  Lane  bef^ame  ambitious  to  ae((uit  himself  in 
all  respects  creditably,  and  begai.'  to  acquire  that  book  knowledge  which  from 
the  circumstances  of  his  boyhood  had  been  denied  him,  studying  while  his 
neighbors  were  sleeping.  He  also  labored  to  accpiire  property,  and  made  his 
first  vantiire  in  business  by  buying  a  flat-boat  iind  transporting  freight  on  the 
Ohio  River.  Money  came  in,  and  when  he  was  still  young  lie  was  elected  to 
the  legislature  of  Indiana,  lirst  in  the  house  and  then  in  the  senate.  When 
the  Mexican  war  broke  out  the  military  spirit  of  Captain  Lane  was  fired. 
He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  2d  Indiana  regiment  of  volunteers,  to  take  his 
chances  of  promotion  to  the  captaincy  of  a  company.  When  the  regiment 
iissembled,  captiiins  being  plenty.  Lane  was  chosen  colonel;  and  tlio  other  two 
regiments  from  his  state  lieing  equally  anxious  to  be  commanded  by  him, 
the  president  made  him  their  general.  For  two  years  previous  to  his  appoint- 
ment to  the  governorsliip  of  Oregon  he  was  winning  laurels  on  the  battle-fields 
of  Mexico;  and  to  the  history  of  that  republic  this  portion  of  his  biography 
belongs.  Notes  from  a  magazine  of  May  1858,  in  Lmic'-'i  Aiitohioi/rnpln/,  M.S., 
«i7-8.',. 

'■'■'*  NnuOdvaiiH  Pirn;/uii(;,  Au^.  28,  1848;  Ifonol'ilu  Poli/iii'Mini,,  Feb.  3,  1849; 
Oiri/oit  Fact.%  8;  Evans,  in  Or.  I'ionfier  Aumi:,  Tnim.,  1877,  27;  S.  F.  Aha, 
Jan.  4,  1E40;  S.  /■'.  ('(tlifoniid  Star  ami  (^nlit'oniiitti,  Dec.  1(>,  1848;  Or.  S]n:<-tiUoi; 
Feb.  8,  184!);  S.  I.  Friend,  Nov.  1,  184!);  Am.  Atmaiixr,  184!),  HI.'!;  NUm' 
Bcij.,  ixxiv.  !)7,  3:J8;    Vir/or'.i  Hirer  of  the   Wext,  48;i. 

*"Inthe  New  York  Trilnnie  of  Sept.  184!),  a  correspondent  says  of  Meek 
that  he  was  so  illiterate  as  to  bo  able  'to  do  little  more  than  write  his  name, 
althougli  President  I'olk,  with  a  full  knowledge  of  the  fact,  appointed  liim,' 
etc.;  and  sfeites  tliat  he  was  riii  'old  traiiper  who  hail  been  72  years  in  the 
mountains  ! '  Tlie  Or.  S]>eri<i)nr  of  .Ian.  2t>,  bSAO,  remarked  upon  this,  that  at 
that  rate,  as  Meek  liad  lieen  |i)  years  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  and  was 
probably  20  years  old  wlien  he  went  to  the  mountains,  he  must  be  of  the  ven- 
erable age  of  102  years — lie  was  40 — and  took  occiusicm  to  say  that  notwitii- 
standing  his  want  of  liook  learning,  he  had  lieen  jiecnliarly  prompt  and 
faitiiful  in  every  office  with  which  lie  liad  been  intrusted.  This  w;is  a  deci'led 
change  from  the  tone  of  Abernethey's  private  letters,  written  after  Meok's 
appointment  as  mes.senger,  in  which  ho  took  frequent  occasion  to  ridicule  the 
choice  of  the  legislature.  Or.  .\rrhiiy,H,  MS.,  108. 


1^ 


778 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


of  August,  and  followed  the  president  to  Bedford 
Springs,  whither  the  family  of  the  executive  had 
gone  to  escape  the  heat  of  the  capital.  In  such  haste 
was  Polk  to  put  his  officials  on  the  way  to  Oregon 
that  he  had  already  taken  a  seat  for  Meek  in  the  coach 
wliich  would  leave  Bedford  the  day  of  his  arrival,  and 
on  that  same  afternoon  he  bade  farewell  to  all  his 
summer's  glory,  and  set  out  for  the  home  of  Lane, 
near  Xewbur<):h  Landino;  in  southern  Indiana.  On 
the  27tli  of  August  he  presented  Lane  liis  commis- 
sion^ and  on  the  29th  this  portion  of  tlie  Oregon 
government  was  on  the  way  to  Fort  Leavenworth, 
where  was  an  escort  of  twenty -five  men  for  the  jour- 
ney across  the  plains. 

Owing  to  the  lateness  of  the  sea.son  it  was  deter- 
mined to  take  the  southern  route  l)y  Santa  Fe,  El 
Paso,  Tucson,  and  the  Pima  villages  ou  the  Gila  River, 
following  that  stream  to  its  junction  with  the  Colo- 
rado, and  thence  north-westwardly  to  the  bay  of  San 
Pedro  in  California,  where  they  hoped  to  find  a  vessel 
to  take  them  to  San  Francisco,  and  thence  to  the 
Colambia  River.  The  company  wliicli  left  Fort 
Leavenworth  on  the  20tli  of  September  numbered 
about  fifty  persons,  including  Lane,  his  eldest  son 
Nathaniel,  Meek,  and  Dr  Hayden,  surgeon  of  the 
detachment  under  Lieutenant  Hawkins,  twenty-five 
riflemen,  with  Av^agon -masters,  teamsters,  and  ser- 
vants. 

On  the  Santa  Fe  trail  they  were  met  by  the  army 
under  Price  returning  from  Mexico.  The  i)assage 
of  this  host  had  swept  the  country  of  herbage.  On 
arriving  at  Santa  Fe  it  was  found  impracticable  to 
proceed  farther  with  wagons,  and  the  baggage  was 
placed  on  mules  for  the  march  to  the  seaboard.  At 
every  stage  feed  was  j)oorer,  and  the  sandy  plains  of 
the  Grande  and  Gila  rivers  reduced  the  nmles  to  a 
pitiful  condition.  At  Tucson  the  escort  began  to 
desert,  and  in  an  attemjit  to  capture  two  of  them  two 
others  were  killed,  making  tlie  loss    double.     After 


ARRIVAL  OF  THE  GOVERNOR. 


779 


crossing  the  Colorado  "  and  entering  California  rumors 
of  gold  dis  .  'cries  caused  such  desertion  tliat  when 
the  expedituui  reached  Williams'  ran cho  on  the  Santa 
Ana  Rivx'r  less  than  six  men  remained,  and  these 
were  obliged  to  walk  while  the  few  animals  left  alive 
carried  the  baggage.  At  this  j)lace,  liowever,  the 
wayworn  and  wellnigh  starved  travellers  found  hos- 
pitable entertainment  and  were  furnished  with  horses 
to  take  them  to  the  coast.  At  Los  Angeles  they 
found  stationed  Major  Graham  witli  a  comi)any  of 
United  States  troops;  and  thence  they  pi'oceeded  to 
San  Pedro  Bay,  where  a  vessel,  the  Southam'pton,  was 
ready  to  sail  for  San  Francisco. 

On  entering  the  Golden  Gate  tlie  Oregon  officials 
encountered  one  of  those  wild  phenomena  which  drop 
in  on  mankind  once  in  a  century  or  so.  Hundreds 
of  men  from  the  Willamette,  many  of  whom  Meek 
last  saw  in  the  Cayuse  country  without  money  enougli 
to  purchase  a  suit  of  clothing  had  it  been  for  sale  in 
Oregon  City,  were  waiting  here  for  a  passage  to  the 
Columbia,  with  thousands  of  dollars'  worth  of  gold- 
dust  buckled  to  their  waists.  A  fever  of  excitement 
pervaded  the  shifting  [)()pulation  of  San  Francisco 
which  it  was  impossible  to  resist ;  and  although  neitlier 
Lane  nor  Meek  would  forsake  their  trust,  they  were 
tempted  to  fit  out  for  the  mines  the  few  men  who  had 
remained  with  them  from  Fort  Leaven wortli,  on  a 
partnership  agreement,  and  saw  them  dej)art  for  the 
gold-fields  with  Natlianiel  Lane,  before  continuing 
their  journey.*^ 

Lane  and  !Meek  went  on  board  the  Janet,  Ca|)tain 
Dring,  The  vessel  was  crowded  with  returning  Ore- 
gonians,  and  after  a  tedious  voyage  of  eighteen  days 
anchored  in  the  Columbia.     The  party  to  which  Lieu- 

''Near  Cook's  Wells  the  company  found  100  wagons  which  had  lici-u 
abandoned  by  Major  (Iraluiin,  who  was  unable  to  cross  the  Colorado  desert 
with  them. 

"  Meek  was  to  receive  half  tlie  first  year's  profit.  The  nsult  of  liis  ven- 
ture was  three  pickle-jars  of  gold-dust,  which  young  lAne  brouglit  to  liim  the 
following  year,  und  which  no  more  than  reimbursed  him  for  his  outlay. 
Vktoi'.i  h'iivr  of  (he  Wc^t,  480. 


780 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


tenant  Hawkins  was  still  attached  immediately  took 
passage  in  a  canoe  for  Oregon  City,  where  tliey 
arrived  the  2d  of  March,  two  days  before  the  expira- 
tion of  Polk's  term  of  office.'"' 


On  the  day  following  his  arrival  Governor  Lane 
published  a  proclamation  as  follows : 

"  In  pursuance  of  an  act  of  congress,  approved  tlie 
14th  of  August,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1848,  estab- 
lishing a  territorial  government  in  the  territory  of 
Oregon :  I,  Joseph  Lane,  was  on  the  1 8th  day  of  Au- 
gust in  the  year  1848  appointed  governor  in  and  for 
the  territory  of  Oregon.  I  Jiave  therefore  thought 
it  proper  to  issue  this  my  pi-oclamation,  making  known 
that  I  have  this  day  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  the 
duties  of  my  office,  and  by  virtue  thereof  do  declare 
the  laws  of  the  United  States  extended  over  and  de- 
clared to  be  in  force  in  said  territory,  so  Tar  as  the  same 
or  any  portion  thereof  may  be  applicaVjle.  Given  under 
my  hand  at  Oregon  City,  in  the  territory  of  Oregon, 
this  3d  day  of  March   Anno  Domini  1841). 

Joseph  Lane.""** 

Thus  Oregon  enjoyea  one  day's  existence  under 
the  president  whose  acts  were  signally  linked  with 
her  history,  in  the  settlement  of  the  boundary,  and 
the  establishment  of  tJie  laws  of  the  United  States. 
The  only  other  presidential  apjjointee  besides  the  gov- 
ernor and  marslial  present  in  the  territory  at  its 
setting  out  on  its  new  career  was  Associate  Justice 
O.  C.  Pratt,  who  Jiad  arrived  about  a  month  pre- 
viously.*''    He  administered  tlie  oath  of  office  to  the 

*^Cr(iir/ord'g  Nai:,  MS.,  18.5;  Lntx'^s  Avtobioiir<(p/ii/,  MS.,  .*?;  Or.  Arijm, 
May  1!),  1853. 

•♦Till!  proclamation  was  [.iriuti'd  on  tho  little  press  iiae<l  by  (J.  L.  Curry  to 
print  i'is  independent  paper,  the  Vriv.  Pri:x^.    Lnuc'x  AiifMoiji'dp/i;/,  MS.,  5. 

♦•'  Pratt  arrived  on  the  bark  Undine,  loaded  with  returning  .^old-mintrn, 
whieh  missed  the  river  and  ran  into  Shoalwater  Bay.  She  enteivii  aft'irward 
and  went  np  the  river  for  a  largo  of  lumber.  Pratt  lamled  at  Shoalwater 
Bay,  and  went  dovMi  the  beaeli  to  Capo  Disappointment  and  Baker  Bay,  and 
crossed  to  Astoria,  where  a  hirge  innnher  of  natives  wn;  congregate<l,  to 
<il>8ervc  some  of  their  barbannis  festivals.  'At  this  war-dance,  says  Cra 
ford,  'I  saw  O.  C.  Pratt  for  the  iirst  time.'  Ntir.,  MS.,  ISl. 


•aw- 


SOCIAL  CONDITION. 


781 


other  officials,  and  helped  to  sot  in  motion  the  wheels 
of  the  new  political  machine. 

And  so,  without  any  noise  <jr  revolution,  the  old 
govermnent  went  out  and  the  new  came  in.  The  pro- 
visional government  was  voluntarily  laid  down,  as  it 
had  voluntarily  been  taken  up.  It  was  an  experiment 
of  a  part  of  the  American  people,  who  represented  in 
their  small  and  isolated  community  the  principles  of 
self-government  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the  republican 
sentiments  supposed  to  underlie  the  federal  union,  by 
which  a  local  population  could  (constitute  an  indepen- 
dent state,  and  yet  be  loyal  to  the  general  govern- 
ment. Under  judicious  management,  good  order  and 
happiness,  as  well  as  a  general  condition  of  pros- 
perity, had  been  maintained.  The  people  were  indus- 
trious, because  all  must  work  to  live;  they  were 
honest,  because  there  was  no  temptation  to  steal ; 
they  were  not  miserly,  because  they  had  no  money  to 
hoard;  they  were  hospitable,  because  every  man  ex- 
pected to  need  the  kindness  of  his  neighbor;  and  they 
were  moral  both  on  account  of  a  public  sentiment 
created  by  the  mission  and  Hudson's  Bay  Company's 
influence,  and  from  the  ab^ience  of  temptation.  In 
such  a  community  there  is  strength ;  and  had  there 
been  neither  Indian  war  nor  gold-discovery,  the 
same  organization  might  have  continued  to  stand  for 
a  generation  without  further  assistance?  from  the  gen- 
eral government.** 

**  '  In  tho  (liu  of  battle  it  also  stood  the  test.  It  declan^d  and  sucoeaafully 
waged  war  to  redress  tlie  unprovoked  wrongs  tlic  citizens  had  suffered;  from 
its  own  resources,  without  extraneous  aid,  it  levied  tlie  necessary  troops;  in 
the  hour  of  danger  its  citizens  res[iipn(le<l  to  the  call  of  tlieir  constituteil  nutlior- 
ity.  Tlie  Cayuse  war  was  prohalily  tlie  most  important  historic  feature  of 
the  period.  By  it  was  fully  demonstrated,  not  only  the  inliereut  strength  of 
the  provisional  governuient,  the  unity  of  feeling  it  had  engendered,  its  entire 
eapiU)ility  to  nu  et  tho  recpii.enients  of  the  pcoiilc,  hut  the  inciting  cause  of 
the  war  had  hceii  the  constant  surrounding  of  the  piotu-ers. '  Kvans,  iu  Or. 
Piijiwer  A. i-wt  Trniiy.,  1877,34.  'Tin;  luc^iof  the  "  forty's  "  wen,' no connnon 
men;  they  A'ould  have  hceii  men  in  any  country;  they  iiad  hi'en  v  innowed 
out  of  a  great  nation,  a  chosen  hand.  'J'iiey  came  as  a  community  with  all  iho 
necessary  cliaracteristics  to  estiihlish  a  well-organized  government;  this  they 
put  into  oncration  as  soon  as  they  arrived — rocke<l  the  cradle  of  tho  infant 
provisional  government — nurtured  and  trained  the  rapidly  developing  youth 
of  tho  'territorial  government.'  lirown's  AiUobioynxyliy,  MS.,  33.     'Thirty 


782 


TEilKITOllLYL  UOVEllNMENT. 


With  tlio  going-out  of  the  provasioual  government 
there  was  unloosed  ahnost  the  last  grasp  of  the  Mis- 
sion political  influence.  The  head  and  front  of  this 
power  for  several  years  had  been  Abernethy.  He  had 
stood  high  with  the  Methodists,  the  largest  r(;ligious 
denomination  in  Oregon,  and  by  a  certain  smooth- 
ness of  face,  of  manner,  and  of  soft  brown  hair  over  a 
sloping  forehead,  had  created  the  impression  of  mild, 
almost  weak  amiability,  rather  than  of  any  intellectual 
force.  I  have  shown,  however,  with  what  pertinacity 
he  could  plot  and  plan  against  his  British  commercial 
or  other  rivals.  His  dislike  of  the  western  men  was 
scarcely  less,  because  he  could  not  rule  them,  and  be- 
cause tbey  snapped  their  fingers  at  Mission  influence. 
Like  many  another  of  the  school  in  which  he  had 
been  trained,  he  believed  the  Lord  was  on  the  side 
of  professors  of  religion,  and  that  if  they  obtained 
the  advantage  of  other  men,  not  of  their  belief,  the 
Lord  was  rejoiced  thereat,  because  the  righteous  shall 
inherit  the  earth.  This  belief  made  it  right  for  the 
missionary  party,  of  which  he  was  the  real  head,  to 
practise  that  underhanded  policy,  in  certain  cases, 
which  when  indulged  in  by  men  of  the  world  is  called 
dishonesty.  In  these  disingenuous  measures  Aber- 
nethy was  the  prime  mover;  but  the  fear  of  injuring 
his  business  or  his  position  as  governor  kept  him 
silent.  He  was  by  nature,  too,  a  quiet  man,  Vv'hose 
opinions  were  made  known  by  what  he  did  rather 
than  by  what  he  said.  For  a  few  years  following  the 
change  in  Oregon  affairs,  he  accumulated  money ;  but 
he  failed  to  keep  the  fortune  circumstances  threw  into 
his  lap.  He  bought  everything  that  offered,  whether 
he  could  pay  for  it  or  not,  and  when  reaction  came, 
lost  all  that  he  had  made,  besides  being  heavily  in 


years  ago  was  established  by  a  mere  han'lful  of  people,  on  this  then  remote 
and  inaccessible  land,  that  famous  provisional  goveriunont  which  carried  the 
country  through  the  vicissitudes  of  peace  and  war,  until  March  3,  1849,  whe-i 
the  territorial  governmei't  provided  by  congress  was  proclaimed  at  Oregon 
City  amid  the  rejoicings  of  the  people,  by  its  first  governor,  General  Joaeph 
Lane.'  Deady,  in  Or.  Pioneer  A asoc.,  Triuis.,  1875,  4?. 


THE  RETIRING  GOVERNOR. 


788 


debt.  It  cannot,  therefore,  be  said  of  him  that  he  was 
greater  in  a  business  capacity  than  as  a  statesman  or 
philanthropist.*'^ 

A  history  that  is  written  from  the  very  mouths  of 
the  Hving  actors,  and  that  despises  no  authority  how- 
ever humble,  if  it  has  any  claim  to  be  thought  just, 
should  have  brought  to  light,  had  there  been  anything 
to  record,  some  acts  of  generosity,  of  self-sacrifice,  of 
devotion  to  the  good  of  the  country,  performed  by 
this  leading  man  among  the  missionaries ;  but  in  all 
the  instances  requiring  the  exhibition  of  these  quali- 
ties, during  the  early  period  of  Oregon  history  which 
closes  with  the  establishment  of  the  territorial  gov- 
erinnent,  the  men  who  came  to  the  front  were  the 
men  whom  Governor  Abernethy  despised.  There 
remains  to  be  recorded  yet  one  more  act  in  the  life  of 
the  colonial  governor  deserving  of  preservation  in 
history,  which  I  reserve  for  a  future  chapter.*^ 

I  have  spoken  freely  of  the  Oregon  colonists,  their 
personal  peculiarities,  and  all  their  little  and  great 
jealousies,  and  occasional  misdoings.  I  have  not  made 
of  them  religious  martyrs,  but  something  better;  I 
have  not  made  of  them  pilgrim  fathers,  but  something 
nobler,  their  fanaticism  being  less  fierce  and  cruel, 
while  for  self-denying  application  and  high  and  holy 
purpose  they  were  the  peers  of  any  who  landed  on 
Plymouth  Rock.  If  I  have  not  presented  the  leaders 
of  the  several  migrations  as  heroes,  to  me  they  were 
none  the  less  heroic ;  while  the  people  were  filled  with 
a  patriotism  as  lofty  and  purjDoses  as  pure  as  any 
appearing  upon  the  highways  of  history/ 


49 


"  BenroHH  Ma:  Life  in  Or.  City,  MS.,  10;  Moss'  Pioneer  Times,  MS.,  35-9; 
Mrs  Wilion,  in  Or.  Skefdie.'.,  MS.,  18;  Buck's  L'nterjrruses,  MS.,  10. 

**  Governor  Abcruetliy,  a.siile  from  liis  unfortunate  speculation.^,  su.stainocl 
the  wreck  of  the  remnant  of  liia  fortune  in  the  Hood  of  1831-2,  whicli  swept 
away  the  most  valuable  improvements  at  Oregon  City.  Ho  then  removed  to 
Portland,  and  engaged  iji  a  small  business,  which  l;e  followed  till  his  death 
in  1877.  He  remained  always  a  firm  friend  of  the  church  and  of  tumperance, 
and  is  well  spoken  of  for  these  traits.  See  Or.  Pioneer  Assoc.,  Trans.,  1870, 
68;  Salem  Sfafesmnv,  in  San  Jose  Pioneer,  May  12,  1877. 

**  Herewith  I  givo^some  modern  biographies,  more  of  which  will  bo  found 
in  vol.  ii.,  Historj  of  Orajon.    W,  H.  Effingcr,  born  in  Va,  Nov,  14,  183S), 


784 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


graduated  from  Dickinson  college,  Pa,  in  1856,  studied  law,  and  took  a  tour 
through  the  south,  intending  to  locate  himself  in  eitlier  Miss,  or  Lti;  but  the 
breakms-out  of  the  civil  war  caused  him  to  return  to  Va  and  feiko  service  in 
the  coniederate  army.  During  the  war  lie  was  twice  wounded.  After  its 
close  ho  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Va  until  1872,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Orecfon.  At  the  time  of  the  late  Indian  war  he  was  maj.-gen.  of 
the  state  militia,  and  accompanied  Gov.  Cliadwick  to  Umatilla,  where  a  ren- 
dezvous had  been  appointed  with  Gov.  Ferry  of  Wasliington.  Elffinger  desircid 
to  call  out  800  militiii,  but  Chadwick  declined.  It  is  Effinger's  opinion  tliat 
had  this  been  done  the  Indians  would  not  have  broken  through  Howard's 
lines.  I  have  explained  Chadwick's  actions  in  my  account  of  this  war  in 
HiHt.  Idaho,  tliia  series.  In  1880  Mr.  Efhnger  was  chairman  of  a  delegation 
from  Oregon  to  the  national  democratic  convention  at  Cincinnati,  which  ad- 
vocated the  nomination  of  .Stephen  J.  Field  for  the  presidency.  As  a  lawyer, 
EiBnger  achieved  a  high  position  in  Oregon. 

James  Steele,  of  Scotch  lineage,  his  grandfather  having  come  to  the  U.  S. 
from  Scotland,  while  his  grandmotlier  on  the  paternal  side  was  a  Gladstone, 
a  cousin  of  the  English  premier,  was  born  and  educated  in  Moore  co.,  Ohio, 
in  1834,  moving  to  Iowa  in  18i5G,  just  as  the  first  railroad  was  being  con- 
structed in  that  state  from  Davenport  to  Iowa  City.  Several  years  were  spent 
in  Iowa  and  Kansas,  when  he  came  to  Oregon  in  1802.  His  first  employment 
here  was  in  II.  Pittock's  grocery  store,  wliore  he  ri;inained  for  one  year.  After 
that  he  was  book-keeper  for  Harker  Bros  two  years.  When  the  Ist  National 
Bank  was  organized  in  1800 — the  fir&t  on  the  Pacific  coast — he  was  made 
c;  ii'vir,  remaining  there  IG  years,  resigning  in  1882  to  engage  in  banking  on  his 
own  account,  he  being  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Willamette  Savings  Bank, 
and  its  first  president;  also  sec.  and  treas.  of  the  Northwest  Timber  Co.,  or- 
ganized in  1883,  the  lands  of  the  company  being  near  Astoria.  The  Oregon 
Construction  Co.  was  another  enterprise  in  which  Steele  became  interested, 
its  purpose  being  to  construct  raih'oads.  This  co.  built  the  Palouse  branch 
of  the  N.  P.  R.  from  Colfax  to  Moscow.  Then  there  was  the  Oregon  Con- 
tract and  Pavement  Co.,  with  tlie  object  of  making  all  kinds  of  street  im- 
provement, anotlier  important  industry  in  wliich  Steele  was  early  interested; 
also  the  Oregon  I'ottery  Co.,  whieli  is  a  consolidation  of  the  Buena  Vista 
Pottery  Co.  with  the  Portland  Pottery  Co.,  incorporated  by  Steele  in  1884; 
besides  having  mining  interests  m  Idaho,  and  being  a  promoter  of  an  enter- 
prise which  contemplated  reduction-works  at  Portland.  This  is  Scotch  thrift 
and  American  enterprise  united. 

J.  C.  Carson,  born  in  Pa  in  1825,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Ohio  in 
1834,  where  he  studied  medicine  until  1850,  when  he  came  to  Cal.  by  sea  as 
asst  to  a  surgeon,  Kiunaman,  who  designed  erecting  a  hospital  at  Sacramento. 
Not  finding  things  as  they  expected,  the  hospital  was  given  up,  and  Carson 
went  to  tlie  mines;  but  after  drifting  about  for  two  years,  he  came  to  Port- 
land, at  that  time  a  rude  hamlet  in  a  forest.  Finding  nothing  to  do  here,  he 
taught  a  country  school  for  a  year.  In  1852  Portland  began  to  grow  rapidly, 
and  taking  advantage  of  the  movement,  J.  C.  with  D.  R.  Carson  established 
a  sash  and  door  factory,  in  time  employing  50  men.  Carson  has  been  several 
times  member  of  the  city  council,  and  was  its  president  in  1854  and  1855. 
In  18G6  lie  was  one  of  the  three  commissioners  selected  to  report  on  the  value 
of  the  H.  B.  Co.  property  in  Oregon  and  Washington.  In  1870  he  was  a 
member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  legislature  from  Multnomah  co.,  and  re- 
elected in  1880.     In  1884  he  was  elected  to  the  senate. 

Jonathan  Bourne,  Jr,  born  in  New  Bedford,  Mass.,  Feb.  23,  1855,  was 
educated  at  Harvard  university,  graduating  in  1877.  He  travelled  abroad 
for  a  year,  and  came  to  Portland  in  1878,  where  he  read  law  with  Vs .  H. 
Effinzer,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1880,  and  entering  into  a  partnership 
with  liim.  Bourne  became  president  of  the  Oregon  Milling  Co.,  owning  mills 
at  Turner  and  Silverton,  in  Marion  co. ;  president  of  the  Divided  Car  Axle 
Co.;  president  of  E.  G.  Pierce  Transfer  and  Forwarding  Co.,  with  a  branch 
in  San  Francisco;  and  sole  owner  of  the  town  of  Grant's  Pass,  recently  made 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


78S 


),  was 
aliroiul 
\V.  H. 
lership 
g  mills 
r  Axle 

)rancli 
f  mado 


the  county  seat  of  Josephine  co.,  besides  having  interests  in  various  other 
manufacturing  and  railroad  enterprises.  Ho  was  elected  to  the  legislature 
from  Mulnoniah  eo.  in  1884.  In  politics  he  is  an  ardent  republican,  as  was 
his  father  Jonathan  Bourne,  Sr,  who  was  four  times  member  of  the  executive 
council  of  Mass.,  and  was  the  first  delegate  to  vote  for  the  nomination  of 
Lincoln  in  the  convention  of  18(50,  since  which  time  he  has  been  a  mem- 
ber of  every  republican  national  convention  to  the  present  time.  The  son 
inherited  also  the  father's  business  talents,  who  was  for  many  years  the  largest 
whale-ship  owner  in  the  world,  and  later  interested  in  railroads  and  various 
manufactures. 

John  iSomerville,  a  native  of  111.,  was  born  in  184G,  and  migrated  to  Ore- 
gon in  1873  in  company  with  his  father,  Alexander  Somervillc,  born  in  Ky  in 
181G.  His  mothers  maiden  name  w;is  Elizabeth  Stephenson.  They  had  two 
other  children,  Edgar  J.  and  Mary  J.  The  family  settled  on  a  far;n  in  Linn 
CO.,  where  the  father  died  in  1880.  John  engaged  in  mcrchan<lising,  and  sub- 
sequently in  stock-raising  in  eastern  Oregon,  ni  company  with  A.  H.  Brey- 
man.  In  1883  .Somerville,  Breyman  Bros  of  Salem,  and  B.  J.  liowman 
established  the  National  Bank  of  East  Portland.  Somerville  marrieil,  in 
1867,  Ellen  E.  Shelley,  a  native  of  Lane  co. 

James  Lotan,  born  in  Paterson,  N.  J.,  served  a  term  of  enlistment  in  a 
N.  Y.  regiment  in  the  civil  war,  and  came  to  Oregon  in  18()4,  having  first 
been  employed  in  the  navy-yard  at  Washington  for  a  year.  He  was  foreman 
and  manager  of  the  Oregon  Iron- works  for  several  years,  and  in  1873  became 
a  large  stockholder  and  supt  of  the  Willamette  Iron- works.  Tlie  company 
was  incorporated  in  18G5  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  the  money  used  in  the 
businccis  afterward  increased  to  about  $200,000;  M.  W.  Henderson  pres.,  B. 
Z.  Holmes  vice-pres.,  W.  S.  Stevens  sec,  and  John  Mair  supt.  Ihe  com- 
pany in  1883  had  a  business  worth  $400,000,  which  full  ofif  subsequently  as 
the  railroads  were  completed. 

B.  F.  Kendall,  born  in  Springfield,  111.,  Feb.  G,  1827,  came  to  Oregon  in 
1851,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock-raising,  having  80  acres  of  improved 
land  in  Baker  co.,  and  several  hundred  head  of  cattle  and  horses.  He  was 
elected  county  commissioner  in  1883  on  the  republican  ticket. 

S.  A.  Caldwell  was  one  of  a  joint-stock  company  of  150  persons  from 
Boston  who  in  1849  came  to  Cal.  by  sea  in  a  vessel  of  their  own.  After  ar- 
rival, and  finding  that  as  a  company  they  could  do  nothing,  they  sold  tlieir 
vessel  and  disbanded,  Caldwell  coming  to  Oregon  in  1850.  In  1852  he  formed 
one  of  a  company  wliich  purchased  stock  of  the  immigrants.  The  winter  of 
1862  being  a  severe  one,  they  lost  5-6  of  their  herd,  having  neither  shelter  nor 
food,  and  the  cattle  Ijcing  worn  down  with  their  journey  across  the  plains. 
In  1854  Caldwell  settled  in  Eugene,  where  he  resided  for  8  years,  when  he 
removed  to  Auliuru,  and  in  1876  settled  near  Malheur  City  on  160  acres,  120 
of  wliich  was  arable  land. 

W.  McCliinahan,  born  in  Ind.,  came  to  Oregon  overland  in  1852  in  the 
company  of  Williaui  Huntington.  In  tlie  spring  of  1853  he  went  to  Shasta, 
Cal.,  and  engaged  in  mining,  remaining  there  5  years,  when  the  Eraser  River 
excitement  carried  liim  to  IJ.  C,  from  which  place  he  returned  in  the  autunm 
of  the  same  year.  In  1851)  he  married  Annie  Butt  of  Forest  (ilrove  and  moved 
to  Clarksville,  where  he  mined  and  kept  hotel  until  1872,  when  he  settled  on 
a  farm  near  Bridgeport.  He  secured  48>)  acres,  260  of  which  was  rich  bottom- 
land, and  the  remainder  upland,  all  good  f.  r  farming  purposes.  McClanahaa 
gives  the  name  of  James  Heetwood  and  William  Mitchell  as  early  .settlers  in 
hij  section,  and  mentions  Frank  Koontz  as  having  erected  the  pioneer  saw- 
mill I'.ere.  The  mill  was  Kubsc(iuently  sold  to  CL'ments.  A  school  was  es- 
tabljjho.l  in  the  district,  and  religious  services  held  once  a  month. 

II.  W.  Sloan,  supt  of  the  Humboldt  Mining  Association  of  Cafion  City, 
furnishes  the  following:  The  stoclc  of  the  co.  is  divided  into  8  shares,  held 
by  6  working  nieud)er3;  namely,  H.  W.  Sloan,  two  shares,  value,  $3,000;  J. 
Sprowl,  two  shares,  i,3,(M),);  W.  C.  Sprowl,  11.  Heppner,  P.  Yergenson,  and 
II.  Hunter,  one  share  each,  v^.OOi).  They  have  a  patent  to  140  acres  ot  min- 
IIisT.  Or.,  Vol.  I.    53 


786 


TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT. 


ing  ground,  and  work  the  mine  by  hydraulic  appara  iis;  have  a  7-mile  ditch, 
including  one  milo  of  flume,  which  carries  1,()00  inci  ea  of  water.  The  qual- 
ity of  the  gold  is  ^)  8. 40  to  the  ounce,  or  .909  tine.  A  elean-up  of  $2,500  to 
$3,000  is  made  every  5  or  G  weeks.  The  G  stockholdara  and  G  Chinese  are 
employed  in  working.  Slo::.n  also  secured  a  hay  rancho  of  100  acres,  which 
he  stocked  with  fine  l)rood  mares. 

John  Laurence,  born  in  N.  C,  came  to  the  Pacific  coast  in  1857,  and 
located  himself  at  Yreka,  Cal.,  engaging  in  mining  and  farming.  In  18G5 
he  removed  to  Orant  co.,  Oregon,  K'ittling  in  Jolin  Day  Valley.  In  1877  he 
began  merchandising  at  Prairie  City,  and  also  purchased  the  Strawberry 
flouring  mill,  built  in  1872  by  Morehead  &  Cleaver,  which  made  from  25  to  'M 
barrels  of  flour  per  day  of  12  hours,  and  a  chop  mill,  both  run  by  water-power 
from  Waldon  Warm  Springs.  He  became  owner  with  his  brother,  Isham 
Laurence,  of  320  acres  of  grain  land,  and  raised  wheat,  oats,  and  barley.  He 
also  owned  an  interest  in  the  Keystone  gold  mine  with  Starr,  Carpenter,  and 
Shearer.  It  was  situated  7  miles  from  I'rairie  City,  and  had  a  S-stamp  mill 
upon  it.  Considerable  tunnelling  was  done  on  two  levels.  The  ore  ran  3i 
ounces  of  gold  and  5  J  ounces  of  silver  to  the  ton.  The  mine  cost  $25,000, 
and  yielded  up  to  188G  $31,000. 

M.  V.  Thompson,  of  the  firm  of  Groth  &  Thompson  of  Calion  City,  se- 
cured with  his  partner  the  Eureka  Hot  Springs,  a  fine  place  of  resort;  also  a 
large  stock  rancho  for  raising  horses. 

Ireorge  D.  McHaloy,  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser  near  Prairie  City,  came  to 
Oregon  m  1843  with  his  parents,  who  settled  at  Oregon  City.  In  1850  ho 
went  to  the  Cal.  gold  mines  near  Redding,  where  he  remained  over  two  years. 
He  subsequently  located  himself  in  the  J()hu  Day  country  as  a  farmer,  remov- 
ing from  the  North  Fork  to  Prairie  City  in  1881,  where  he  secured  IGO  acres 
of  hay  land,  his  cattle  feeding  on  the  public  lands  in  summer.  He  was  elected 
in  1884  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  legislature. 

Quincy  A.  Brooks  was  born  in  Pa  in  1828,  and  educated  at  Duquesno 
college,  Pittsburg,  graduating  in  1841).  He  studied  law,  and  came  to  Oregon 
in  1851,  locating  himself  soon  after  at  Olynipia  on  Puget  Sound,  then  a  por- 
tion of  Oregon.  He  was  appointed  inspector  of  customs,  and  afterwanl 
deputy  collector  of  that  port.  Gov.  Gaines  appointed  him  prosecuting  attor- 
ney in  1852  for  the  northern  district  of  Oregon,  which  office  he  held  until  the 
organization  of  Washington  territory.  He  took  part  in  its  early  politics,  and 
was  appointed  by  Gov.  Stevens  clerk  of  the  supt  of  Indian  affairs,  holding 
that  position  under  Stevens,  Nesmith,  and  Geary.  In  1857  he  removed  to 
Salem,  where  he  married  Lizzie  Cranston  in  1858;  and  thence  went  to  Port- 
land, where  he  remained  until  1801,  when  ho  went  into  mercantile  business 
in  Walla  Walla,  and  afterwards  at  Auburn.  In  18G5  he  received  the  appoint- 
ment of  postal  agent  for  tlie  Pacific  coast,  holding  that  otfice  through  John- 
son's administration.  On  tlie  brfiaking-out  of  the  Modoc  war  in  1872,  he  was 
commissioned  quartermaster-general  of  the  state  troops,  with  the  rank  of 
major,  and  served  during  the  war.  After  the  removal  of  the  Indians  he 
located  himself  near  Linkville,  where  he  secured  1,00J  acres  of  land,  and  some 
valuable  solfatara  hot  springs.  His  son,  Edward  C.  Brooks,  was  appointed  to 
the  military  academy  at  West  Point,  graduating  in  188G. 

David  Force,  a  native  of  Ind.,  born  in  183G,  of  Ky  parentage,  enlisted 
as  a  private  on  the  breaking-out  of  the  civil  war,  remaining  in  the  service 
to  the  close,  and  fighting  in  37  battles,  under  Sherman,  Sheridan,  Rosecrans, 
and  Grant.  He  rose  to  ue  captain  during  his  service.  In  18G9  he  migrated 
to  eastern  Oregon,  settling  in  1870  in  what  is  now  Klamath  co.,  at  the  south 
end  of  upper  Klamath  Lake,  where  be  made  a  farm,  and  engaged  in  raising 
stock  cattle  and  horses.  For  2.\  years  he  was  supt  of  farming  on  tlie  Klamath 
Indian  reservation.  He  married  May  E.  Johnson  of  Brightborough,  Iowa,  in 
1858. 

John  S.  Shook,  bom  in  Ind.  in  1843,  came  to  Oregon  about  1802.  He 
was  the  son  of  Amon  Shook,  who  also  was  born  in  Ind.,  but  removed  to  Iowa 
in  1847.     The  family  being  large  with  little  weiilth,  John  migrated  to  Oregon 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


787 


and  located  himself  in  Jackson  co.  In  ]8f>4  the  rcinaindor  of  the  family,  con- 
sisting of  the  parents,  'A  sons,  and  6  daughters,  followed,  and  in  1870  John 
again  became  tne  pioneer,  taking  some  land  in  the  Klamath  country,  where 
Alkali  ia  now  situatetl,  and  being  followed  by  the  others  and  their  joint  prop- 
erty, 15  cows,  with  which  they  went  into  atock-raiaing,  working  for  wages 
and  investing  all  their  earnings  in  cattle.  John  took  a  leading  part  in  build- 
ing up  the  town  of  Bonanza,  where  he  was  postmaster  for  several  years,  and 
taught  the  first  school.  The  Shooks  in  a  few  years  were  independent,  and 
became  the  largest  land  and  stock  owners  in  the  country. 

Richard  Hutchinson,  bom  in  T  m  182(5,  came  to  VsA.  in  1807,  residing 
in  Sierra  and  Mono  cos  until  18(11  v  lien  lie  removed  to  Jackson  co.,  Oregon, 
and  subsequently  to  Tule  Lake,  Klamath  co.  He  married  ^\xiiiie  Armstrong, 
of  Tyrone  co.,  Ireland,  in  1848. 

Newton  Franklin  Hildebrand,  born  in  Moniteau  co..  Mo.,  in  1843,  camo  to 
Cal.  in  1874,  settling  in  Yolo  co.  In  1879  he  made  a  tour  through  Idalio  and 
eastern  Oregon,  and  in  1884  settled  in  Klamath  co.  liu  married  lihoda  K. 
George  in  1872. 

Joseph  Henry  Sherar,  bom  in  Vt,  came  to  Cal.  by  sea  in  1855,  being  then 
23  years  old.  He  proceeded  to  the  Salmon  River  mines,  where  lie  remained 
3  years  mining.  In  1859  he  remove<l  to  Hoopa  Valley,  purchased  a  farm  of 
450  acres  of  good  farming  land,  and  a  train  of  40  mules,  with  which  he  carried 
on  freighting  to  Areata  on  the  coast,  to  tlie  mines  on  Salmon  River,  and  150 
miles  up  the  Klamath  River.  While  in  this  business  he  had  for  a  partner 
Jonathan  Lyon,  a  r.uphew  of  Gen.  Lyon  of  the  army  of  the  civil  war.  In  the 
spring  of  18(52  Sherar,  with  a  passenger  and  freight  train,  started  for  tlio 
Powc^r  River  mines.  The  route  was  along  Trinity  River  to  Trinity  Centre, 
across  the  mountains  to  Scott  Valley,  from  there  to  Jacksonville,  and  thence 
to  Oregon  City,  crossing  the  Cascade  Mountains  by  tlie  old  Barlow  road,  the 
snow  in  places  being  20  feet  deep  in  J\i  .le,  to  Tyghe  Valley,  Des  Chutes  Bridge, 
John  Day  River,  Umatilla,  Walla  Walla,  Grand  Roiul,  and  over  the  Biiie 
Mountains  to  Powder  River.  Returning  to  the  Dalles  lie  loaded  his  train  for 
the  John  Day  mines.  A  (ierman  in  his  party  built  ■.'  nvcn  of  clay  to  bake 
bread  in,  en  route,  giving  the  name  to  a  settlt.iiu  i.  which  was  afterward 
formed  there.  This  company  also  named  Antelope  Valb  \  from  the  great  num- 
ber of  those  animals  found  there,  and  Cold  Camp  from  the  cold  experienced 
there.  Near  this  camp,  while  they  lay  tlicre,  Berryway  killed  (iallagher  for 
his  money  and  pack-train;  he  was  arrested,  tried,  an<l  hanged  at  Cafion  City. 
Proceeding,  Shenir's  company  named  Muddy  Creek,  Cherry  Creek,  and  Burnt 
Rancho,  where  C'lark  and  his  partner  were  burned  out  by  the  Indians. 
Bridge  Creek  was  so  called  on  account  of  a  binall  bridge  of  juniper  logs,  liuilt 
over  it  by  Shoeman  and  Wadley,  who  came  from  Cal.  nnd  went  to  the  John  Day 
mines  with  a  train.  Beyond  here  was  Alkali  Flat,  where  the  first  hotel  on  the 
road  was  erected  in  18(53.  Crossing  the  Blue  Mountains  to  the  head  of  Rock 
Creek,  the  trail  led  to  the  John  Day  Valley,  and  thence  to  Cafion  City.  This 
waa  the  road  afterward  so  much  molested  by  Indians,  180  miles  in  length,  and 
guarded  by  the  1st  Oregon  cavalry.  Sherar  continued  to  carry  freight  over 
it  for  two  years.  In  18(53  he  married  Jane  A.  Herbert,  and  settled  in  Wasco 
CO.,  raising  horses  until  1871.  Sherar 's  bridge  over  the  Des  Chutes  has  the  fol- 
lowing  history:  In  earliest  immigration  tiiiiea,  as  my  readers  will  remember, 
it  was  frequently  forded,  at  some  peril  to  tlie  traveller;  sometimes  the  Indians 
carried  passengers  over  in  canoes.  In  18G0  a  bridge  was  built  at  the  crossing 
by  Todd  and  Jackson,  carried  away  by  high  water  in  18(51,  and  rebuilt  in 
1862.  Jackson  sold  to  Todd  in  the  autumn,  wlio  took  in  Hemingway  an<l 
Mays  as  partners.  Hemin.  ;way  soon  purchased  the  interest  of  the  other 
partners,  after  which  he  sold  to  O'Brien,  who  sold  to  Sherar  in  1871,  for 
$7,040,  who  expended  $75,(X)0  in  improving  the  roads  on  every  side  of  it,  (50 
miles  of  which  he  kept  in  repair.  In  1870  he  purchased  the  White  River 
flouring  mills,  which  manufactured  40  barrels  of  flour  per  day.  He  had  also 
a  saw-mill  cutting  2,800  feet  daily.  He  purcliased  the  Fenegan  rancho  14 
miles  east  of  his  bridge,  containing  1,580  acres,  worth  $25,(X)0;  had  6,5(X) 


788 


TEIiHITORIAL  (JOVEIINMENT. 


ahocp  and  liorHca  and  nnilci)  for  farm  work.  He  kept  the  Htagc-Rtation  and 
poHt-ollii'u  at  tilts  bridge,  where  a  little  sottleinent  grew  in>,  and  wita  considered 
worth  !i^>0,00().  Here  was  a  j)ionecr;  u  man  who  liy  hard  work  hocanio  owner 
of  $IOO,OU()  wortli  of  proiHirty,  with  a  gootl  yearly  income.  Many  such  there 
uro  in  thin  favored  land. 

Urxlney  (<li«an  was  l>orn  at  Linganorc,  Md.,  in  1827,  of  Maryland's  earliest 
Knglish  ancestry,  ami  educated  at  the  university  of  tliat  state  as  a  physician. 
In  I84U  he  passml  .1  ••'•mpetitive  examination  \>y  a  lioard  of  army  surgeons,  waa 
accepted,  and  commi.ssioncd  a-sst  surgeon  U.  S.  A.  in  1850.  After  being  i.'i 
temporary  duty  at  severd  posts  in  the  west  and  Houtii-west,  he  was  ordered  to 
the  I'acilic  coast,  arrivirii^  in  S.  F.  in  18")5  on  llie  steamer  Jo/in  L.  StiYphcnx. 
from  Panama.  Soon  after  ho  was  ordered  to  soutl-ern  Oregon  with  the  troo'js 
8cnt  to  suppress  the  Rogue  River  Indians,  at  that  time  in  a  hostile  attiti  cle 
to  tiie  white  settlers,  and  in  this  service  endureil  hardships  from  which  one 
might  well  shrink.  In  ISOI  lie  settled  in  Portland,  where  he  married,  in  18t),t, 
Elizabeth  R.  Couch,  daughter  of  the  pioneer  John  H.  Oouch.  He  has  been 
president  of  the  Multnomali  County  Medical  Society,  and  the  Medical  Society 
of  the  State  of  Oregon;  member  of  the  American  Medical  Association,  and  an 
emeritus  professor  of  obstetrics  in  the  medical  dept  of  the  Willamette  uni- 
versity. He  piibli.shcd  a  book  entitled  A  Journal  0/  Aniiji  L'lfi',  and  is  the 
author  of  several  brochures  upon  diU'erent  branches  of  medicine  and  surgery. 
In  1881  he  was  appointed  by  the  medical  societies  of  Oregon  delegate  to  the 
International  Medical  Congress  held  in  London,  ami  spent  two  years  8ul)se- 
qucntly  in  the  ho.spitals  aiul  medical  colleges  of  Europe,  whence  he  returned 
to  I'ortland  in  1 883. 

William  Ried  was  born  in  (Hasgow,  Scotland,  in  1842,  of  Scotch  pareiitii^;e. 
Ho  wcis  brought  up  in  an  atmosphere  of  railroads,  his  father  being  manager 
of  the  fUiisgow  and  South-western  liailway,  and  a  railroa.d  builder  for  20 
years.  William  was  sent  to  St  Andrew's  parish  school,  and  educated  in  the 
Presbyterian  faith,  under  Samuel  Neil,  author  of  Loijk  and  LUeraUirc.  At 
an  early  age  ho  left  his  father's  house  to  do  battle  in  the  world  for  himself, 
Bucceeding  in  securing  an  education  in  (ilasgow  university,  with  a  knowl- 
edge of  the  law  which  enabled  him  to  jsractice  as  a  partner  of  Alex.  Douglas 
of  Dundee,  soon  after  wliich  he  married  Agnes  Dunbar.  Wiiile  at  Dundee  he 
met  Mrs  Lincoln,  widow  of  President  Lincoln,  and  performing  for  her  some 
literary  service,  was  rewarded  by  the  appointment  of  U.  S.  vice-consul  at  Dun- 
dee, wliich  office  he  held  from  18G9  to  1874,  when  ho  resigned  to  come  to  Oregon. 
His  frequent  intercourse  with  Americans  led  him  to  give  much  attention  to 
the  country,  and  in  1873  ho  published  a  pamphlet  on  Urei/on  ami  WaMwj- 
ton  as  Fi<'t(ln  for  Capital  and  Lalior,  which  was  widely  circulated,  and  re- 
sulted in  the  formation  by  its  author  of  the  Oregon  and  Washington  Trust 
Investment  Company,  for  doing  business  in  Portland.  The  president  of  the 
comiJ.iny  was  the  rarl  of  Airlie,  and  Mr  Reid  the  secretary.  This  company 
invested  over  $1,000,000  in  Oregon  and  secured  mortgages  on  much  valu- 
able property,  being  subsequently  converted  into  the  Dundee  Mortgage  and 
Tru.st  Investment  Company,  with  Reid  as  manager.  Mr  Reid  has  been  very 
active  in  commorci;;!  and  financial  affairs.  Soon  after  arriving  in  Portland 
he  organized  the  Board  of  Trade,  with  A.  P.  Ankeny  and  85  other  mem- 
bers, who  elected  liiui  secretary.  In  Sept.  of  the  same  year  he  procured  the 
establishment  by  the  legislature  of  a  State  Board  of  Immigration,  the  gov- 
enior  appointed  him  one  of  the  commissioners,  and  the  board  making  liini 
secretary.  He  prepared  pamj.hlets,  which  were  printed  in  several  languages, 
and  circulated  at  the  Paris  oposition  and  the  Philadelphia  exposition,  at- 
tracting much  attention  to  the  rorth-west.  He  was  the  organizer  of  the  Ore- 
gon and  Washington  Mortgage  i^avings  Bank  of  Portland,  the  tir.st  deposit 
savings  bank  in  the  state.  In  187G  he  conceived  a  system  of  narrow-gauge 
railways  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  to  be  built  by  Scotch  capital,  under  the 
name  of  the  Oregonian  Railway  Company,  Limited;  and  secured  the  passage 
by  the  legislature  of  a  law  entitling  foreign  corporations  to  build  railroads 
ill  the  state,  with  the  same  powers  belonging  to  domestic  corporations.     In 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


780 


the  autumn  of  1880  he  had  in  operation  in  the  Willamette  Valley  118  miles 
of  road,  when  he  applied  to  the  Icgitilaturc  for  a  riuht  to  enter  the  city,  and 
locate  ilia  road  upon  the  pul)Ito  groundH  therein,  hut  Wiw  opposed  by  Vil- 
lard's  railroad  conii)anies  and  the  city  government.  The  legialuture,  how- 
ever, pasHed  tlie  bill  over  the  governor's  veto,  and  the  Scotch  company  Wiis 
triumphant,  Ilcid  being  local  preai<lent.  The  construction  of  the  road  into 
Portland  was  proceeded  with,  and  the  grading  had  reached  to  a  point  within 
II  miles  of  the  city,  when  the  stockhoMcrs  in  Scotland,  despite  the  protests 
of  the  local  president,  gave  a  00  years'  lease  of  their  railways  to  Viliard  for  a 
guarantee  of  7  per  cent  on  the  stock,  lleid  tlieu  abandoned  tlio  management, 
and  turned  to  otlier  enterprises,  ilis  next  undertaking  was  the  introduction 
into  the  state  of  the  roller  system  of  manufacturing  Hour,  and  the  (.ity  of 
Salem  Company,  with  a  capital  of  §200,000,  was  the  result.  In  188;{  it  erected 
the  Capitol  A  and  IJ  mills  at  Salem  and  C  mill  at  Turner,  at  a  cost  of  $'J;J0,00(), 
with  a  combined  capacity  of  900  barrels  per  day.  The  success  of  these  mills 
led  to  tlie  erection  of  otliers  on  the  same  plan,  in  Portland  and  tdsewhere. 
The  First  National  Bank  of  Salem  was  organized  in  1882  by  Mr.  lleid  erect- 
ing the  bank  building  antl  becoming  the  first  president.  Having  relinijuished 
all  connection  with  the  Scotch  companies  above  mentioned,  in  the  spring  of 
1883  ho  organized  the  Oregon  Mortgage  Company  of  Scotlajid,  witli  a  capital 
of  $1,000,000,  which  he  managed  for  two  years.  In  1884  lie  organized  the 
Portla-^d  National  Bank,  and  was  made  its  first  president,  and  also  president 
of  the  Oregon  and  Washington  Mortgage  Savings  Bank.  In  the  mean  time 
the  successors  to  Villard  in  Oregon  repudiated  the  Itli  years'  lease  of  the  nar- 
row-gauge system,  because  the  road  was  unconip.eted  and  unproductive. 
The  courts  appointed  a  receiver;  the ,  legislative  act  under  which  the  Orego- 
nian  Company  was  chartered  became  inoperative  through  the  expiration  of 
the  time  allowed  for  the  completion  of  tlie  road,  the  people  of  the  valley  de- 
sired to  have  a  road  tf)  tide-water  put  in  operation,  ami  lleid  was  the  man  to 
bring  it  about.  Another  bill  was  introduced  in  the  legislature,  conte8te<l  as 
the  hrst  had  been  by  the  city  of  Portland  and  the  Oregonian  Ilailway  Com- 
pany; but  the  bill  became  a  law,  and  the  Portland  and  Willamette  Valley 
Ilailway  Company,  organized  by  lleid,  undertook  to  connect  the  Willamette 
Valley  system  with  Portland  )jy  the  1st  of  Nov.,  1880.  The  stiite  gave  the 
new  company  a  contract,  to  last  for  IS  years,  to  carry  the  freight  and  pas- 
sengers of  the  uncompleted  road  to  Portland.  Mr.  lleid  is  eminently  a  finan- 
cier. There  has  been  loaned  on  real-estate  mortgages  from  May  1074  to  June 
]885,  $7,597,741  of  Scotch  money.  As  one  dollar  liorrowed  represents  three 
of  value  at  minimum  estimates,  and  as  much  of  the  property  mortgaged  ia 
never  released,  there  are  many  millions!  worth  of  Oregon  and  Washington 
lands  held  in  Scotland. 

Thomas  H.  Crawford  was  born  in  Indiana,  June  24,  1840,  and  came  to 
Oregon  in  1832,  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Linn  co.  on  a  farm.  For  (i 
years  his  opportunities  for  study  were  limited.  Then  he  was  sent  to  the  San- 
tiam  academy  at  Lebanon  for  about  a  year,  after  which  he  entered  the  Wil- 
lamette university,  from  which  he  graduated  in  18(i3,  after  which  he  began 
teaching.  His  lirst  school  was  in  Sublimity,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
when  he  took  charge  of  the  public  schools  in  Salem  for  1 J  years.  From  there 
he  came  to  Portland  in  18()8,  and  taught  in  the  Portland  Academy  and  Female 
Seminary  as  assistant  for  two  years.  In  1870-2  he  was  principal  of  the  North 
Portland  school,  after  which  he  was  elected  to  the  chair  of  natural  sciences 
cf  Willamette  university,  rci  mining  in  that  position  three  years,  returning 
to  Portland  in  1875,  and  being  elected  principal  of  the  Central  grammar 
school.  On  the  resignation  of  the  former  superintendent  of  public  schools  in 
Portland,  in  1877,  he  was  elected  to  till  that  position.  Mr  Crawford  has  la- 
bored conscientiously  to  improve  the  school  system  and  management,  in 
which  he  has  been  eminently  successful;  much  attention  has  been  given  to 
plans  of  building,  and  all  matters  connected  with  the  public  schools,  until 
those  of  Portland  are  not  excelled  by  any  city  of  its  population  anywhere  in 
the  United  States.  It  is  noteworthy  that  the  leading  teachers  in  Portland 
for  many  years  have  been  educated  in  Oregon. 


